Mr. Steven M. Querin

Steve Querin, an attorney with Johnson, Smith, Hibbard and Wildman in Spartanburg and Billy Ramsbottom, the broker involved with Walgreen's Pharmacy came forward to speak in favor of the rezoning.
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Mr. Querin presented several pictures and renderings to clarify the project for Council.He stated that the Planning Commission had made it clear that they wanted the Walgreen's Pharmacy project to happen.He explained that Spinx Oil was the current owner of the property and they would sell all or nothing of the property.He added that Walgreen's purchase of the property would give them more space than they needed and that they would use the back space for additional commercial development.He added that it was problematic for a developer to have property that was partially LC and partially B-1, stating that a developer who would put the kind of dollars needed to complete the upscale development planned needed to know upfront that they were not narrowing their potential list of candidates to either buy or lease the properties.He stated that LC was a tricky zone and that after researching the Zoning Ordinance and talking to several people, he still did not know exactly what was allowed in an LC zone.He stated that the Zoning Ordinance stated that LC was boutique zoning and that it allowed commercial development with limited impact.He added that he had heard that delis were allowed, but that Subway would not be allowed asking if a Subway was a deli.He questioned the consistency of the Ordinance and stated that a developer might not be willing to take the risk of the financial investment required.Mr. Querin stated that when Walgreen's Pharmacy, a corporation that had been around for many, many years, located a store, they had restrictive covenants as to what could go around them.He assured Council that they did not allow adult bookstores around them, that they wanted compatible uses around them and that they had a self-regulating and restricting system in place.He mentioned that the current Hollywood Video business, located beside the parcel being discussed, had a finger parcel behind it he referred to as the "Graffiti Parcel" that was initially intended as additional parking but was never developed as that.He continued that B-1 currently existed but that all of the new B-1 would be further away from the nearest residence than the B-1 that currently existed.Mr. Querin stated that Walgreen's proposal was to construct a wall where it should be sealing off the neighborhood from any commercial use and that the end result of the development would be less impact on the adjacent neighborhood than was currently available.He stressed that Walgreen's Pharmacy would not use Old Charlotte Road as an access point at all.He added that Walgreen's would be willing to build an eight (8) foot wall that would effectively screen the adjacent neighborhood and that they would orient their lighting and other site design to lessen the impact on the adjacent neighborhood if they were able to get the approval.He stated that Walgreen's was a company that had a philosophy of coming into a community and making a positive impact.He mentioned that they had purchased parcels in Boiling Springs and on the west side of Spartanburg and that they had identified the east side of Spartanburg as a market that was important to them.Mr. Querin stated that there was currently an easement behind the Exxon station that had to be moved in order for Walgreen's Pharmacy to complete the development.He continued that the easement favored the Hollywood Video business and that Walgreen's had entered into negotiations with them to move their easement in exchange for a land swap.Mr. Querin stated that the Hollywood Video owner had indicated that he might not do the deal if the land he got was not B-1.He reiterated again that if the easement did not move, the Walgreen's would not go up.Mr. Querin stated that what was currently at the site was not desirable and that the new development would be the preferred development.He stated that Bill Fowler was the developer and that he had completed sixteen (16) Walgreen's Pharmacies and that the eastside project was important to him to and to the completion of Walgreen's into the Spartanburg market.He added that he felt that Walgreen's would be a good member of the community.
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Mr. Querin suggested that he could, in short order, send a draft to Council containing deed restrictions addressing Council's concerns about the back parcels of the site.He stressed that the negotiations were not a foregone conclusion and that they were still in the preliminary stages.

City Attorney King stated that two readings were required and the he and Mr. Querin could work out Council's concerns before the second reading.

Mayor Barnet asked if there was any further discussion.Hearing none, he called for the vote that was unanimous to approve Councilmember Bain's motion.

Steve Querin, an attorney with Johnson, Smith, Hibbard and Wildman in Spartanburg and Billy Ramsbottom, the broker involved with Walgreen's Pharmacy came forward to speak in favor of the rezoning.
...
Mr. Querin presented several pictures and renderings to clarify the project for Council.He stated that the Planning Commission had made it clear that they wanted the Walgreen's Pharmacy project to happen.He explained that Spinx Oil was the current owner of the property and they would sell all or nothing of the property.He added that Walgreen's purchase of the property would give them more space than they needed and that they would use the back space for additional commercial development.He added that it was problematic for a developer to have property that was partially LC and partially B-1, stating that a developer who would put the kind of dollars needed to complete the upscale development planned needed to know upfront that they were not narrowing their potential list of candidates to either buy or lease the properties.He stated that LC was a tricky zone and that after researching the Zoning Ordinance and talking to several people, he still did not know exactly what was allowed in an LC zone.He stated that the Zoning Ordinance stated that LC was boutique zoning and that it allowed commercial development with limited impact.He added that he had heard that delis were allowed, but that Subway would not be allowed asking if a Subway was a deli.He questioned the consistency of the Ordinance and stated that a developer might not be willing to take the risk of the financial investment required.Mr. Querin stated that when Walgreen's Pharmacy, a corporation that had been around for many, many years, located a store, they had restrictive covenants as to what could go around them.He assured Council that they did not allow adult bookstores around them, that they wanted compatible uses around them and that they had a self-regulating and restricting system in place.He mentioned that the current Hollywood Video business, located beside the parcel being discussed, had a finger parcel behind it he referred to as the "Graffiti Parcel" that was initially intended as additional parking but was never developed as that.He continued that B-1 currently existed but that all of the new B-1 would be further away from the nearest residence than the B-1 that currently existed.Mr. Querin stated that Walgreen's proposal was to construct a wall where it should be sealing off the neighborhood from any commercial use and that the end result of the development would be less impact on the adjacent neighborhood than was currently available.He stressed that Walgreen's Pharmacy would not use Old Charlotte Road as an access point at all.He added that Walgreen's would be willing to build an eight (8) foot wall that would effectively screen the adjacent neighborhood and that they would orient their lighting and other site design to lessen the impact on the adjacent neighborhood if they were able to get the approval.He stated that Walgreen's was a company that had a philosophy of coming into a community and making a positive impact.He mentioned that they had purchased parcels in Boiling Springs and on the west side of Spartanburg and that they had identified the east side of Spartanburg as a market that was important to them.Mr. Querin stated that there was currently an easement behind the Exxon station that had to be moved in order for Walgreen's Pharmacy to complete the development.He continued that the easement favored the Hollywood Video business and that Walgreen's had entered into negotiations with them to move their easement in exchange for a land swap.Mr. Querin stated that the Hollywood Video owner had indicated that he might not do the deal if the land he got was not B-1.He reiterated again that if the easement did not move, the Walgreen's would not go up.Mr. Querin stated that what was currently at the site was not desirable and that the new development would be the preferred development.He stated that Bill Fowler was the developer and that he had completed sixteen (16) Walgreen's Pharmacies and that the eastside project was important to him to and to the completion of Walgreen's into the Spartanburg market.He added that he felt that Walgreen's would be a good member of the community.
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Mr. Querin suggested that he could, in short order, send a draft to Council containing deed restrictions addressing Council's concerns about the back parcels of the site.He stressed that the negotiations were not a foregone conclusion and that they were still in the preliminary stages.

City Attorney King stated that two readings were required and the he and Mr. Querin could work out Council's concerns before the second reading.

Steven M. Querin