Greer City Council gave the final approval to close a portion of Moore Street at its regular meeting on Tuesday.
In November, Council first heard a complaint that the railroad arm system located near Moore and Line Street are unsafe, with Moore Street being entirely behind the arms. Because of this, if a train comes through, drivers on Moore Street have no barrier between them and the train crossing.
City staff determined closure to be the best route forward. All residents with adjacent lots to the closed portion of Moore Street were notified and given an opportunity to speak at a public hearing, but no speakers signed up.
Council motioned to approve the road closure with a vote of 4-1, with Council member Jay Arrowood voting in opposition. Mayor Rick Danner and Council member Charles Lander were absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
Arrowood says that his no vote comes from not wanting to lose city assets to private entities, such as the Norfolk Southern Railroad Company, which controls the crossing at Moore Street. He relates the issue to the partial privatization of Park Avenue, another road closure he voted against last October.
“To me, if they’re asking us to do away with the use of an asset, then they should pay us for that. They should buy that road, maintain it, and do whatever they need to do to make it safe,” Arrowood said. “It may not be much, but we’re losing part of an asset, and we are, as far as street closures go, making a habit of helping [companies] with their bottom lines.”
In addition to approving the closure of Moore Street, Council heard one item of new business at its meeting. Ordinance Number 5-2026 is a request for the city to annex a 17.41-acre plot of land on McElrath Road, which will be used to create a single-family detached subdivision.
According to city officials, this subdivision is expected to add 67 housing units and is currently unzoned in Spartanburg County. The City Council approved the annexation to move forward, and it will be heard a second time before final approval. The City Planning Commission will also hear the request and make a recommendation to Council before its next meeting.
For more information on the Greer City Council, visit their website.
Follow Breanna Laws on X @GreerByBreanna
