The York County Council voted to approve a new conditional zoning tool on Monday night that would temper increasing development with existing communities.

The procedure would allow council to grant rezoning requests with specific conditions that limit the use of the parcel or require builders to comply with additional guidelines.

The council used the tool immediately during the same meeting to address two rezoning requests that had been deferred from earlier hearings.

A request to rezone a parcel on Mount Gallant Road in Rock Hill was approved, allowing the current owners of a gas station convenience store to expand. The parcel has been rezoned from a residential area to a general business district.

The rezoning would only apply to future convenience stores of a similar scope, blocking any larger business that may want to develop in the area once the current owner vacates the property.

Councilman Bump Roddey called the tool a “privilege” that “creates gray areas that give more latitude” to the council in rezoning. Though, he cautioned the council from “abuse” or “overuse.”

Councilman Joe Cox said the tool is unfair to developers, but still supported the measure and both votes. “Change is coming,” said Cox. “We’ve got to be more business friendly.”