‘Just the first phase’: What a Rock Hill commission just approved for the Panthers.
The planning commission in Rock Hill approved plans for the Carolina Panthers site off I-77 on Tuesday night. It won’t be the group’s last opportunity.
The commission unanimously approved preliminary plat review for the team headquarters and practice facilities, along with the road network surrounding them. The approvals are contingent on the ongoing annexation of the property, and Rock Hill City Council approval of a full development agreement with the team.
The Panthers plan involves more than 200 acres on the west side of I-77, south of Eden Terrace. The property is tucked behind Rock Hill Industrial Park and across the interstate from Riverwalk Industrial Park.
“This is just the first phase of development,” city planner Dennis Fields said of Tuesday’s vote.
The main entrance to the team facility will come off a new I-77 interchange. Eden Terrace and other roads in the area will have smaller connections. The plan shows a divided boulevard connecting from Mt. Gallant Road to I-77. It envisions numerous road improvements like Mt. Gallant widened to five lanes.
“They’re all intended to be public roads,” said Nate Doolittle with LandDesign, a partner on the Panthers project.
The main Panthers building itself shows practice space and an entertainment venue.
“A lot of the building is metal panel and glass,” Fields said. “A lot of irregular forms, a modern feel.”
Many items discussed by the team, city, county and even state officials aren’t in the submission voted on Tuesday. It didn’t include the planned medical facility, mass transit connection, hotels or other large buildings along the interstate mentioned in recent months as definite or possible features.
“This major site plan is really specific to day one developments,” Doolittle said.
He and city staff expect they’ll see and hear plenty from each other in coming months. Any addition more than 20,000 square feet will require review from the planning commission and approval similar to the one given Tuesday.
Planning commission member Justin Smith said the lack of later additions on the current plans shouldn’t get lost in the scope of the project. The main building itself will be much larger than it may appear from a drawing.
“A football field is fitting easily into that building that we’re looking at,” Smith said.
Planning director Bill Meyer noted the importance of new or expanded roads in the area. The new divided boulevard essentially will run parallel to Eden Terrace. The traffic counts warrant them, new traffic signals will be added on area roads.
“You’re getting a whole lot of extra capacity built in,” Meyer said.
The team committed to $1 billion of investment across two phases in the tax incentive agreement finalized last month between the Panthers, York County, Rock Hill and Rock Hill School District. Project leaders and supports in recent months have spoken of an entertainment and tourism destination that reaches beyond football.
Even the initial plan approved Tuesday shows an entertainment venue with a stage and large seating and parking space.
“Other than football season, they would have other activities that can be going on in those buildings,” Fields said.
