Boards & Committees

Citizen engagement and input are essential parts of how the City of Spartanburg governs, and one of the most overlooked ways a civic-minded local resident can choose to get involved in shaping the future of our city is by serving on one of our Boards and Committees.

Members of the City's boards and committees advise and make recommendations to the City’s management team, the Mayor, and City Council on a variety of programs and issues. All board and committee seats are filled by local residents and are appointed by City Council. Information about what each board or committee does and requirements to serve is listed below.

Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee

2 vacancies - 2 eligible for reappointment

Term: 4 years

Purpose:  To make recommendations on the expenditure or revenues generated from the Accommodations Tax. A majority of the members must be selected from the hospitality industry. Two of these members must be from the lodging industry. One member shall represent the cultural organizations of the City.

Meetings: On call as required           

Compensation: none

Contact: Kathy Hill, Community Services Coordinator, (864) 596-2905

Airport Advisory Committee

1 vacancy - 1 served max term

Term: 3 years

Purpose: The Airport Advisory Committee provides advice to the City Airport Director, City Manager and City Council on issues affecting the Airport.

Membership: A five member board with each serving a three year term.

Meetings: as called                           

Compensation: none

Contact: Terry Connorton, Airport Director, (864)580-5004

Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee

3 vacancies - 1 served max terms, 1 eligible for another term, 1 resigned

Term: 3 years

Purpose: The City Council shall appoint as members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee seven persons who should be a resident or have a significant business interest in the City of Spartanburg. The majority of the members of the committee shall have knowledge of urban planning, trails and greenways, active living, exercise science, or other comparable skill sets as determined by Council to be appropriate.

Duties of the committee include: Conducting quarterly meetings with senior city staff; assisting City in developing a process for prioritization of bicycle/pedestrian projects that are financially feasible, enjoy broad based support, and which recognize the necessity to partner with organizations such as SPATS, SCDOT, private foundations, schools, and local businesses; Review and assess planned public improvement projects and provide recommendations to incorporate bicycle and pedestrian features where feasible; Assist the City in marketing and promotion of existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; Assist the City in organizing events to promote bicycle and pedestrian activity; Assist the City in recognizing local businesses that incorporate bicycle and/or pedestrian infrastructure or activities into their projects or programs; Provide recommendations to City on opportunities to leverage and connect new development projects via bicycle and/or pedestrian projects; Pedestrian improvements; Make an annual report to City Council on bike/ped activities, recognition; Assist the City in developing and measuring benchmarks for bicycling and walking in the City; Review and comment on changes to zoning, development code, comprehensive plan, and other long-term planning and policy documents as they relate to bicycle and pedestrian activity and safety including any updates to the Spartanburg County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.

Meetings: Every other month. Dates vary.                 

Compensation: None

Contact: Ned Barrett, Trails Coordinator, Partners for Active Living (864) 598-9638 The City of Spartanburg has a partnership with PAL (a local non-profit organization) to provide staff support for this committee.

Board of Architectural Design and Historic Review

3 vacancies - 1 served max terms, 2 eligible to serve another term

Term: 3 years with no member serving more than two consecutive terms. Former members may be reappointed after the expiration of two years. Members must be residents of the City of Spartanburg.

Purpose:  The Board is responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of the Architectural Design & Historic Review Ordinance of the City of Spartanburg dated March 6, 1995

Membership: This is a nine member board comprised of persons who have demonstrated civic interest and have general knowledge of and interest in history and historic preservation. At least four members shall be citizens who are knowledgeable in one of the following disciplines: archeology, architecture, landscape architecture, American history, urban planning, engineering, environmental science, law, banking or real estate. A historian and professional architect will serve at all times. None of the voting members may hold any other public office or position in the City. Members must be residents of the City of Spartanburg.

Meetings: Second Thursday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at 145 West Broad Street         

Compensation: None

Contact:  Natalia Rosario, City Planner, (864) 596-2071

Board of Zoning and Appeals

3 vacancies - 2 served max terms, 1 eligible to serve another term

Term: 3 years

Purpose: Provides a forum for appeal for any persons that are aggrieved by the zoning administrator or are seeking a variance of special exception to the requirements of the zoning ordinance.

Membership: Seven member board. Members must be a resident of the City of Spartanburg.

Meetings: Second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m., in City Council Chambers

Compensation: None

Contact: Natalia Rosario, City Planner, (864) 596-2071

Civil Service Commission

3 vacancies - 1 eligible to serve another term, 2 vacant for other reasons

Term: 6 years

Purpose:  The Commission holds Civil Service exams for Public Safety employment, all exams for promotions, and holds hearings on appeals from disciplinary action.

Membership: A three member board with one alternate. The number of members and term is regulated by State Code. Members must be residents of the City of Spartanburg.

Meetings: On-call as required                      

Compensation: $462.60

Contact: Michelle Clyburn, Human Resources Director (864) 596-2795

Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals

8 vacancies - 4 served max terms, 4 eligible to server another term

Term: 3 years

Purpose:  To hear appeals from decisions of the Building Inspections Department and the Fire Division of the City of Spartanburg. The Board shall be comprised of individuals with knowledge and experience in the technical codes such as design professionals, contractors or building industry representatives. Two such board members should consist of one member at large from the building industry and one member at large from the public.

Meetings:  On-call as requested.

Compensation: None

Contact:  Buddy Bush, Building Inspector, (864) 596-2111

Design Review Board

2 vacancies - 1 served max terms, 1 eligible to serve another term

Term: 3 years. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms.

Purpose: to make advisory opinions to the Planning Director (if requested) on all projects proposed for construction or alteration under the purview of this Code; to make final determinations on the compliance of all new construction applications in DT-6, along those frontages designated as Required Shopfront (Section 4.2), and for all lots 2 acres or greater; Design Review shall not be required for the following: Interior alterations and changes in use; Exterior alterations in the first or second layer that are considered maintenance or minor in nature and are otherwise compliant with this Code; Exterior alterations not visible from the right-of-way; Accessory structures in the third layer; Expansions or alterations to parking in the third layer; signs in accordance with this Code.

Membership: A five member Board, which members should be a resident of the City of Spartanburg or have a significant business interest in the City of Spartanburg. The majority of the members of this board shall have an expertise in building design and construction (e.g. architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, construction).

Meetings: First Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. Special called meetings as needed.

Compensation: none

Contact: Natalia Rosario, City Planner, (864) 596-2071

Hospitality Tax Grants Committee

No vacancies for 2021-2022 annual review

Purpose: The Hospitality Tax Grants Committee is charged with reviewing grant applications made by nonprofit organizations and events promoting tourism and quality-of-life in the city of Spartanburg. The committee annually recommends a slate of grant allocations to Spartanburg City Council to be made from the City of Spartanburg Hospitality Tax Fund.

Membership: Two rotating City Council members appointed by the Mayor to one-year terms and Five City residents serving staggered three-year terms, each eligible for one additional reappointment.

Public Safety Committee

Purpose: This Committee develops, promotes, and supports the programs and efforts of the Public Safety Department of the City of Spartanburg. Members must be residents of the City.

Membership: Twelve (12) members - appointed by City Council - for Three-(3) year terms.

Housing Board of Adjustment and Appeals

Purpose: To hear appeals of decisions from the Code Enforcement Department reagarding housing code and nuisance order violations.

Membership: A five-member board, with each member appointed to a three-year term.

Planning Commission

Purpose: The Planning Commission reviews rezoning petitions, subdivision plats, and text amendments to the City's Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the City's Comprehensive Plan.

Membership: The Board is composed of seven members who are appointed by the City Council. Each member serves a four-year term. Members must be residents of the City of Spartanburg. A member's failure to attend three consecutive meetings or fifty percent of regularly scheduled meetings in any twelve month period may result in the member being removed by Council from the commission.