A familiar Fort Mill fireworks store may one day be the site of 2 new restaurants
One of the larger fireworks businesses off Carowinds Boulevard in Fort Mill may one day be the site of a new fast food restaurant -- or two.
The owner of House of Fireworks at 3474 U.S. Highway 21 has applied to rezone the almost three-acre site. The new zoning would allow a fast food restaurant with a drive-thru. Current zoning does not allow that use for the site, despite the property’s location among several similar restaurants. House of Fireworks sits just beside a McDonald’s.
The York County planning commission will hear the case Aug. 14.
The property up for rezoning is a 20,000-square-foot fireworks business. The large red and yellow building is prominent as one of several big firework retailers along Carowinds Boulevard. For decades that area has been a fireworks hot spot due to its close proximity to I-77 and the North Carolina border. Fireworks sales are legal in South Carolina, but not in North Carolina.
According to its website, House of Fireworks has been a family-owned business for more than 50 years.
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Several other large firework retailers surround House of Fireworks.
Four years ago, a fire broke out on July 4 in a storage unit between neighboring Davey Jones Fireworks and House of Fireworks. It sent sights and sounds of fireworks exploding into the sky until fire crews were able to contain it. That fire eventually was ruled as arson.
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According to the zoning information from the county, the 20,000-square-foot building, which includes firework sales along with auto repair and rental services would be demolished. The property owner proposes construction of two new quick serve restaurants, each with a drive-thru.
A site plan submitted by the property owner shows a two-restaurant layout with access off U.S. 21, and another access to the rear of the property. The site plan and other documents sent to the county don’t identify the new restaurants.
A more than 2,800-square-foot restaurant at the center of the site would have two full drive-thru lanes with two ordering stands, according to the site plan. That would be similar to how a Cook Out or Chick-fil-A might be oriented.
The smaller restaurant would be about 2,300 square feet on the side facing McDonald’s. It would have one drive-thru lane that splits into two ordering stands, according to a site plan, the way a McDonald’s might be oriented.
The Carowinds Boulevard area near I-77 has grown in recent years and has a variety of fast food options. Near the main entrance to Carowinds at Regent Parkway there are a Wendys, Moe’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Bojangles, Zaxbys, Culvers, Starbucks, Jimmy Johns and two Subways.
The two proposed new restaurants would start their drive-thrus toward the rear of the property and exit on the U.S. 21 side. There is a planned Pennies for Progress road improvement in the area. It will realign U.S. Highways 21 and 51. As part of that work, access points to properties in the area will be evaluated to fit the new road layout.
Gas station, vet office
The county has other rezoning proposals to consider when the planning commission meets. One would bring back a convenience station at S.C. 160 and Gold Hill Road, between Fort Mill and Tega Cay. Another would allow for a veterinarian beside a popular Lake Wylie attraction.
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An attorney for Sam’s Commercial Properties has applied to rezone half an acre at 2891 S.C. 160. There was a gas station there previously but it hasn’t been open in some time, so now the site needs rezoning to allow a new one.
The original plat for the since-closed gas station dates back to 1979 when Gold Hill Road was listed as Tega Cay Road. A new site plan shows an almost 2,400-square-foot metal building with three gas pumps. According to the application, existing structures will remain on-site as part of the reopening. A specific gas station company isn’t named.
Another zoning proposal involves the Lake Wylie Bowl N’ Bounce shopping center off S.C. 49. The 20-acre shopping center developed a decade ago by York Development Group at 4035 Charlotte Highway would be allowed more business use types with the zoning change. Specifically, a veterinarian could set up shop there.
The zoning change wouldn’t impact the ability of existing businesses in the 51,000-square-foot shopping center.
All of the zoning requests must go to the county planning commission for a recommendation. That recommendation then goes to York County Council, which will have final say. Council would need three votes and a public hearing to change any property zoning.
