Sumter County Council unanimously approves rezoning at 250 Progress Street

Sumter County Council voted unanimously on Jan. 27, 2026, to approve second reading of RZ-25-22, a request to rezone a roughly 0.19-acre portion of a larger 3.2-acre parcel at 250 Progress Street from Light Industrial-Warehouse (LI-W) to General Residential (GR).

Planning Department staff introduced the item as a narrowed request affecting a single portion of the parcel (TMS #249-00-06-004). During a public hearing three people spoke: Debbie Sisson opposed the rezoning, citing concerns about driveway access, buffering and potential impacts to adjacent commercial properties; Curtis Gautier spoke on behalf of the applicant and emphasized the limited scope and access needs; and Megan Writer, representing UMH Properties, said the request was limited to driveway access and expressed willingness to work with adjacent property owners on buffering.

Councilman Artie Baker moved to approve second reading; Councilmember Vivian Fleming McGhaney seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. No conditions or amendments were recorded in the meeting minutes.

The action changes the zoning classification for the specified portion of the parcel as described in the application record. The council did not record additional technical findings or a separate staff recommendation in the minutes beyond the presentation and the public hearing comments.

Next steps: the ordinance proceeds under the county's adopted rezoning process; the minutes show the council advanced the item with a unanimous vote on second reading.