Authorities are investigating the death of Mike Mecklenburg, a member of the City of Greenville’s Design Review Board, who was found shot to death in his vehicle early Friday morning.

Greenville County Coroner Parks Evans ruled Mckenburg’s death a homicide.

Parks said Mecklenburg’s vehicle was found at 5 Power St. in Greenville around 3:15 a.m. The vehicle looked like it had been involved in a wreck but EMS found that Mecklenburg had suffered what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds.

Mecklenburg, 59, of 109 E. Earle St., had told Greenville City Councilwoman Amy Ryberg Doyle last week that he had been working as a Uber driver for several months,

“His voice on the Design Review Board cannot be replaced,” Doyle said. “He was always a voice of reason when it came to development. He had a long-term view of development. He will be terribly missed.”

Doyle said Mecklenburg was appointed to the DRB Neighborhood panel several years ago and had participated in the development of the city’s Stone Avenue Master Plan. “He was such a positive voice for good design,” Doyle said. “He understood integration of planning, transportation, and architecture.”

Mecklenburg pushed the city to do a historical survey of buildings and land that should be preserved throughout the city. That survey is being done now.

Doyle said Mecklenburg moved to Greenville to be close to family and he bought and “painstakingly restored” his East Earle Street home. “He was so cautious and thorough. It took him six months to pick out the paint,” Doyle said.

Greenville City Manager John Castile said in a statement, “We were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Mike Mecklenburg, who served as a member of the City of Greenville’s Design Review Board (DRB) Neighborhood Panel. Mike’s service on the DRB is only the most recent example of his tireless advocacy and community engagement. For years, Mike has applied his knowledge and understanding of historic preservation, planning and development to safeguarding and improving the quality of life in his neighborhood and the city through a variety of volunteer roles, and we are all the better for his efforts. Many of us at the City – from City Council members to City staff in a number of departments – have known and worked with and enjoyed healthy debates with Mike for many years, and we realize how fortunate this city was to have had a citizen so passionately engaged in making the world around him a better place. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mike’s family and friends at this most difficult time.”