This is a City staff-initiated petition to amend Sec. 8-3028(d) by removing the Special Use Approval requirement from use # (8a) (Short Term Vacation Rental) in the 1-R, 2-R and 3-R zoning classifications within the Victorian Planned Neighborhood Conservation District.

In 2014, the City of Savannah adopted the “Short-Term Vacation Rental” (STVR) use as a permitted use within certain mixed-use zoning classifications in the Historic District, Mid-City District and the Victorian District.  This became necessary due to the proliferation of STVRs in the city.  Subsequently, it became necessary to more effectively regulate the use. City staff and MPC staff collaborated to create the zoning changes and permit processes were also added to the City Code which resulted in the current regulations that govern STVRs. 

The Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) use is currently permitted in 23 zoning districts in the City of Savannah.  Only in the Victorian Districts 1-R, 2-R and 3-R classifications is special use approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals required.

City staff finds that current process is uniformed and predictable with the exception of the required special use approval that exists for the 1-R, 2-R and 3-R zoning districts and that the conditions and requirements of the permit process are adequate to address the use in all zoning districts without the additional special use review.

On April 3, 2018, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the petition to amend the zoning ordinance.

Approval