The petitioner, Harold Yellin as Agent for Colleen Smith, is requesting approval of a Special Use (Inn) within a PUD-IS (Planned Unit Development-Institutional) zoning district for property located at 5715 Skidaway Road, which is located in Aldermanic District 3.

Since the proposed use (Inn) is not allowed within the PUD-IS district as a matter of right, the use must be recognized as a Special Use.  A Special Use requires approval of the Mayor and Aldermen, subject to Sections 8-3163(b) and 8-3039(b)(5) of the Savannah Zoning Ordinance.

Sec. 8-3002 defines an Inn as “A lodging establishment for transient guests with no more than 15 guest rooms. Any on-premises use that is accessible by the general public, such as a restaurant, bar or event/assembly space, is a separate principal use and must be an allowed use in the base zoning district.  Any on-premises use that is accessible only by hotel guests is an accessory use.”

Recommend approval of an Ordinance that does the following:

1. Include the Planning Commission’s recommendation to require an onsite, 24/7 manager;
2. Indicate that the each of the residential duplex units contain 1 bedroom each;
3. Replace the 2004, 2013, and 2015 Special Use Ordinances with an updated Special Use Ordinance that includes all of the relevant conditions;
4. As the Building Official has concerns with the structures on the property, require that those concerns be properly addressed with the issuance of Certificates of Completion or Occupancy.

Background

Since 2004, the Mayor & Aldermen have approved various nonresidential uses and placed conditions on those approvals. It was difficult for staff to track the various conditions approved under the three Special Use Ordinances from 2004, 2013, and 2015.

The property contains eight residential duplexes for a total of 16 residential units.  According to the 2013 MPC Staff Report, each residential unit contains 1 bedroom.  A ninth duplex structure was converted without permits into a nonresidential use.  The main structure was converted into a restaurant and banquet hall and the duplexes were renovated in 2012.  

On April 3, 2018, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the petitioner’s request to allow an Inn as a Special Use for property located at 5715 Skidaway Road, on the condition that a 24/7 onsite manager lives in one of the residential dwelling units.

Property History

1933: Initially developed as a retirement home for men (Cohen’s Mens Retreat). It was later converted into a nursing home for the elderly;

1978: Rezoned from R-6 (One-Family Residential) to PUD-IS to allow the development of nine duplexes in conjunction with the nursing home (MPC File No. 78-4505-S);

2004: Approval of a Special Use with conditions by the Mayor and Aldermen to use the main building as a home furniture and interior décor center and the institutional-grade kitchen for use as a catering business for off-site service. Also, eight of the nine residential duplexes would remain as 16 residential units open to the general public (MPC File No. Z-031029-51725-2);

2013: Approval of a Special Use with conditions by the Mayor and Aldermen to use (convert) A) the main building as a 1) a specialty restaurant; 2) a banquet hall; 3) provision/serving/selling of beer and wine with a meal; 4) general office space; B) a residential duplex as an art studio/gallery (Education); and, C) the continuation of a previously approved use of eight residential duplexes.  The MPC Staff Report stated "Each of the 16 residential units will be renovated and will each have one bedroom." (File No. 13-003286-ZA);

2015: Approval of an additional Special Use by the Mayor and Aldermen to provide/serve/sell spirituous beverages.

Approval of an Ordinance that does the following:

1. Include the Planning Commission’s recommendation to require an onsite, 24/7 manager;
2. Indicate that the each of the residential duplex units contain 1 bedroom each;
3. Replace the 2004, 2013, and 2015 Special Use Ordinances with an updated Special Use Ordinance that includes all of the relevant conditions;
4. As the Building Official has concerns with the structures on the property, require that those concerns be properly addressed with the issuance of Certificates of Completion or Occupancy.