The Mayor & Aldermen approved this request at the January 17, 2019 City Council Regular Meeting.  The action being considered now is the approval of an ordinance for the amendment to the text of the Zoning Ordinance that includes a new subsection (Section 8-3025(g)) for the standards regarding properties zoned RIP-B that are larger than 1.5 acres and located adjacent to the Savannah Historic District, along with the other approved changes.

Harold Yellin for Standard Southeast LLC, Petitioner (File No. 18-005939-ZA) is requesting to amend the zoning ordinance in order to extend existing density, minimum lot area per dwelling unit, and parking exemptions currently permitted in the Savannah Historic District, to certain properties outside the Historic District. The proposed text is related to the redevelopment of property at 601 East Liberty Street.

The Mayor and Aldermen adopted amendments to the ordinance in November 2017 to:

• Eliminate a minimum lot area per dwelling unit requirement for most properties in the Savannah Historic District.
• Eliminate a density maximum requirement for most properties in the Savannah Historic District.
• Amend the parking requirement for residential development in the Savannah Historic District to allow one space per dwelling

The petitioner is requesting to expand these exceptions to certain properties outside the Savannah Historic District.

The zoning map indicates that only two properties match the criteria proposed by the applicant. Those properties are 601 Liberty Street, which historically was associated with Atlantic Coastline Rail, and more recently was purchased from the Catholic Diocese by the City of Savannah; and the East Broad Elementary School property immediately to the south.

On December 11, 2018, the Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of the petition as submitted.

The Mayor & Aldermen continued the Zoning Hearing from the January 3, 2019 City Council Regular Meeting to January 17, 2019.

Approval.