The Mayor and Aldermen approved this rezoning request following a zoning hearing at the April 26, 2018 City Council Meeting.  The action being considered now is the approval of an ordinance for the rezoning.

Petitioner, Harold Yellin for Emily and William Kehoe, (File No. 18-001337-ZA) is requesting to rezone 110 Ann Street; 111, 113, 119 & 125 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard from B-C (Community Business) and P-B-G-1 (Planned General Business Transition) to the BC-1 (Central Business) Zoning District.

The petitioner has stated the purpose of the requested zoning map amendment is to develop the sites as a combination of retail space and a hotel with related accessory uses.  The property west of Ann Street is likely to be developed in a secondary phase.

This is the first of two related agenda items as multiple properties are involved and multiple recommended Zoning Districts exist.

On April 3, 2018, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the following:

1) Rezone 110 Ann Street; 111, 113, 119 & 125 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard from B-C and P-B-G-1 to the BC-1 Zoning District;

2) Rezone 111 Ann Street from P-B-G-1 to the alternative B-C Zoning District (second agenda item).

The subject properties are within the Savannah Local Historic District in Aldermanic District 1.  They are located between Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard on the east; Fahm Street on the west; Zubley Street on the north; and Youmans Street on the south.  The properties that abut Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard are zoned B-C, the properties that abut Ann Street are zoned P-B-G-1.  The petitioner is requesting the BC-1 Zoning District for all properties.

The subject site includes six parcels with a cumulative area of +/- 2.42 acres.  The easternmost four parcels, which are contiguous, are developed with an existing commercial building that has served a number of retail and restaurant uses over the years.  The remaining properties have served as warehouse uses.  There have been no recent zoning changes in the immediate area.

The subject property is at the border of the existing downtown and the downtown expansion area.  It is likely that underdeveloped properties will continue to redevelop west of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Bay Street and West Oglethorpe.  The proposed development of the subject properties is likely to be a catalyst for other development within this underdeveloped area.  The desirability, from a development standpoint, of locations inside or adjacent to the Savannah Historic District is continually increasing and requests for zoning changes will remain prevalent until a new zoning map is adopted.

Approval of the Planning Commission's recommendation to rezone 110 Ann Street; 111, 113, 119 & 125 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard from B-C and P-B-G-1 to the BC-1 Zoning District.