This item was continued from the July 20, 2017 meeting. The petitioner, Harold Yellin for Delray Ventures, LLC, seeks to establish a new 4-R zoning district in the Victorian Planned Neighborhood Conservation District and to establish a new use, upper-story residential, in the 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 1-B, 2-B and 3-B zoning districts within the Victorian District (File No. 17-002739-ZA).

The petitioner desires to develop a 119-unit apartment building on the block between Drayton Street, East Bolton Street, Abercorn Street and East Bolton Lane. The property is zoned 2-R. The 2-R zoning classification would not allow the desired development because the permitted residential density is too limited and certain development standards would be exceeded. None of the other five zoning districts within the Victorian District would permit this density either. Because of this, the petitioner seeks to create a new district called 4-R.

In its application, Delray Ventures, LLC, provides the following reasons for the creation of a 4-R zoning district:

“The current development standards for the Victorian District do not allow for sufficient density and height to promote residential development. The proposed text amendment provides standards needed to address the growing need for housing in Savannah’s Historic and Victorian Districts, while preserving the character of the Victorian District, which the American Planning Association has summarized as a ‘compact, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use development.’ The proposed 4-R District will ensure the Victorian District remains pedestrian-oriented and mixed use in character, which allowing for an appropriate transition district between residential and commercial districts.”

In addition to the creation of the 4-R district, the property is also proposed to be rezoned from its 2-R classification to the proposed 4-R classification (File No 17-002741-ZA). The rezoning petition is also scheduled the same City Council meeting.

On June 27, 2017, the Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of this request.