Based on a request of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, Historic Savannah Foundation, Beehive Foundation, Tourism Leadership Council, and Chairwoman of the Savannah Downtown Historic District Board of Review (HDBR), the City is proceeding with an amendment to both the Subdivision and Zoning ordinances to require a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for any subdivision or recombination of parcels within the Savannah Downtown Historic District.  Additionally, standards are proposed to provide guidance to the HDBR when considering subdivision or recombination requests.

The proposed ordinance (Exhibit 3) outlines the revisions that will provide a public notification and hearing as well as standards for the HDBR to use when evaluating future subdivisions and recombination requests.

On November 8, 2023, City staff presented the proposal to the Savannah Historic District Board of Review. Postcards were sent out as a courtesy to property owners within the Savannah Downtown Historic Overlay District.

Recommend approval of Article G, Design Standards of the Subdivision Regulations, Article 3.0, Application and Review Procedures, and Article 7.0, Overlay Districts of the Zoning Ordinance to Require a Certificate of Appropriateness for Subdivisions within the Savannah Downtown Historic Overlay District.