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.

City of Savannah, Petitioner (File No. 18-002580-ZA) is recommending approval of a rezoning text amendment to Article A, Section 8-3002 (Definitions).

In 2017, the City of Savannah adopted Article P of the zoning ordinance entitled Hotel Development Overlay District, which, among other changes, amended several definitions related to lodging uses including Hotels, Motels and Inns. The City has found that it is necessary to provide additional clarity to the definition of Inn in order to differentiate from other lodging uses. City staff has found that certain language in some of the lodging definitions has inadvertently permitted some property owners to circumvent the regulations associated with Short-Term Vacation Rentals.

The City of Savannah has worked with stakeholders in the hospitality industry to balance the potential impacts of short-term lodging uses on permanent residents. The proposed language change for the definition of Inn, should help clarify the difference, in terms of requirements, and allow permit officials to more easily explain the difference in lodging uses.

On December 11, 2018, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the amendment to the Inn definition.

During the January 17, 2019 City Council Regular Meeting, the Mayor & Aldermen approved amending the definition of inn to require the owner-occupancy or provide 24-hour/7 day a week onsite staff. A scrivener's error was corrected to refer to inn guests. No distance requirement between inns was approved. The action being considered now is the approval of an ordinance for the amendment to the text of the Zoning Ordinance.

Sec. 8-3002. Definitions

Inn. - A lodging establishment for transient guests with no more than 15 guest rooms. Must be owner-occupied or provide 24-hour / 7 day a week onsite staff. 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 inn guest is an accessory use.

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

Approval.