Ed Garvin is requesting to rezone 716 Highland Drive from an RSF-10 (Single Family Residential) zoning classification to an O-I (Office -Institutional) zoning classification. A petition was heard for 714 and 716 Highland Drive by the Planning Commission during the May 19, 2020 meeting. The petitioner requested to continue the hearing and have the request reconsidered to exclude 714 Highland Drive.

716 Highland Drive is a residentially zoned parcel located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Highland Drive and Waters Avenue. It is developed with a single family residential structure built in conjunction with the Highland Park Subdivision which was constructed beginning in the 1970s. The Highland Park subdivision was developed as an exclusively single family detached residential subdivision, where parcels are generally between 8,000 and 10,000 square feet in size. The only nonresidential use in the subdivision is a day care center at the southwest corner of the intersection of Highland Drive and Waters Avenue.

The development pattern in the vicinity of the subject properties is a common one amongst southside Savannah neighborhoods. It includes, in this case, a single-family neighborhood that is accessed via an arterial roadway. While many of the nearby uses are nonresidential because of the proximity of Waters Avenue and Eisenhower Drive, the Highland Park subdivision is stable and well protected from commercial intrusion. In addition, it has a single point of vehicular access which essentially eliminates cut through traffic and trips not related to the residences within the subdivision.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ACCEPTED: Register HERE to Speak during the Live Meeting for Zoning Hearing Agenda Items

The Planning Commission recommends denial of the requested rezoning from an RSF-10 (Single Family Residential) zoning classification to an O-I (Office Institutional) zoning classification.

Following the Planning Commission's recommendation, Goldberg Properties LP, Ben Bluemle and the residents met and agreed to add these conditions to the rezoning as well as include this information in the owner deed of transfer to the buyer (Refer to Exhibit 4: Proposed Conditions for Rezoning of 716 Highland Avenue Following MPC Recommendation):

1. The only use permitted for the O-I district at 716 Highland Drive shall be Office, General.

2. Site plan review approval shall be by the City of Savannah and include:

a. The installation and maintenance of a new 5' high black aluminum fence along Highland Drive from Waters Avenue to the property located at 714 Highland Drive; and

b. The maintenance of a 4' chain link fence on the north of the property and 6' wooden fence on the west of the property; and

c. The ingress and egress shall be permitted from Waters Avenue; and

d. Compliance with the O-I Zoning District development standards.