Petitioner Josh Yellin, on behalf of adjoining property owner KR Savannah Hotel, LLC, has petitioned the City to encroach on abutting City rights-of-way as part of a proposed hotel construction project known as the Sabal House to be located at 225 East President Street (PIN 20015 01003). The development proposes to encroach upon City rights-of-way with concrete footings, stairs/stoops, two pillars, underground vaults, a patio/café seating area with enclosure, grease trap, and stormwater related trench drains, inlets, and piping. Staff does not recommend selling any right-of-way for this purpose. Instead, staff proposes the City retain these valuable downtown rights-of-way and instead grant a 20-year time-limited easement and revocable license for encroachment agreement (RLEA). The consideration to be paid by the Petitioner will be established by a third-party MAI-designated real estate appraiser. 

The Park & Tree, Water and Sewer Planning & Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Stormwater, Development Services, Planning & Urban Design and Real Estate Services Departments have reviewed the petition and recommend approval subject to the following conditions:

1. If the City must access the rights-of-way encumbered by the easement to make repairs to utilities or for other purposes, it will be at the Petitioner’s risk and not the City’s risk, and the Petitioner will be responsible for restoring any improvements impacted by the City’s repair work.
2. All trees need to be preserved or a payment into the Tree Fund will be necessary.

Also, authorization for the City Manager to execute associated easement and RLEA upon payment of appraised value is requested.

Approval