The Mayor and Aldermen approved the requested rezoning (MPC File No. 17-002239-ZA) following a zoning hearing at the June 8, 2017 City Council Meeting. This ordinance amendment is now needed to rezone the subject property from R-A-CO (Residential-Agricultural, Annexed) Zoning Classification to an A-1 (Agriculture) Zoning Classification.

The petitioner, Robert McCorkle, is requesting approval of a rezoning for 102 acres located at 275 Fort Argyle Road from Residential-Agriculture, Annexed, to Agriculture. The intent is to allow Use 32b Campgrounds; Recreational Vehicle Parks. The subject property is located south of Fort Argyle Road and is less than a mile northwest of the I- 95 and Highway 204 intersection. The property was annexed into the City of Savannah in 2015 and has retained the R-A-CO (Residential-Agriculture, Annexed) classification. The R-A-CO was created to "protect those rural areas within the urban expansion areas of the county for future urban development, and to protect certain rural highway roadside areas against strip development, which can lead to traffic congestion, traffic hazards, and roadside blight” (Sec. 4.1 Establishment of Districts).

While the property was being approved through the annexation process in 2015, a general development plan (File No. 15-004398-PLAN) was submitted for review and approved by the Planning Commission. The intended use for the property was to establish a recreational vehicle (RV) park, which was deemed appropriate by staff under Use 40b (Camping Sites) in the County C&R Use Table (Sec. 4-5.2). The park would contain many amenities, such as recreational facilities, a general store, a clubhouse, a boat house, 18 cabin sites, 5 tent camping sites, 229 RV sites, and other accessory uses available for guests only. The petitioner now wishes to incorporate additional uses and amend the General Development Plan to include a spa, a restaurant and dedicated event space on-site. The owner intends to establish an RV “resort” that provides guests with an inclusive destination camping experience that offers many amenities and activities.

Approving this request will allow the RV resort to add a spa, a restaurant and dedicated event space on-site to the existing General Development Plan. The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of this rezoning request at its Regular Meeting on May 16, 2017.

Approval