The Mayor & Aldermen approved this request at the February 28, 2019 City Council Regular Meeting and the First Reading occurred on March 14, 2019. The action being considered now is the Second Reading of an ordinance amending the Future Land Use Category of 703 Louisville Road from Parks/Recreation to Downtown Expansion.

During review of a request to rezone 703 Louisville Road and unassigned land (File No. 18-006863-ZA), MPC staff determined that the existing Future Land Use Category of Parks/Recreation is no longer appropriate for the 2.55 acre site (19-000525-CPA).

This is the first of two related agenda items.  The second is the rezoning.

The existing I-H zoning district is not an appropriate zoning district for the surplus parcel; its proximity to downtown, the Historic District and location within the Canal District suggests that it should be part of the Downtown Expansion area on the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map.  According to the comprehensive plan, this classification should provide for “…a vibrant mix of retail, office, entertainment, institutional, civic and residential uses with a high degree of connectivity to the central business district.”  The RIP-D permits uses that could support this mix.

The Chatham County - Savannah Comprehensive Plan provides the following definitions for the Future Land Use Categories:

Parks / Recreation: Land dedicated to open space that is accessible to the public or land that is dedicated to sports, exercise, or other types of leisure activities.

Downtown Expansion: Areas in close proximity to the Central Business District that are identified for growth of retail, office, entertainment, institutional, civic, and residential uses. This area is intended to be compatible and interconnected with the Downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods, while also accommodating new forms of urban development.

On January 29, 2019, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the MPC Staff Report, which included the recommendation to change the Future Land Use Map Category.

Approval.