The Mayor and Aldermen continued the Zoning Hearing for this petition from the April 11, 2019 Regular Council Meeting.

During review of a request to rezone 61 Graham Street and unassigned land (File No. 19-000875-ZA), MPC staff determined that the existing Future Land Use Category of Residential - Single Family does not match the proposed rezoning request.  The proposed senior housing and medical clinic identified on the Concept Plan best fits under the Civic / Institutional Future Land Use Category as it permits apartments and medical offices (File No. 19-001827-CPA).

The subject property is located in the Hudson Hill neighborhood.  The 3.64-acre undeveloped site includes 2.65 acres, which was recently purchased by the petitioner from the Chatham County/City of Savannah Land Bank Authority, Inc.  The remaining 0.09 acres are the two unopened Right-of-ways that are adjacent to the North (Pulaski Street) and South (Oglethorpe Avenue formerly known as Shellman Street) to the subject property, which the applicant is currently in negotiations with the City to purchase.  The unopened Right-of-ways do not have a Future Land Use Category designation, so it is proposed that they will be classified as Civic / Institutional.

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

Civic / Institutional: Areas identified as employment hubs that may consist of office buildings, medical offices, banks, hospitals, and ancillary commercial uses that support the office economy. These areas permit apartments to allow for housing opportunities within close proximity to employment.

Residential – Single Family: Areas identified for single-family detached residential dwellings at a density not to exceed eight units per gross acre.

The City Surveyor is reviewing the boundary description in the Draft Ordinance.

Approval on the condition that:

1. The Future Land Use Category for the unopened Right-of-Ways (ROWs) or portions thereof are changed only if the applicant acquires them from the City;
2. If the unopened ROWs or portions thereof are acquired by the applicant from the City, that a Subdivision/Plat be reviewed and approved by the City for the recombination of 61 Graham Street with the unopened ROWs or portions thereof.