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

Joshua Yellin for Cardinal Capital Management (CCM-Hudson Hill Savannah, LLC), Petitioner (File No. 19-000875-ZA) is requesting approval of a rezoning map amendment for properties located at 61 Graham Street to rezone the properties from PUD-M (Planned Unit Development – Multifamily), Four Family Residential (R-4) to I-P (Institutional – Professional).  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 and South to the subject property, which the applicant is currently in negotiations with the City to purchase.  Half of the northern unopened Right-of-way (Pulaski Street) is in the R-4 Zoning District and half of the southern unopened Right-of-way (Oglethorpe Avenue formerly known as Shellman Street) is in the B-G Zoning District.

This is the second of two related agenda items as the first one is an amendment to the Future Land Use Map for the subject property (19-001827-CPA).

The proposed rezoning would permit a housing type and institutional uses that would complement the existing neighborhood and serve as a buffer between single family residential uses and more intense commercial uses along Bay Street.  The existing zoning already accommodates multifamily residential but does not accommodate medical offices or other health services.  The applicant provided the attached Concept Plan to show a possible development, but wishes the flexibility to go in a different direction, so the rezoning does include a General Development Plan.

On March 12, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the petition to rezone the subject properties from PUD-M to I-P.

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

Approval on the condition that:

1. The unopened Right-of-Ways (ROWs) or portions thereof are rezoned 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.