The Mayor and Aldermen approved this request at the April 25, 2019 City Council Regular Meeting.  The action being considered now is the approval of an ordinance for the amendment to the text of the Zoning Ordinance for a new article for the Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Zoning District.

Joseph R. Ross, Petitioner (File No. 19-001440) is requesting to amend the zoning ordinance to create the Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 Planned Unit Development, a revision to the original Savannah Harbor Master Plan.  This is the first of two related agenda items.  The second agenda item is the rezoning of 0 Resort Drive (Parcel 5) to the Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners rezoned the subject property to PUD-B-W.70 on March 25, 1988 under MPC File No. 88-8649-C.  The Mayor and Aldermen annexed the subject property from unincorporated Chatham County in 1997.  This annexation or extension of the corporate limits was approved by an action of the General Assembly of Georgia (Ga. L. 1997, p. 4452).  In 1999, the Original Savannah Harbor Master Plan was adopted for 600 acres.  The Mayor and Aldermen approved a recombination/subdivision of those 600 acres into 12 parcels, including Parcel 5, in 2000.

The applicant has requested to create a new Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district, the Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 Planned Unit Development.  The subject property is a 27.41-acre portion of the Savannah Harbor Master Planned area on Hutchinson Island.  The proposed PUD allows a mix of uses consistent with the development pattern of the historic downtown central business district and the Landmark district at large.  The allowed uses include but are not limited to all residential housing types, as well as lodging, retail and services. In addition to the proposed mix use development, a marina is proposed in the slip immediately west of the subject property.  The applicant has identified that phase one, which are blocks, A, D and F are proposed to be developed residentially.  Phase one will also include the marina, the public plaza adjacent to the marina and the greenspace.  The applicant has also proposed several uses that are not permitted under the current zoning including food trucks, commercial charter or watercraft activities and outdoor events.

If adopted, the master plan and its specific zoning standards will guide future site plans.  The standards of the City of Savannah Zoning Ordinance shall apply where such standards are not addressed by the approved master plan.  Any non-zoning standards will be governed by other city ordinances and policies during the review of individual developments.  A rezoning to the proposed Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD would allow for the redevelopment of nearly 30 acres in a manner that is similar to but more flexible than the permitted uses and development standards of the core downtown across the river.  The PUD is also consistent with the Chatham County-Savannah Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map designation of Downtown Expansion.

On April 2, 2019, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the request to create Article U Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD with the following conditions:

• Any zoning regulation not specifically addressed by the PUD or Master Plan shall comply with the City of Savannah Zoning Ordinance. 

• Any non-zoning regulation or policy not specifically addressed by the master plan shall comply with the applicable regulations and policies of the City of Savannah as well as other local, state and federal laws.

• Approval of the street cross-sections by applicable City infrastructure departments prior to the issuance of any permit for land disturbing activities.

• Before any signage can be approved, a sign plan for the development shall be submitted and approved by the Planning Commission.

Approval with the following conditions:

• Any zoning regulation not specifically addressed by the PUD or Master Plan shall comply with the City of Savannah Zoning Ordinance. 

• Any non-zoning regulation or policy not specifically addressed by the master plan shall comply with the applicable regulations and policies of the City of Savannah as well as other local, state and federal laws.

• Approval of the street cross-sections by applicable City infrastructure departments prior to the issuance of any permit for land disturbing activities.

• Before any signage can be approved, a sign plan for the development shall be submitted and approved by the Planning Commission.