The Petitioner is requesting approval of a Special Use Permit to establish a managed food hall inclusive of bar/tavern uses, restaurants with accessory alcohol sales, and wine specialty shops within the TC-1 (Traditional Commercial-1) zoning district. The Special Use process includes review by the Planning Commission and City Council. Should the request be approved by City Council, approval and issuance of an alcohol license will be required for the sale of alcoholic beverages. The scope of the present review includes only those criteria established by the Zoning Ordinance regarding appropriateness of the use at the requested location.

The Petitioner intends to establish a managed food hall -- essentially, a collection of small, independently operated restaurants, bars, and retail establishments within the existing structures on each parcel. Each individual use is proposed to be less than 3,000SF. While restaurant use is permitted by right in the TC-1 district, on-premises consumption of alcohol, bar/tavern, and wine specialty shop require a Special Use Permit.

The structures at 2517 Bull Street and 2517 West 42nd Street are noncontributing buildings in the Streetcar Local Historic District, constructed originally in 1975 and 1970, respectively. The parcel at 2517 Bull Street contains a 2-story commercial structure described by the Chatham County Board of Assessors as a retail store (ground floor), consisting of 8,410SF, and an industrial shell (upper floor), also consisting of 8,410SF. The parcel to the west at 2517 W. 42nd Street contains a single-story building described as a material storage building, and consisting of 1,944SF. Both structures effectively cover the entirety of their respective parcels. Ownership records indicate both buildings were previously owned by C&S Furniture & Upholstery.

The Zoning Ordinance defines a restaurant as “An establishment that prepares and serves food and beverages to the public. This use may include table, counter, drive-thru, drive-in, take-away and delivery services either individually or some combination thereof. This term includes ice cream, yogurt, gelato and smoothie shops; bakeries; bagelries; doughnut shops; coffee shops; and, similar establishments. Accessory beer, wine, and liquor sales may or may not be permitted as provided in Sec. 8.7.24, Accessory Alcohol Sales. Restaurants deriving more than 50% of its annual gross food and beverage sales from the sale of alcoholic beverages shall be considered a bar, tavern, or nightclub, as applicable.”

A bar/tavern use is defined as “An establishment devoted primarily to the dispensing of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. While such use may also provide food sales, more than 50% of its annual gross food and beverage sales income is derived from the sales of alcoholic beverages. This use may include entertainment.” Neither of the above terms includes “nightclub” use within the meaning of the Ordinance. A wine specialty shop is defined as “A retail establishment primarily engaged in the sale of wine…This term does not include the sales of other alcoholic beverages, package stores, or the ancillary sales of any alcoholic beverages.”

On April 9, 2024, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the requested Special Use Permit at 2517 Bull Street (PIN 20074 07005) for restaurants with accessory alcohol sales, bars/taverns, and wine specialty shops under the condition that the Special Use Permit shall be nontransferable.