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November 7, 2019 City Council Regular Meeting
Title
33. Motion to Rezone a 39.4-Acre Property to the Savannah Harbor Parcel (A-2.18.05) Planned Development Zoning District (Petitioner: Joseph R. Ross)
Strategic Priority
Neighborhood Revitalization
Description

The Mayor and Aldermen approved this request at the April 25, 2019 City Council Regular Meeting and performed a First Reading on May 9, 2019. The action being considered now is the approval of an ordinance for the rezoning of 0 Resort Drive to the Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 Planned Development Zoning District (A-2.18.05).

The Second Reading was delayed at the request of the petitioner.

Changes made in the Ordinance between the First Reading and the proposed Second Reading are in shown in Exhibit 10.

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.

Recommendation:

Approval with the following conditions as notated in Section 2 of the DRAFT Ordinance:

    1. Development of the property be consistent and comply with the text of the Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 (A-2.18.05) Planned Development (PD) approved on under File No. 19-001440-ZA and the Master Plan entitled “PUD Master Plan Parcel 5 Hutchinson Island” dated February 2019.

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

    3. Any non-zoning regulation or policy not specifically addressed by the text of the PD or Master Plan shall comply with the applicable regulations and policies of the City of Savannah, including the Complete Streets Ordinance, as well as other local, state, and federal laws.

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

    5. Before any signage can be approved, a Sign Plan for the development shall be submitted and approved by the Planning Commission.

    6. That Subdivision Plats be recorded after being approved by applicable City infrastructure departments and the Planning Commission, to include the subdivision of Parcel 5 as described in Riverwalk Deed and Easement Agreement recorded under Deed Book 323W Page 734 and depicted on a certain plat that was not approved by the City, but was recorded under Plat Book 25P Page 4.

Recommendation

Approval

Contact
Bridget Lidy, Director of Planning and Urban Design
Financial Impact
N/A
Review Comments
Attachments
Exhibit 1: Planning Commission Recommendation - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
Exhibit 2: Aerial Map - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
Exhibit 3: Original Savannah Harbor Master Plan - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
Exhibit 4: 2000 Plat Book 19S Pages 99A-99E - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
Exhibit 5: 2002 Plat Book 25P Page 4 - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
Exhibit 6: Draft Master Plan - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
Exhibit 7: Draft Ordinance Second Reading PD Text - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
Exhibit 8: Draft Ordinance First Reading - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
Exhibit 9: Draft Ordinance Second Reading - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
Exhibit 10: Summary of Changes Between First and Second Readings - Savannah Harbor Parcel 5 PUD Rezoning.pdf
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