The Mayor and Aldermen approved this rezoning request following a zoning hearing at the September 28, 2017 City Council Meeting. The action being considered now is the approval of the ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance regarding carriage houses and garage apartments.

The petitioner, Harold Yellin for Jacob Polansky, is requesting to amend Section 8-3025(b) of the Zoning Ordinance to permit use #5 Garage apartment or carriage house in the R-B-C-1 (Residential – Business – Conservation – Extended) zoning district.  The petitioner also requests to amend Section 8-3090 to add the R-B-C-1 zoning district to the list of districts that are permitted to provide one off-street parking space per dwelling unit. On August 29, 2017, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the petition (File No. 17-004799-ZA).

The Landmark Historic District includes a number of zoning classifications that permit single-family residential uses. It is typical for single-family residences in the district to include detached garage apartments or carriage houses. Most of the zoning districts that permit single-family residential also permit use #5 Garage apartment or carriage house but the R-B-C-1 district does not.

There are six zoning classifications to which an exemption to the standard parking requirements applies. The purpose of the exemption, found in Section 8-3090 of the Savannah Zoning Ordinance, is to address the unique development pattern of the historic district which includes zero lot line construction.  The exemption permits a parking ratio of one space per dwelling unit.  The proposed amendments would allow a use and a parking standard that is already well established in the boundaries of the historic district.  These changes are consistent with the intent and the general development pattern of the district and have the support of the Historic Preservation Office as well.

Approval