The petitioner is requesting to rezone the subject parcels from I-L (Light Industrial) to the D-CBD (Downtown Central Business) zoning classification for the purpose of establishing a yet to be determined mixed-use development. The subject parcels are on the south side of President Street between Randolph Street and the Bilbo Canal. The easternmost property is vacant but had most recently been developed with a congregate living facility which was demolished in 2015. The center parcel, and largest of the three, had been used as an industrial site but is now also vacant. The westernmost parcel is a portion of the former Tybee Depot property which was owned by the City of Savannah.

The recommended D-C zoning district was established to accommodate commercial, residential and mixed-use development in areas of the downtown that have a business focus but are outside of the Central Business District and Waterfront areas. Uses in this district are generally less intensive than those found in the D-CBD and D-W districts, but more intensive than those found in the D-R district.

The MPC noted that the Downtown districts do not include some of the typical development standards such as height, building coverage and setbacks since they are typically governed by the historic overlay. In addition, other considerations included the development’s impact on the adjacent church and existing residential (Exhibit 3) uses as well as it serving as a gateway to the Savanah Historic District. To address these concerns, MPC recommended conditions for the rezoning related to the development process and building height. In 2022, the applicant entered into a development agreement with the City of Savannah (Exhibit 4) in which a portion of the westernmost property is part of a property exchange to permit the City improve the canal supporting the Bilbo drainage basin.