MPC Backs Neighborhood Push to Ban Hotels in Three Historic Districts

_{Caption: Jason Combs speaks at the podium during the MPC’s meeting on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Brian MacGregor}

Oct. 8, 2025 – When speaking in support of a hotel ban in his community at the Metropolitan Planning Commission meeting Tuesday, Thomas Square Neighborhood Association Vice President Jason Combs had one word in particular to describe MPC staff’s alternative recommendation to allow limited, small-scale hotels in designated corridors through a special-use permit process.

“Perverted,” Combs said, adding that residents in Thomas Square, Victorian and Cuyler–Brownville neighborhoods voiced overwhelming support for the full ban in surveys over the two-year process of developing the proposed hotel overlay district amendment that would make hotels a prohibited use in those neighborhoods

Staff’s alternative option was “the definition of perverted” in light of what residents had been striving for.

“Because we started this project to protect our neighborhoods from hotels,” Combs said.

After almost two hours of public comment from dozens of residents, business owners and representatives of the tourism industry speaking on both sides of the issue, a majority of commissioners sided with Combs and other residents who had spoken in support of the ban. The commission’s recommendation to extend the overlay district to the three historic neighborhoods will next go to the Savannah City Council, which has to adopt the change for it to go into effect.

Proposed Hotel Overlay District Map — Proposed Hotel Overlay District (The Pink areas are where no hotels would be allowed.)

Victorian Neighborhood Association President Nancy Maia said the communities were not “anti-development.”

“We support development that enhances our neighborhoods, supports local small businesses and protects our residents,” Maia said. “We’re simply asking for the tools and protections to do that.”

The commission’s vote came after staff had recommended denial of the full prohibition, suggesting instead an option that would allow limited “boutique” hotels of 16–40 rooms along commercial corridors through the existing special-use-permit process.

The MPC staff report board said that while the petition reflected valid community concerns, it lacked “empirical justification” for an outright ban and could conflict with underlying zoning designed to balance residential and commercial uses. Staff also reported that hotels are already restricted in most of the proposed expansion area and must undergo public hearings before approval.

Combs said even with the overlay district, that a zoning change could always be petitioned by a developer and a hotel could still be developed in the area – the expansion was just an added layer of protection for residents.

“It can still happen if somebody comes to us with a great idea,” he said.

See who else is meeting and what’s on the agenda at Meeting Agendas Archives – Savannah Agenda

If you find value in this website, please consider contributing above or via Paypal to help cover the costs. You can also send contributions via Venmo @Savannah_Agenda. Your support, no matter how much you give, is appreciated and will help ensure the future viability of this community resource. You can also show your support by subscribing below and sharing Savannah Agenda with others via email or social media. Increasing readership is critical to the long-term success of this site.