Some of my favorite agenda items are those that highlight local history, as two proposals aim to do this week. Meanwhile, there is plenty going before our elected leaders that will help determine the region’s future. Here are some of this week’s upcoming meetings and agenda highlights.
Stay engaged Savannah,
The Pooler City Council is meeting Monday
The Pooler City Council will consider SDP Acquisitions request to rezone the former Oglethorpe Speedway site, along with surrounding properties, from residential to light industrial. SDP is seeking to rezone the 294-acre site for warehousing and truck transportation uses, according to the agenda packet. The developer reportedly assembled more than 90 properties to create the industrial complex. A “key feature” of the project will be that the project will not access Dublin Road or US 80, the report states. Rather, it is the intention of the developer to access Dean Forest Road and/or Old Dean Forest Road via Raymond Street.
The Metropolitan Planning Commission is meeting Tuesday
The planning commission will consider the petition of attorney Josh Yellin, as the developer’s agent, to rezone 12500 Apache Avenue from residential to a maritime business classification in order to construct a restaurant and marina. A restaurant with a marina called Bells Landing previously operated at the site before being destroyed by a fire in 2006. Staff is recommending approval.
Swanson.
Also, attorney Robert McCorkle, as agent for the property’s owner, is requesting to rezone an undeveloped site east of the Truman Parkway and north of Reuben Clark Drive to develop apartments on the site. The proposed rezoning from single-family residential to multifamily residential would allow 20 units per acre on the 20.5-acre site at 1800 East 63rd St. The project includes a 3-story building with 36 apartments and a 6-story building with 199 apartments, according to the concept plan. Based on the existing zoning pattern and character of the area, as well as the review criteria, staff is recommending that the MPC deny the rezoning request.
In addition, attorney Josh Yellin, for Savannah Country Day School, is requesting to rezone almost an acre of property adjacent to the school from residential to institutional to incorporate the site into Country Day’s campus. A new maintenance building is proposed for the site, according to the school’s master plan. Staff is recommending approval with the condition that the property is recombined with the school campus prior to approval of a development plan. In addition, the proposed access identified on the master plan must be approved by the city’s traffic engineer.
The Savannah City Council is meeting Tuesday
The city council will consider a contract for urban planning and design services with Sottile and Sottile in an amount not to exceed $100,000. The contract will provide urban planning/design and architectural support services for various city projects, including land-use analysis, preparation of master plans and redevelopment strategies, according to the staff report. The agreement may be renewed for up to four additional 12-month periods.
The city council will also consider the installation of a historical marker in Cann Park to commemorate Robert Edward “Robbie” Robinson. Born in 1947, Robinson was a Savannah civil rights leader, attorney, and city council member who died in 1989 from injuries caused by a mail bomb, as described in the staff report.
In addition, the council will consider the installation of a bronze plaque on the Haitian Monument in Franklin Square identifying James Mastin as the sculptor. Honoring the all-Black Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue who fought for American independence in the Revolutionary War, the full monument was completed in 2009 as a result of a 7-year effort by the Miami-based Haitian-American Historical Society, according to the staff report.
The Savannah City Council will again consider a new Local Option Sales Tax agreement proposed by Chatham County, following the county’s rejection of an agreement previously approved by the council, as described in this Savannah Morning News article.
(Editor’s note: This column was updated on Dec. 19 with information obtained about the Oglethorpe Speedway industrial development.)
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