By Eric Curl
Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to reflect that all of the proposed housing for the former fairgrounds site is expected to be affordable and offered at rates below market value.
April 21, 2024 – The Savannah City Council will consider a development agreement for the former fairgrounds property. The agreement is required as part a proposed sale of the property to the development group, P3JVG LLC, and a portion of the property is expected to be sold for the project’s first phase this summer, according to city officials.
The city council will also consider an amendment to the first phase of the fairgrounds development. 50 affordable single-family houses and townhomes will now initially be built, rather than 64 affordable apartments for seniors following last year’s unsuccessful application for low-income housing tax credits. The senior housing is now expected to be built during the second phase, as the city prepares to submit another tax credit application for the project.
See what else is on the agenda and who else is meeting in the latest Week Ahead.
The Metropolitan Planning Commission is holding a special-called meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at 112 E State St.
The agenda is now available to view. The meetings can be accessed remotely by registering via the MPC’s homepage.
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During the meeting, the MPC will consider Foram Group’s petition to rezone 1.38 acres at East Broad and East Gwinnett streets to accommodate a proposed 4-story, 185-unit mixed-use apartment complex. Staff is recommending approval, but with multiple conditions and proposed modifications concerning the plan. The conditions include reducing the maximum number of units from 185 to 138.
The rezoning petition will also return to the Savannah City Council on Thursday, following the MPC’s recommendation. The city council had remanded the petition to the MPC at their previous meeting, after initially bypassing the advisory body’s review.
The Chatham Area Transit Authority is meeting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
The agenda is now available to view. The meeting can be viewed live on CAT’s YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/ChathamAreaTransit.
During the meeting, the CAT board will be updated on proposed service changes that are meant to restore service reliability, achieve 30-minute frequency on key corridors, and improve access to suburban jobs, high schools and higher education. The proposed changes include restoring 30-minute frequency service to the Waters Avenue and Skidaway Road corridors and improving service reliability on Route 14 Abercorn and Route 3B Garden City. The proposed fall 2024 changes also include direct service to Savannah International Airport.
The Historic Preservation Commission is meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at 112 E. State St.
The agenda is now available to view. The meetings can be viewed remotely by registering via the Metropolitan Planning Commission’s homepage.
The Historic Preservation Commission will consider SCAD’s petition to construct a kitchen addition to the 1950s-era diner building at 1402 Habersham St. In addition, the university is proposing to construct a covered outdoor dining area.
Fork & Dagger previously operated at the location before shutting down at the end of 2023 after announcing SCAD had ended their lease, as reported by Eat It & Like It.
The Board of Registrars is meeting at 12 p.m. on Wednesday at the office of Voter Registration, 1117 Eisenhower Drive.
The agenda is now available to view. Conference call login information for virtual meetings is located at the bottom of the agenda.
The deadline to register for the upcoming general primary election is April 22. Absentee voting by mail applications can be submitted until May 10, with mail out of absentee ballots beginning on Monday. Early in-person voting will run from April 29-May 17. Read more>
The Tybee Island City Council is meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the public safety building, 78 Van Horne Avenue.
The agenda is now available to view. Meetings can be watched live and later on Tybee’s video page.
During the meeting, the city council will discuss potential amendments to the ordinance concerning the temporary use of recreational vehicles. Tybee prohibits the use of recreational vehicles for dwelling purposes, except on a temporary basis (7-day max, three times a year.) The potential changes provide further definition of “recreational vehicles” and “dwelling purposes.”
The Savannah City Council is meeting at 2 p.m. on Thursday at City Hall, 2 East Bay St.
The agenda is now available to view. A workshop will be held prior to the meeting at 11 a.m.
The meeting will be held at City Hall on the second floor in city council chambers. Remote viewing options include SGTV Comcast Channel 8, the city of Savannah YouTube page and the city of Savannah Facebook page.
During the meeting, the city council will again consider the authorization of loans from the Community Housing Services Agency to support two planned affordable housing projects. The projects include 41 affordable housing apartments on former city property at Drayton and 34th streets and 64 affordable apartments for seniors at the city-owned former fairgrounds property at 4801 Meding St.
The CHSA loans are supposed to boost the chances of being awarded state issued low-income housing tax credits for the projects because they reduce the amount of credits needed and increase the points awarded by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs during the evaluation process.
This will be the fourth attempt by the city to obtain the tax credits for the Drayton Street project, and second attempt to obtain the credits for the fairgrounds development, after previous applications were denied, as previously reported.
The Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals is meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday at 112 E. State St.
The agenda is now available to view. The meetings are in-person, but the public can also access the meeting remotely by registering on the homepage.
A few updates:
At their most recent meeting, the Savannah City Council approved a $128,285 contract for a parking study south of Liberty to Victory Drive. Mobility & Parking Services Director Sean Brandon said the study is meant to address parking challenges created by increased development, as previously reported.
The city council also approved a petition from FARM-Starland Properties, LLC, on Behalf of Ryan Williamson, for a special use permit to establish a restaurant with alcohol sales at the former Back in the Day location. The FARM Hospitality Group will be opening a bakery and supper club called Flora & Fauna, as previously reported.
In addition, the city council approved a 5-year lease extension for space at the downtown Coastal Georgia Center at a rate starting in June at $553,660 and increasing 3% each year after. The extension comes about five years after the city commenced the original lease agreement in June 2019.
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