Board recommends light‑industrial rezoning with conditions for 115‑acre Old Augusta site; tenant JIT Warehousing to occupy Phase 1

The Effingham County Planning Board on Oct. 14 recommended rezoning about 114.79 acres along Old Augusta Road South from R‑1 to Light Industrial (LI) for warehousing and distribution, subject to conditions. The board’s recommendation followed extensive public discussion about buffers, site configuration and road connectivity to a future roundabout at Chimney Road.

Planning staff noted the site is shown as industrial on the county’s future land‑use map and that a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) had previously found the project consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan. Staff listed required conditions and standards including site‑plan approval by the Board of Commissioners, adherence to buffer requirements in Effingham County Code section 3.4, compliance with the county water‑resource protection ordinance, the local stormwater design manual, flood‑damage prevention rules (chapter 34), and additional best management practices agreed with the City of Savannah where applicable.

Applicant representatives said the development will be phased and built to suit; phase 1 is planned as a roughly 250,000‑square‑foot warehouse to be occupied by JIT Warehousing and Logistics, a local company that said it will relocate operations from Savannah and bring 30–40 jobs. Developers and engineers described buffers of 150 feet along Old Augusta and said truck courts and loading docks are oriented to minimize noise and light impacts on the residential properties north of the site. Several nearby residents asked about buffer continuity, the potential effect of a future roundabout and drainage; applicants committed to meet buffer requirements and to reserve a corridor for future road connectivity so the property can accommodate the county’s long‑range road improvements. The applicant indicated it will submit a revised phase‑1 site plan showing the required buffer location prior to the commission hearing.

The board voted to recommend approval with two conditions: (1) rear‑oriented truck courts/loading docks for the first two buildings and (2) a revised site plan to be filed with the county in advance of second‑reading showing the buffer locations and clarifying the reserved connection to the proposed roundabout. The recommendation will proceed to the Board of Commissioners for final consideration on Nov. 4.