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Commission approves rezoning of former Gateway hotel to up to 120 efficiency apartments with management conditions
Summary
The commission approved a rezoning change to convert a former hotel at 1 East Gateway Boulevard into up to 120 single‑room efficiency apartments, subject to conditions including 24‑hour on‑site management, a 30‑day minimum rental and a required management plan to be reviewed by the county.
Chatham County commissioners approved the second reading of a rezoning request to convert a former hotel at 1 East Gateway Boulevard into single‑room efficiency apartments (SREAs), with a set of conditions the Metropolitan Planning Commission recommended.
Key approved conditions
- Maximum number of residential units shall not exceed 120. - On‑site management shall be present 24 hours a day. - Minimum rental period shall be 30 days (intended to distinguish long‑stay residential use from short‑term lodging). - A minimum of 1,200 square feet of indoor common area shall be provided on site. - On‑site laundry facilities shall be provided. - The petitioner shall partner with Chatham Area Transit (CAT) on construction of a bus shelter at the existing bus stop along Gateway Boulevard. - A management plan must be submitted to the commission describing applicant screening criteria, rental procedures, and any supportive services or service providers that will be available to residents.
Why it matters: county staff and commissioners described the request as a redevelopment opportunity that reuses an existing building to create smaller, market‑rate residential units. The parcel sits near existing transit service and commercial uses. Commissioners and residents asked detailed questions about screening, occupancy limits, unit size and the developer's operations model.
What developers said
A buyer representative told commissioners the project will be operated as studio apartments and managed by an established professional management company. He said comparable projects in Georgia have monthly rents in the $800–$1,200 range and that utilities (water, power, high‑speed internet) would be included in rent; he said on‑site staff and maintenance would ensure daily oversight.
Public comment and board questions
Residents and several commissioners raised concerns about affordability and public safety. One resident said $800–$1,200 monthly rents are not affordable for many county residents and urged the commission to prioritize public housing. Commissioners discussed the need for occupancy limits to avoid overcrowding and noted that building‑safety and code requirements (e.g., egress, plumbing, ventilation) must be met when changing a hotel's use to residential.
Next steps and implementation
The board's approval was for the zoning change and the conditions; the developer must submit a management plan and obtain building permits. County staff said Building Safety and Regulatory Services will review construction plans and enforce occupancy and code standards. The county indicated it would review the management plan before issuing a certificate of occupancy and may require further conditions on occupancy limits or security if concerns arise.
Vote
The commission approved the second reading with the MPC‑recommended conditions. The vote clears the rezoning; plan review, permitting and compliance steps remain before residents can occupy units.
