Statesboro council tables contested Kroger‑anchored rezoning after residents, conservation group raise wetlands and traffic concerns

STATESBORO, Ga. — The Statesboro mayor and city council on Nov. 18 voted to table a rezoning request for a proposed mixed‑use project that would include a grocery store and residential units at the intersection of Cypress Lake Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway.

Justin Williams, representing city planning staff, told council the petitioner seeks to rezone multiple parcels to allow a grocery anchor and supporting residential and outparcels. Williams said staff and the planning commission recommended approval with conditions, including a wetland mitigation plan, a traffic study and adherence to the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual.

Residents who live adjacent to the site urged the council to defer action. "We are opposed to this development because it would put a busy commercial property right in our backyard," said Josiah McDaniel, a Whispering Pines homeowner, who cited noise, light pollution and loss of a natural buffer. Beth Wolf, another Whispering Pines resident, told the council the project would destroy a forested wetland and argued alternative, less ecologically sensitive sites exist outside the city.

An environmental presentation drew one of the meeting’s most visual moments: Jordan Gray, who identified themselves with an international turtle specialist group, brought an eastern box turtle named Cypress to the podium to illustrate habitat loss. "This is an eastern box turtle named Cypress," Gray said, urging stronger buffers and careful mitigation if development proceeds.

Attorney Steve Rushing, representing Southeastern Property Acquisitions LLC, said the proposal covers about 28.37 acres and that the mixed‑use MX zoning sought would allow a mix of commercial and residential uses while reducing possible single‑family density. Rushing emphasized that developers have engaged environmental and engineering consultants, that the Army Corps of Engineers has performed a wetland delineation, and that infrastructure such as water and sewer would support the site. He added developers expect to fund required infrastructure, including any lift station.

Council members said letters and comments from an advocacy group identified in the record as the "Beachy Riverkeepers" and some map inconsistencies raised questions judges should answer before a final vote. Mayor Pro Tem (speaking for District 5) moved to table the item to the first council meeting in December to allow staff and the planning commission to clarify outstanding items. The motion carried on a council voice vote.

Planning staff, Rushing and members of the public agreed that additional studies are expected as part of development review: a jurisdictional wetland plan, a site traffic study with Georgia Department of Transportation coordination for the Veterans Memorial Parkway access, and engineering plans that would meet state stormwater standards. Williams noted the planning commission approved the rezoning recommendation unanimously and that the staff conditions were intended to reduce potential environmental and traffic impacts.

The council did not vote on the rezoning itself; the item will return to the next meeting for further consideration and possible formal action.