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Council takes first reading to annex 667 acres at Bush Road for planned development; residents request more outreach
Summary
Council opened and approved first reading of an annexation and plan-development rezoning for roughly 667 acres near Bush Road, allowing up to 1,500 housing units and an intergovernmental agreement to support Little Neck Road improvements; residents asked for additional neighborhood notification and protections.
The Savannah City Council heard a petition Dec. 19 to annex about 667 acres off Bush Road and rezone it as a planned development to accommodate residential or mixed uses not to exceed roughly 1,500 housing units.
Bridget Liddy, director of Planning and Urban Design, said the annexation is supported by intergovernmental agreements with Chatham County and by planned road improvements on Little Neck Road to enable future development. The rezoning to a PD designation is a framework step; the petitioner must return with a master plan and subsequent MPC review under the zoning ordinance’s planned-development process.
The petitioner’s counsel described negotiations with county officials and an intergovernmental agreement that, among other things, prohibits industrial uses on the land and prevents direct access from Bush Road. The council placed the annexation and PD designation on first reading, scheduling second reading for Jan. 9, 2025.
Neighborhood groups raised concerns about notice and asked that community meetings be held early in the process. Multiple speakers representing local associations said they had not received timely notice of previous steps and asked the city to ensure inclusive outreach during the PD master-plan phase.
What’s next: Staff and petitioner will proceed through the planned-development process, with MPC review and public input; council asked staff to report back on neighborhood-notification practices for annexations and intergovernmental agreements.
Why it matters: The annexation opens a large area of western Savannah for city services and development under the city’s rules and an IGA intended to fund road improvements and other infrastructure prior to or concurrent with build-out.
