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Board allows mead tastings at Saint George retail outlet, limits hours and ties approval to application record
Summary
The board approved a use‑by‑exception permitting mead tastings and retail at 136 Saint George Street, limiting authorization to the applicant's mead‑focused model and setting hours roughly 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; members debated whether to cap alcohol percentage but deferred to state licensing.
The Planning & Zoning Board on Oct. 1 approved a use‑by‑exception for the Savannah Bee Company to offer mead tastings and sell retail products at 136 Saint George Street, in the HP‑2 zoning district.
James Whitehouse, attorney for the applicant, described the Savannah Bee retail and tasting model used in other historic downtowns and emphasized that mead sales represent a minority of total revenue. “Honey bees are our passion and our retail locations bring that passion to life,” Whitehouse said, quoting the applicant’s materials and stressing the retail‑first nature of the concept.
Board members pressed for limits on hours and beverage strength. Several members proposed capping alcoholic content or wording approvals to limit the use to beer‑and‑wine‑type products; discussion ranged around a 14% benchmark and whether a 20% cap would be more practical for mead. The applicant agreed to restrict the approval to mead tasting and retail and told the board proposed daily hours based on comparable Saint George Street businesses — the motion recorded hours generally from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
City staff reminded the board the use‑by‑exception is tenant‑specific and will not run with the land if the applicant leaves. The board approved the use unanimously and directed staff to record conditions in the permit file and coordinate with state licensing on appropriate beverage categories.
