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Savannah creates 'Class 7' heavy‑industrial category, mandates 100‑foot buffers and berms near homes
Summary
The City Council adopted a zoning text amendment establishing a new Class 7 high‑intensity industrial use with mandatory Type F buffers (100 feet), earthen berms and enhanced screening to reduce noise, odor and visual impacts near residential areas. MPC staff and neighborhood advocates supported the change.
City planners presented and the Savannah City Council voted to adopt a zoning text amendment that creates a new land‑use category, Class 7, to capture the most intensive heavy‑industrial activities and require stricter separation from residential neighborhoods.
MPC planner Subashi Karunaratna described the new Type F buffer: a mandatory 100‑foot width, an earthen berm (typically 8 feet), a fence and enhanced screening; the amendment also allows the buffer to be scaled (reduced by up to 40% for lots smaller than 10 acres, not to fall below 50% of required width) and mandates larger berms (up to 20 feet) for sites greater than 25 acres or developments requiring a Development of Regional Impact. The proposal includes standards for slope, erosion control and spacing of openings for streets and easements.
Speakers from community groups and councilmembers framed the change as an important step toward addressing long‑running neighborhood impacts from large warehouse and logistics facilities. Diane Brannon and other supporters said the rule brings important protections to West Chatham and other neighborhoods that have experienced noise, odor and air-quality problems. Councilmembers thanked MPC staff and community advocates and noted this is part of a joint city–county effort.
Council considered the ordinance on first and second reading in the same meeting and voted to adopt it. The action directs staff to implement the new buffer standards; developers whose sites are grandfathered remain subject to current rules unless redevelopment triggers the new standards. Councilmembers noted additional work remains for properties grandfathered under older standards.
The amendment won Planning Commission and staff recommendation; council questions centered on buffer calculation, berm standards and how the rule would apply to small‑lot infill and very large logistics campuses.
