Thunderbolt planning board tables Savannah State Foundation subdivision request

THUNDERBOLT, Ga. — The Town of Thunderbolt Planning & Zoning Board on Wednesday unanimously tabled a request by the Savannah State University Foundation to subdivide a parcel at 3309 Whatley Ave.

Phillips Adams, director of the Savannah State University Foundation, told the board the foundation needs the subdivision to separate a back parcel acquired for a planned dorm and parking expansion, and said deed recordings show the parcels were combined in error. "They were combined in error in deed recording," Adams said, describing the foundation's effort to obtain tax-exempt status for the property.

Town Attorney Charlie Barrow told the board he had reviewed the closing documents and said an access easement must be added to the site plan before the board can grant approval. Barrow also said the closing documents appear to show the church conveyed both lots to the foundation rather than only the back parcel. "Once I looked at them, it appears the church sold both lots to the SSU Foundation," Barrow said, and he recommended the foundation and the church resolve ownership among themselves and add the access easement before returning to the board.

Commissioner Patricia Holland moved to table the petition; Commissioner Len Hiers seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The board did not adopt any zoning changes or grant the subdivision at the meeting.

At the start of the meeting the board unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from Dec. 18, 2019. Chairperson Lisa Williams called the session to order at 6:31 p.m.; the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

Next steps for the petitioner are to resolve the ownership questions identified by the town attorney and to submit a revised site plan that includes an access easement, at which point the foundation may return to the Planning & Zoning Board for consideration.