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Savannah council approves several rezonings, delays Eastern Wharf presentation and asks staff to expand property notifications
Summary
Council approved multiple zoning changes on June 11, including two rezonings after second reading and one rezoning passed 7–2; the council set Rockingham Farms for first reading only, asked staff to contact adjacent property owners after address concerns, and postponed a detailed Eastern Wharf presentation.
Savannah City Council on June 11 handled multiple zoning matters, approving several rezonings while pausing further action on others to allow additional outreach and a fuller presentation.
During the hearing on Item #15 (Rockingham Farms), petitioner Bridget Lidy presented the proposed rezoning of two parcels totaling 1,036.69 acres near Old Burkhalter Road. Local residents raised notification and design concerns: Ms. Ardis Wood asked for clarity on tree preservation and the definition of a parkway, and Mr. Chat Howard, whose property abuts the project, said he had not been contacted and asked council to delay a vote until his property address was corrected. City Manager Pat Monahan confirmed an address discrepancy and recommended that Item #15 proceed only as a first reading while staff contacts affected property owners; council closed the hearing and directed staff to expand notification along Burkhalter Road before the second reading.
Other zoning actions included approval after second reading of Item #22 (rezoning 7 Southern Oaks Drive and 121 Southern Boulevard from Community Business to Light Industrial) and Item #23 (rezoning 14.82 acres at Jimmy Deloach and Crossroads Parkway from Heavy Industrial to Community Business). Item #24 (rezoning properties along Feeley, Stephens and Heyward avenues from Light Industrial to Heavy Industrial) passed on the floor 7–2, with Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter and Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely voting no.
The Eastern Wharf Planned Development amendments (Item #19 / ordinance Item #25), presented by Marcus Lotson with attorney Harold Yellin and Patrick Malloy, drew questions about building height, parking, and affordable housing; several council members requested a full presentation and more detail on community benefits. Council moved to postpone the related ordinance indefinitely to allow the petitioner to present full drawings and answers at the June 25 work session.
Alderwoman Miller Blakely asked Mayor Johnson to recuse himself on Item #15 citing campaign contributions from Jerry and Jack Wardlow; Mayor Johnson declined to recuse. City staff recorded that notification letters had been sent to properties within 300 feet and that staff will broaden outreach to ensure impacted residents receive notice before a second reading.
Next steps: staff will expand owner notifications for the Rockingham Farms item prior to second reading; the Eastern Wharf petitioner will be scheduled for a full presentation at the next work session before council considers ordinance action.
