Council hears Canal District Master Plan update; members press flood, parking and transparency concerns

Savannah City Council received an update on the Canal District Master Plan at a Nov. 7 special meeting at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center, where consultants outlined the project timeline and the work the team has done to incorporate community feedback.

Bridget Lidy, director of planning and urban design, introduced Jeff Williams, associate principal with Perkins and Will, who described the project timeline and said the team is prioritizing preservation of neighborhood history, culture and local place names as design moves forward. Williams also identified stormwater, street appearance and long-term maintenance as prominent technical concerns that the consultants and city staff are working to address.

Council members and community representatives repeatedly pressed the team for concrete engineering data. Alderwoman Dr. Estella E. Shabazz asked whether the canal could be widened and requested the existing above-ground storage volume, and detention and retention figures for storm events; Williams said an engineering team is producing that analysis and that the project team expects to return with numbers in December. Dr. Shabazz also asked where fill material for any work would be sourced; no sourcing decision was recorded at the meeting.

Alderman-elect Nick Palumbo asked whether the plan accounts for future changes in parking demand, including the possibility of autonomous vehicles. Williams said the plan encourages alternative modes of transportation and described parking as a "gray area" that will require a temporary parking plan as the district evolves.

City staff emphasized requirements for stormwater control. Bret Bell, assistant to the city manager, said the Savannah Arena will need its own storm-management plan and that any new development must meet the city's storm-management regulations. Assistant City Manager Heath Lloyd added that resolving engineering questions ultimately comes down to long-term maintenance commitments.

Several community members urged deliberate, transparent planning and closer public engagement. Bernetta Lanier, alderwoman-elect for District 1, urged prioritizing accuracy over speed and objected to referring to neighborhoods only as "canal neighborhoods." Melanie Wilson, executive director of MPC, said the community expects the city to be held accountable; Dwayne Stephens, vice chair of the Downtown Historic District Board of Review, urged improved outreach beyond online postings so documents and meetings reach more residents.

Sylvestor Gould, a logistics consultant, urged establishing short- and long-term goals and asked whether the project will include job-creation plans. Williams referenced existing programs — including employment and homeowners programs — that he said should be rallied for the district.

The presentation concluded with Williams saying the team will return with additional analysis in December. No formal votes or motions were recorded at the special meeting, which adjourned at 9:32 a.m.