Official Minutes of the September 15, 2016 Council Meeting
Approved by City Council at the October 20, 2016 Council Meeting
The council meeting was called to order by Mayor Rozier with Councilman Myrick giving the invocation. Councilmembers Griffin, Grizzard, Kerby, Key, Myrick, Otto, Attorney Raymond Dickey, City Administrator Charles Akridge and City Clerk Diane Proudfoot were present.
Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the draft copy of the minutes of the August 25th council meeting and the August 29th special called meeting. Councilman Grizzard seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the agenda of the September 15, 2016 council meeting with the addition of Item #8 Consider Resolution for transmittal of the Comprehensive Plan to DCA. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
PUBLIC HEARING:
DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Councilman Otto made a motion to open public hearing. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. City Administrator Akridge reported that the Draft Comprehensive Plan for 2016-2036 is a requirement of the Department of Community Affairs for the City to be eligible for grants and loans in the state and advised that copies are available for review. City Administrator Akridge recognized Terrance Gadsby and Jessie Kirkland who are Master’s Candidates with the Urban Studies and Planning with Savannah State and will be looking at the plan as part of their master’s program.
There being no comments Councilman Myrick made a motion to close the public hearing. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
CONDITIONAL USE REQUEST BY BEACON BUILDERS FOR MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS IN RA
Council Myrick made a motion to open public hearing. Councilman Otto seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
Comments were received:
John Hart, representing Beacon Builders expressed the following points:
The Wilson Brothers own Beacon Builders and are second generation builders with over 50 years in the construction industry
They have built over 1,000 homes and over 1,500-1,600 apartment complexes in upscale areas
The proposed development is a high end apartment complex with high end materials
Rent will range from $900 - $1000
All requirements in the zoning code for multi-family have been exceeded
Amenities will include a club house, swimming pool, fitness center, car wash for residence and a running track
The setback requirements are being exceeded by placing a 50’ buffer instead of the 10’ required in zoning
The project will be a gated community with fencing around the entire complex
There will be no interfering with the dead-end of Douglas Court
There will be no drainage impact on the area with the lagoons that will be installed
Coastal Regional Development has reviewed the project and is supporting this development
Six apartments will be offered to Law Enforcement Officers at a discounted rate
The addition of approximately 800 people will improve the SPLOST & LOST revenue to the City
The water impact fees will be between one and two million dollars
The materials for construction are long term durable materials
There is going to be approximately 87% open space
Corde & Candler Wilson introduced themselves and spoke:
Thanked council for hearing their petition to bring this development to Bloomingdale
The project will be quality development and bring good residents to the area
He has served as previous president of the Home Owners Association
Candler is the current President of the HOA of the greater Savannah area
They have been in business a long time
They are excited to bring this high quality development to Bloomingdale
Sue Kennedy 905 E. Hwy 80 - concern is 320 families and the traffic, Mr. Wilson stated they have budgeted for a light to be installed at Maple Street & Hwy 80
Councilman Myrick questioned how the gating will working in the front, Mr. Wilson stated it will be a remote control access
Dennis Gary Baxter Cherry Street - Concerned over traffic
Don’t want to see his home town make the Pooler mistakes
Main concern is water & sewer capacity
Understands there is 115,000 gallons that can be pumped out right now
There are 200 lots he counted in the old Bloomingdale that would use approximately 60,000gpd
There are some new developments that are on the table and hopes the water and sewer issue is looked at diligently
Would like to see new development tie into the surface water and leave the ground water for the heart of the city.
Councilman Myrick gave the following statistics:
We have 256,000gpd usable water and currently using 110,000gpd
This project will need 56,000gpd leaving 90,000gpd
Plans for the industrial area to be served by surface water
With the Herb Black project would leave approximately 60,000gpd
There are several customers that have been removed from city water due to the Jimmy DeLoach extension.
Mr. Baxter questioned the Wild Cat Dam Road proposal and was advised that development will tie into the surface water.
Councilman Otto stated the reason the state is reducing the water capacity is the city is not using it.
Mr. Baxter responded stating the state is reducing water all over and he felt that if the city will put new development on surface water the state would not reduce the withdrawal amount
Councilman Kerby wished to enter into the record the statistics from the Ground Water Withdrawal Permit #025-0035:
“The Ground Water Withdrawal Use Act permit has been amended and the total system groundwater production limits are:
0.256mgd, monthly average and the following annual average - 0.222mgd’s existing annual average valid through December 31, 2019;
0.192mgd’s year 2020 annual average valid January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2024;
0.173mgd’s year 2025 annual average valid January 1, 2025.”
Councilman Kerby further stated that there was nothing in the permit regarding the loss of the permitted water if it is not used.
Mayor Rozier responded and stated that during his first term in office he sued the EPD but was voted out of office 30 days prior to receiving the answer. The problem is there is a well on Adams Road that could pump all the water needed for the city but we do not have a permit to pump but Savannah can dig a well and sale it to us and it is not right that we would have to buy water from Savannah and the water rates would be unaffordable and being a small town the only water to keep the rates affordable is to keep the water we have.
Engineer Jay Maupin civil engineer for the project stated that the good news is there are options to get water for the project whether it be from the city system or take the roughly two million dollar impact fees and use that to extend the water system to tie into the City of Savannah system. The Conditional Use permit is the issue and the water issues can be resolved. The traffic signal is an engineering matter and traffic studies show that the signal is warranted. The developers have met with DOT regarding this project but DOT will not grant a permit until full plans are submitted and the City approval of the project. The water, sewer, traffic light issues can be addressed in detail during the site plan process.
David Otakie 20 Perry Road – concerns the type of residents, the strain on Police, Section 8
Terry Jones 114 Conaway Road – controlled growth, traffic, education, overcrowding, future, water & sewer
Vince Drescher 14 Drescher Road – against this development, look at future, will it improve, would pay taxes to keep community like it is
Billy Strozier Cregor Street – don’t want development here, want water for children & grandchildren, 183 signatures on a petition that do not want development,
Linda Purvis 205 Lynn Street – tree policy and type that will be put in
Barbara Rawlings Osteen Road – as a school bus driver concerned over traffic
Gene Hartley Perry Road – moved here because of the small town environment - would to see that stay in place
Lewis Potts 27 Douglas Court – concerned if the rear entrance is going to be secured as emergency only, would like to get a list of development by this company and was given their website information
Mickie Alderman 460 Adams Road – neither for or against, her concern is the school system impact, she has visited the other developments by this company and they are very nice
Marcus Grant 17 Douglas Court – concern over the removal of all trees and foot traffic and was advised that the 50’ natural tree buffer would remain and the development will be completely fenced
Clay Collins Project Investor – budget for this project is twenty-four million dollars, it is a substantial investment and will not be allowed to run down, the banks/creditors will not allow it to run down, there is no section 8 in this project, will be completed in two phases, they are offering six units to law enforcement officers at a discount rate
Gerald Cook Osteen Road – has lived in Bloomingdale since 1978 and there has not been any projects allowed in the city and he has no objection to the development
Mayor Rozier closed the public hearing with a motion from Councilman Myrick, a second from Councilman Otto and it passed without opposition.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilwoman Griffin reported on the following:
There are currently seven men’s softball teams, seven soccer teams, just introduced this year is three year old soccer and there are three cheerleading teams.
On Friday night the Rec Department hosted a Literacy program with vendors and activities, the funds raised will be donated to the gym fund.
On November 5th from 10:00am – 3:00pm there will be a “Let’s Can Hunger Fall Festival” to help those in need – bring can goods and shop with the vendors.
Mayor Rozier introduced Jesse & Emma Cole who gave a little history of the events leading up to he and his wife purchasing the team and coming to Savannah. October 5th they took ownership to a vacant stadium but worked hard and overcame many challenges. A major change took place on February 25th with a name the team contest with over one thousand submittals and the choice was made to accept the submission by a 62 year old Savannah nurse for “The Savannah Bananas”. A huge launch was held at the stadium and everything went crazy on Twitter, Good Morning America, Sports Center and the Today Show. The season ended with the team winning the entire championship, every game but four sold out, they had the most fan attendance in 90 years. Jesse invited everyone to support the Savannah Bananas when the next season opens.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Rozier reported that this concluded the items presented for consideration for inclusion on the Council agenda prior to the deadline of Wednesday, September 7, 2016.
The accounts payables were presented with Councilman Myrick making a motion to pay the bills, Councilman Otto seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
There being no further business, Councilman Otto made a motion to adjourn at 8:37pm. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Proudfoot, City Clerk
Note: Section § 50-14-1 of the Official Code of the State of Georgia Annotated requires that the minutes shall, as a minimum, include a description of each motion or other proposal made, and a record of all votes. These minutes meet the minimum requirements. However, in an attempt to provide as much information as possible to the citizens, the recording clerk has included additional background data and discussion on the subjects presented to council. The statements of individuals are not verbatim and may be summary in nature.