'It's unacceptable': Bloomingdale residents outraged over possible rezoning
Two Savannah elected officials join in the fight, speaking out against the change.
Two Savannah elected officials join in the fight, speaking out against the change.
Two Savannah elected officials join in the fight, speaking out against the change.
Neighbors in Bloomingdale, and two elected officials from Savannah, are furious over possible rezoning and a lack of communication.
“The way that this has been handled, it is unacceptable. It's unacceptable,” said neighbor Garnasia Bogus.
The area ... between John Carter Road, Old River Road, Little Neck Road and I-16 is currently zoned for industrial-light use, which means it's built for warehouses.
Next week, Savannah's Economic Development Authority will request the land be rezoned to industrial-heavy use. That means almost anything could go there.
“We have stood up time and again about rezoning issues, poor public notification. You see this sign in the woods, that's one example,” said resident Carrie Bieber.
That legally-required public notice sign sits far away from the access road, barely in view. Its placement even has Chatham County Commissioner Aaron Whitely baffled.
“I was tremendously appalled to come and see where the sign placement for the public meeting for this development, that is behind us, where it was,” Whitely said.
Neighbors are concerned, too, about the impacts this rezoning could bring. Noise, heavy traffic and bright lights at night, just to name a few.
“Our community has been under constant threat and this is our way of dealing with it,” neighbor Cheryl Sanderlin said.
The residents tell me they'll be out in full force at the May 24 meeting of the planning commission.
“We'll fight,” said Anne Horn. “We the people of this area will fight. We'll show up and show out.”
The area facing rezoning is currently neighbored by two other pieces of land zoned for industrial-heavy use.
WJCL reached out to the Metro Planning Commission to ask why the sign was placed where it was and the ultimate plan for the land. So far, we haven’t received a response.