The Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday justified its decision for granting Christ Church Anglican permission to build a sanctuary in the Thomas Square neighborhood.
The board, in response to a judge’s order, amended the motion used as the basis for an April 25 decision regarding the church’s zoning variance requests. The update explains the board’s reasoning for disregarding the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission staff’s recommendations on the variances.
An order by Chatham County Superior Court Chief Judge Michael Karpf prompted the amended motion. Karpf is presiding over an appeal of the board’s decision filed by Christ Church’s would-be neighbors, who are opposed to building the church campus on the site.
Karpf’s order read that he was unable to determine whether the zoning board abused its discretion as claimed by the plaintiffs, six East 36th Street residents whose homes sit across the lane from the proposed sanctuary site.
Karpf found the board’s April decision was “directly contrary” to the MPC staff recommendations. Under the ordinance, the board was thereby required to provide a “statement of the grounds for the decision or action.”
“Thus the use of the staff report in this manner failed to follow the requirements of the zoning ordinance,” Karpf ruled.
He remanded the case to the Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals with instructions that it re-enter its decision along with a statement supporting it. Hence the amended motion approved Thursday.
Christ Church Anglican’s congregation wants to build their new sanctuary on the corner of Drayton and 37th streets. Neighbors and other Thomas Square residents argue the mid-city zoning ordinance prohibits the facility being built as proposed.