SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – Savannah’s mayor is backing a zoning overhaul aimed at expanding what he calls “missing middle” housing across the city, a proposal that would allow a range of housing types in zones where they were previously not permitted.
What the proposal includes
The text amendment, called the “Housing Toolkit,” expands zoning permissions for the following residential housing types:
- Single-family detached
- Single-family attached (duplexes)
- Two-family (duplexes where two units share a single lot)
- Three-family and four-family (triplexes and quadplexes)
- Townhouses and stacked townhouses
- Apartments
- Upper-story and mixed-use residential (apartments above shops or offices)
The proposal also includes lower parking regulations and would allow accessory dwelling units, known as ADUs, on land zoned as single-family, business, and office.
A mobile workshop in April brought the topic before city council.
Mayor: Decades in the making
Mayor Van Johnson said the city has been working toward this type of housing reform for years.
“Affordable housing is not just low-income housing, it’s housing for mayors, police officers, reporters. Stuff cost too much,” Johnson said…