Savannah City Council approved an ordinance Thursday amending the city’s zoning code to create what officials are calling an Affordable Housing Overlay District, a move aimed at addressing rising housing costs and increasing residential density.
The ordinance , which passed by a 7-2 vote with a minor modification, allows property owners to more easily develop high-density and multi-family housing in neighborhoods that have traditionally consisted of low-density, single-family homes.
However, all projects seeking affordable housing status must be certified by the city manager’s office, which under the ordinance would be defined as residences in which rental or ownership costs do not exceed 30% of a household’s gross income…