Port Wentworth approves warehouse development, street parking changes and more

At their last meeting of the year, Port Wentworth officials passed resolutions that residents should be aware of, including changing the meeting dates for the next year and approving a warehouse development that will bring several benefits to the city and residents.

Development Agreement SPH 21

The Port Wentworth City Council unanimously approved a development agreement for 762 acres of industrial-zoned property with Atlanta-based SPH 21, LLC. In exchange for the city providing the developers with potable water, wastewater services and relocating a portion of Saussy canal, the developers will provide funding for priority projects identified by city official to include:

• Intersection improvements and traffic light installation at Highway 21

• Saussy canal drainage improvements

• Two-acre site for a fourth fire station for the city

• Installation and use of city fiber optic network for internet services

• Commitment to the city's vision for pedestrian paths to walk, bike or take golf carts to and from the future park

• Funding for sewer and lift station improvements

• Commitment to consider the use of Port Wentworth Development Authority

• Payments for dedicated ERU's, or equivalent residential units, of water

"I do think it's obvious throughout my time on council and my time serving on planning and zoning that I am not a proponent of or enjoy looking at or being able to touch a warehouse in someone's backyard," said City Council Member District 1 Gabrielle Nelson. "But what I will say is that I am very appreciative of how this agreement came to pass. We're talking about a fire station, we're talking about public safety and installation of traffic lights that we've been begging for."

Georgia Benton, a resident who lives on Saussy Road, stood up to say the residents had no idea about this development, but councilmembers didn't respond because there was no public hearing section. During the public comment section at the beginning of the meeting her son, Laray Benton said that he had filed a class action lawsuit against the city and the developers about this agreement.

He alleged that the city did not have jurisdiction or authority to act on anything dealing with the agreement due to the pending case, and if they voted on the agenda item it would be illegal. The attorney said twice during discussion that there's nothing that was stopping them from voting that night.

The agreement was approved unanimously.

Changes in street parking

The council unanimously passed an ordinance on changing street parking to odd-even side parking.

This means that street parking will now be allowed on the odd side of the street in the odd numbered months, and on the even side of the street in the even numbered months within all residentially zoned, neighborhood commercial zoned, and planned-use development zoned areas.

Cars will still have to park in the correct direction.

A list of roads where this does and does not apply to will be made available and kept by the police department. The city staff and police departments will roll out enforcement prior to escalating penalties going into effect.

Human resources policy

In a 3-3 vote, with the mayor delivering a tie-breaking "yes," council approved amending the city's human resources policy so that the city manager and staff can make changes to the policy throughout the year, rather than taking human resources decisions to council to vote at the meeting once a month.

"This is not changing the HR policy manual, it's merely taking it out of the ordinances," said City Manager Steve Davis. "We are in a city manager form of government, where the city manager is over all personnel decisions, hiring, firing, and all other administration duties. The [preexisting] ordinance is in conflict with our form of government, where we would have to come back before council and have a public hearing and two readings to make every single edit or change to the policy."

Newly elected Councilmember At-Large Post 2 Artlise Alston-Cone asked if that was not the purpose of council, to vote to approve or disapprove any policy.

Councilmember District 4 Glenn Jones said that the council couldn't have it both ways: they can't be a council-manager form of government and not let the city manager run the city as the chief administrative officer.

Councilmember District 3 Rufus Bright made a motion to table it, due to members of council "not really understanding all the factors that goes into the human resources laws." Councilmember Cone seconded, and Mayor Pro-Tem Thomas Barbee voted with them. Councilmembers Jones, Nelson and District 2 Mark Stephens voted no to tabling it. Mayor Gary Nelson broke the tie by voting no.

"We hired Steve, Steve is responsible for our employees, and we don't want to be micromanaging him, that's not our job here," Stephens said. "This is not a hill that we need to die on."

Stephens motioned to approve the change, with Nelson seconding it and Jones voting with them. Alston-Cone, Bright and Barbee voted against it, with Norton once again breaking the tie.

"Look, we as a group decided to put Steve in charge," Nelson said. "So I'm going to say yes."

Changes to city council meeting schedule

The city approved the meeting schedule for next year, to meet at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month.

Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Port Wentworth approves warehouse development, street parking changes