‘That’s a victory’: Residents celebrate application withdrawal for large housing development

Latrice Williams, Savannah Morning News
·2 min read
Undeveloped land on the right of Wildwood Church Road is being considered for annexed by the city Pembroke for a housing development.
Undeveloped land on the right of Wildwood Church Road is being considered for annexed by the city Pembroke for a housing development.

Residents in Pembroke were shocked when they learned a developer withdrew an application for a proposed 800-home development near Wildwood Church Road.

Mayor Tiffany Zeigler made the announcement at the city council meeting Monday night. According to Zeigler, the developer did not specify why the application was withdrawn. City Manager Chris Benson thinks the developer will have to wait six months before reapplying.

Fetzer Lakes LLC made the request at 4:11 p.m. But word had not traveled through the community fast enough. Residents piled into city hall ready to express their concern over the proposed number of units.

Heather Sitton moved to Pembroke 21 years ago to escape the forthcoming growth from Pooler and Effingham County. When she learned Fetzer Lakes LLC submitted an application to develop nearly 800 homes near her property on Wildwood Church Road, she feared the worst.

“I was a little angry,” said Sitton. “We have a small farm with chickens. We have 8 years of payments left on our house. We moved out there for the school system. Most of the people I know don’t want growth. They have either grown up here or chose to stay here.”

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Robert Lodge holds a kid at his farm near Pembroke, Georgia farm where he raises and trains goats.
Robert Lodge holds a kid at his farm near Pembroke, Georgia farm where he raises and trains goats.

James Carter has lived in town for 35 years. Like Sitton, he wanted to avoid growth in Effingham County and settled in Pembroke. He has 6 acres of land and enjoys watching his grandchildren play in the yard. He worries growth would prevent his family from enjoying small town living.

“I don’t want to have to wait 20 minutes to pull out of my driveway or wait an hour at EnMarket,” said Carter. “This is a child’s place. You have ball parks - everyone around here has kids. We have to embrace progress but you have to be ready. This place ain’t ready.”

Latrice Williams is the Bryan and Effingham counties reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at LWilliams6@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Developer withdraws application for proposed 800-home development in Pembroke