Pooler City Council Regular Meeting - July 6, 2026

Mayor Karen Williams called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. All council members were present except Shannon Valim (absent for personal reasons). The meeting lasted until 10:07 p.m., with a 10-minute break from 7:25 to 7:35 p.m. and an executive session from 9:58 to 10:05 p.m. Notable actions included approval of most consent and regular items, denial of a tobacco retail conditional use, postponement of a major mixed-use rezoning ("The District"), and adoption of a millage rate rollback.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 5-0 (Bashlor, Carpenter, Henry, Hutcherson, Wilcher) all consent items except Item C (Executive Session Minutes of June 15, 2026), which was withdrawn and postponed to the July 20, 2026 meeting.
• Items included minutes, an alcoholic beverage license change of ownership, and two sidewalk performance bond releases.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public hearing on tobacco retail denial (Item VIII.D): No public comments were offered.
• Public hearing on retreat condition change (Item VIII.E) and retreat at 1337 S. Rogers (Item VIII.F): No public comments.
• Public hearing on "The District" PUD amendment (Item VIII.I): Over a dozen residents spoke, with positions as follows:
  • Pat Lynch, Joshua Soave, David Brown, Amanda Bradmire, Barbara Sharon, Jeffrey Beauvais, Matt Myles, Carson Stricklin, Laukik Patel, Kim Iler-Morgan, Sari Fioravanti, Theresa Cameron all expressed concerns about traffic, density, environmental impact, and lack of community benefit. Several urged denial or a smaller scale.
  • Michael Bartusch (323 Casey Drive) opposed the project, arguing it would lead to overdevelopment, congestion, and loss of homeownership opportunities. He suggested condos instead of rentals and questioned the need for more apartments.
  • Opollo Johnson (Savannah resident) supported the project, citing the need for quality-of-life infrastructure, a gathering space, and preparation for regional growth.
• Note on absent member: The minutes list Shannon Valim as absent, while the transcript refers to "Councilwoman Shannon Ballum." This discrepancy is recorded without resolution.

Discussion Items

• Special Events: Two permits approved unanimously – Savannah Tacos and Treats Festival (temporary alcohol, Sept. 19) and Patriot Day Celebration (no alcohol, Sept. 12).
• Site Development Plans: Two hotels (LivSmart 121-room and StudioRes 124-room) at 850 Patel Drive approved 5-0. A one-story multi-tenant commercial building at 200 Suri Avenue approved 5-0.
• Conditional Uses (public hearings held on each):
  • Mobile Italian Ice business at 1114 Forest Drive: Approved 5-0 with condition that all storage be inside garage or behind fence.
  • Tobacco retail at 329 SE US 80: Denied 5-0 after staff and planning commission recommended denial, finding the use inconsistent with the Main Street Overlay District's family-friendly goals.
  • Retreat condition change at 1336 S. Rogers Street: Approved 4-1 (Wilcher opposed) with conditions prohibiting hotel/short-term rental and requiring a 20-foot vegetated buffer and berm.
  • New retreat at 1337 S. Rogers Street: Approved 4-1 (Wilcher opposed) with conditions for vegetated buffer, construction hour restrictions, and prohibition of hotel/short-term rental.
  • Material testing lab at 195 Nordic Way: Approved 5-0 with condition that lab area not exceed 45,000 sq ft.
• Variance for Culver's drive-thru canopy at 121 Tanger Outlets Blvd: Approved 4-1 (Wilcher opposed) to allow expansion within the 60-foot front yard setback.
• "The District" PUD Amendment (rezoning three parcels from Jabot PUD C-2 to City C-2 for 1,060 multi-family units and mixed-use): After lengthy public testimony and council debate, council voted 4-1 to postpone final action to a date uncertain, pending further discussion with staff on proper process and the use of a Planned Overlay district. Wilcher voted no. The petitioner's representatives (Lamar Wakefield, Robert Forest, Mary Thermani) presented detailed plans, discussed traffic improvements, stormwater management, and community amenities. Many residents opposed; some supported. The city attorney cautioned against "agreements to agree" on future road improvements.
• Unfinished Business: Purchase and Sale Agreement for former alley at West Whatley Street approved 5-0 (price $2,997.90).
• New Business:
  • Program for Public Information Annual Evaluation Report (no action): Reported CRS Class 6 rating, 1,500 flood insurance policies, and committee finding no major revisions needed.
  • 2026 Millage Rate Adoption: Rollback rate of 4.096 mills (down from 4.197, a 2.4% decrease) adopted 5-0, providing property tax relief.
• Executive Session & Additional Item: After executive session (9:58–10:05 p.m.), council added and approved 5-0 a Fire Truck Litigation Contingency Agreement with the Conn Law Firm, subject to city attorney approval.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved except one withdrawn item.
• Special events (two) approved.
• Site plans (two) approved.
• Conditional uses: One denied (tobacco), four approved (Italian ice, two retreats, lab), all with conditions or without opposition except the retreat items (4-1) and tobacco denial (5-0).
• Variance for Culver's approved 4-1.
• "The District" PUD amendment postponed to a date uncertain (4-1).
• Alley sale approved.
• Millage rate rolled back to 4.096 (adopted 5-0).
• Fire truck litigation contingency approved.
• Meeting adjourned at 10:07 p.m.