Development vote sparks backlash in Pooler

POOLER, Ga. (WTOC) -A unanimous vote at a packed Pooler City Council meeting set off frustration in the room as leaders approved a warehouse plan near Tom Triplett Community Park after hours of public comment.

Council approved changes Monday night to zoning conditions for 200 Jesup Road, clearing the way for industrial warehouse buildings and a new access road. The proposal has drawn strong pushback from residents who say the development is too close to Tom Triplett Community Park and the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal.

One petitioner representing the developers told council that concerns about trees, buffers and drainage would be handled during the site plan process.

“Trees, buffer, drainage, how we’re going to handle drainage — all that is a site-plan issue and will absolutely be handled by the very fine people behind me from Thomas and Hutton,” the petitioner said.

Some residents argued the project could bring increased truck traffic and a larger development footprint near an area they consider one of the last quiet green spaces along Highway 80.

Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Society volunteer Holly Lewis said she is concerned about impacts to the park and the canal.

“And they want to build a bridge over the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal which is a historic canal and a recreational area to allow semi traffic to go through,” Lewis said.

Lewis criticized the council’s decision to move forward.

“It’s just a shame that development is being allowed to encroach on that,” she said.

WTOC reached out to people connected to the project in support of the development for additional comment, but no one agreed to an interview Monday night.

Council was also set to hold a public hearing on a request to rezone six parcels on Old Pine Barren Road from single-family to townhomes and condominiums, but that item was withdrawn before it came up for a vote.