nova72asu

Barberitos will open very soon. Not sure on an exact date.

There was an article in the paper a while back talking about a possible adult novelty store coming to the area. I'm sure that will be a hot issue. The city and county have strict rules for adult entertainment locations. It will be exciting to see what comes in for 2007. Happy New Year

If they expand they are required to have a consultant to do a parking study. That was a condition of approval of the parking variance that Council approved, to allow them to construct the Starbucks. At that time which was about a month ago, the person speaking for the request said there were not plans to expand at the time...I guess it is possible that has since changed. *shrugs* who knows. i think up would be better for thier parking situation, if the mall grows much more, i would think they would need to consider a parking deck. that would be something new for statesboro.

I have been wondering about the subforum thing for a while. I didnt know what we needed to do to start one. Since i have been a member Statesboro, GA topic has been in the top 3 topics in terms of activity. I dont know about before then. i do know alot is going on here.

City Council voted on some issues today. They approved the parking variance for the mall, to allow for the loss in parking created by the coming Starbucks. Denied a parking variance for University Plaza to locate a sandwhich shop there. Approved the annexation and rezoning to R-15 for the two parcels off Cawana Road, with the condition that the minimum home size be 1750 square feet heated. I disagree about the city being pro slow growth/ anti growth. Look at all the development the city has approved recently from commercial, multifamily, and single family residential.

Charley's or whatever is not what the coming soon sign says.... Brusters Ice Cream is coming soon to that location.

There is a parking variance going to Council on the 5th for the mall. They want that variance b/c they are going to lose parking places when they construct Starbucks. Starbucks is proposed to be located in the parking lot off Northside Drive, across the main entrance from BB&T.

This information might shed some light on the Metro vs Micro question: Metropolitan Statistical Area.

My only concern with all the new hotels is that they will put the older ones out. I know this is a different situation...but driving up 301 North to Orangeburg there are so many abandoned run down hotels they look aweful. I know in town we have at least one or two that are in bad shape that still manage to get business. I believe one of the reasons for not striping the rest of the parking lot is the continued construction traffic across the parking lot to the back portion where they are building Christophers. The City council approved the annexation and rezoning to R-10 for the property off Lanier Drive and Bird Lane with some conditions. 15,000 sqaure foot lots along the southern property line and a 6ft high opaque fence with a 5ft wide evergreen shrub buffer also along the southern property line. Happy Thanksgiving!

Both the small and larger tract off Cawana will have Single Family homes. I'm not sure on the number but if you take the total area and and divide by 15,000 sqft for each lot you come come up with about 86 lots total. That would come out to be about 3 homes per acre. However, those numbers do not take out the area utilized for road and utility right of way, so you can be sure there would be less than 86 lots and less than 3 homes per acre.

Anybody wondering about the haze and smoke smell? There is a fire at Cypress Lake, pretty crazy, I'm sure it will be in the paper tomorrow.

There is a Planning Commission meeting tonight. The mall is wanting a parking variance in order to allow the Starbucks Coffee and there is the annexation off Cawana of 20 some acres. That was a pretty interesting article in the paper. On that poll where Olive Garden recieved the most votes, I have my doubts about Olive Garden coming here any time soon. My hometown is much larger than Statesboro and Olive Garden was only recently opened there. I was surprised not to see Chilis in the list of options for that poll. Now there is a new poll asking about grocery stores.

Another problem with population estimates and trends is that it doesn't usually take into account current projects and planned or approved projects. When there is not an accurate paper trail of building permits and data on the immediate future housing, then that information is left out which could potentially change the population trend line. Another factor that most likely is not taken into account is rising housing cost in the Savannah area. I know several people who moved to Statesboro b/c of the lower cost housing and commute to Savannah for work. Personally, I feel the numbers recently put out are low, we can only wait and see. The commercial sector is being pretty quiet lately and I don't think it has moved on. I got a feeling they are thinking and planning.

Yeh I dont like legal mumbo jumbo, normal people are voting, write it so normal people can understand... "aight this here amendment 1 says...there aint no government allowed to take someones land for any dern reason except public use" My friend said it was being annexed and zoned for a single family subdivision.

Georgia Amendment 1. Bars eminent domain for private purposes. This is a Legislative Referendum According to the National Conference of State Legislatives website... as of 3 am with 96% of the precints reporting the amendment passes (82%) This amendment will require that the condemnation of property for redevelopment purposes must be approved by vote of the elected governing authority of the county or city in which the property is located. It will restrict the use of eminent domain for redevelopment purposes to the elimination of harm. It will provide that the use of eminent domain by counties and municipalities shall be subject to limitation by general law. It prohibits the use of eminent domain by certain nonelected local authorities. It provides for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection.

A friend on mine just recieved a notification letter about the Cawana development. It's not what went before the county. The letter was from the City.

City Council voted on several items: Denied a variance request for 713 South Main Approved rezoning from R-6 to CR for a .16 acre parcel at the northwest corner of MLK and Roundtree. Delayed the annexations on Bird Lane and Lanier Drive to the next meeting. Denied rezoning from R-15 to PUD for a 5.3 acre parcel on the Zetterower Road Approved a parking variance for Midtown at 441 South Main

I noticed the clearing on Canawa too. Looked like they were logging some of the trees. I have a guess as to what is going on.

In the past there has been some technical difficulties related to updating the city website. So that might explain months at a time being posted. Its not required by law to post the minutes online at all, some towns don't post minutes I'm happy the city posts them, minute books are a pain. Alot of times developments, building and construction, etc... slow down between Thanksgiving and New Years. I have a feeling things will slow down some till the first of next year.

Yes, I agree as well. This is a place to speak about development etc... It is interesting and fun to hear about projects and rumors about up coming developments. I do not come hear to read about political views. One may argue that politics plays a role in development and economic growth. This fact is certainly true and in alot of cases a shamfull truth. Planning and zoning in particular strive to be nonpartisan and not follow politcal agendas. The goal is supposedly to protect the common health, welfair and safety for all the stakeholders. On a more up beat note. The Chinese buffet on Northside Dr across from Savannah Ave is changing names. I wonder if there will be any changes to the food.