Tybee Council Considers New Parking Solutions for Tybee IGA Market on The Tybee Times Online

Tybee Council Considers New Parking Solutions for Tybee IGA Market

Tybee Council Considers New Parking Solutions for Tybee IGA Market

Tybee IGA Market on Butler Avenue

Read: 10/22/09, Savannah Morning News Article by Leslie Conn, "Tybee Market Expansion Ruffles Feathers on Lovell."

Read: 09/25/09, Savanah Morning News Article by Leslie Conn, "Tybee Market Proposal Riles Council"

Read: 08/14/09, Savannah Morning News Article by Leslie Conn, "Council Crafts Compromise for Tybee Market."

Read:08/11/09, Savannah Morning News Article by Leslie Conn, "Tybee Council Heads to Market Vote"

VISIT supporttybeemarket.com, and let your local voice be heard on this issue.

Read:07/10/09, Savannah Morning News Article by Leslie Conn, "Grocery Store Zoning Divides Tybee Council!"

Tybee Market is an 83 year-old institution on Tybee Island - Mike Hosti's family has owned it for 75 of those years. Located mid-island, in a residential area on Butler Avenue the market had operated under commercial zoning until 1971 a blanket rezoning decision labeled it R-2 (residential). The property east of Butler (ocean side) was zoned R/T (residential tourist), and those property owners feared that businesses along Butler were going to expand into surrounding residential areas across the street, and petitioned Tybee's Council to stop them. According to former councilman Jack Daniels who served from 1965 through 1971, the settlement was never intended to restrict the growth of existing businesses such as Tybee Market on the west side of Butler Avenue, but to stop further infringements with new businesses that may want to build or open in that R-2 area that was rezoned.

Tybee Market has an existing parking lot permit with an opening onto Lovell Avenue that could be used to access the two lots adjacently north of the store should the expansion be allowed to go forward. Under the 1971 blanket definition, Tybee Market is presently zoned R-2, non-conforming!

But the store is surrounded by an R-2 neighborhood of homeowners, some of whom are concerned that such expansion will lower their property values, add to traffic woes, congestion, noise and trash along Lovell Avenue. These homeowners have hired a lawyer and are appealing to Tybee's Council to restrict market owner Mike Hosti from getting the Lovell driveway opening, even if he's able to get the property next door rezoned for conditional use to create the parking lot.

At Thursday night's council meeting attorney Walter Hartridge representing these property owners argued that to allow the conditional zoning recommended by Tybee's Planning Commission on a 3-2 vote, would actually be a violation called "spot (C-2) zoning," and that infringement on nearby properties would be irreversible and set a precedent towards future C-2 expansion. However, Tybee's city attorney Bubba Hughes has stated that Hosti's petition merely allows an expansion of an "existing, non-conforming use" since the Planning Commission's approval of the conditional zoning limits usage to a gift shop, grocery store, retail store, business/professional office or a parking lot.

Local designer Jim Stone of Titan Group laid out Hosti's expansion plan, and both he and Hosti tried to address questions and concerns raised by the homeowners. Councilwoman Wanda Doyle quizzed Hosti about the real need for the parking lot opening onto Lovell. There was also some concern that trucks attempting to use the new driveway after unloading could actually make the turn to exit through the driveway back onto Butler as the petitioner's proposal suggests - Stone and Hosti contend this is an option designed to alleviate truck congestion in back of the store - Doyle and Councilman Charlie Brewer mentioned safety issues that may arise in the new parking lot from this option.

Both Stone and Hosti say the proposed plan is open for discussion. "We initially just petitioned for an expanded use parking lot, not C-2 zoning," stated Stone. "Rezoning of the four lots on which the store now stands, plus these two additional lots came later as another possible option."

Councilman Paul Wolff also voiced concerns, but admitted that the market was definitely in need of more parking, as this was also a dangerous situation. Other nearby residents rose in favor of the parking lot mentioning that many island residents deal with undesirable situations caused by vacation rentals and traffic, and that keeping a long-standing grocery on Tybee was also very important to the community.

Members of the Tybee Council seemed to agree that Tybee Market needs some relief in this area, but how to do it is the question. Rather than send the proposal back to the Planning Commission however, they decided to table the petition and take it up again in August. Councilman Eddie Crone voiced frustration and demanded that the parties "get together and work something out to give Mike Hosti a parking lot!" He also reminded the property owners along Lovell Avenue that the City of Tybee owns the 30-ft right of way on both sides of the street in back of the store.

Crone at first made but rescinded a motion Thursday night to approve the petition, and Wanda Doyle seconded it with discussion. The hope of the council is that residents near the store can come to some agreement with the owner over a compromise by the time council meets to consider the issue again in August.

More to come...

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