huntermaclean a t t o r n e y s a t l a w. hutchinson island chatham county- savannahs public-...
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HunterMacleanA T T O R N E Y S A T L A W
Hutchinson Island Hutchinson Island
Chatham County- Savannah’s Public- Private Partnership
Components of Island Development
Components of Island Development
• Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
• Westin Savannah Harbor Resort – Golf Course/ Greenbriar Spa/ Clubhouse– Hotel
• Water Lines Under River• Reuse Water Agreement• Roads financed with SPLOST and DOT
funds
Savannah’s Need for Trade Center
Savannah’s Need for Trade Center
• Fast-growing hospitality industry• Inadequate facilities for “high-end”
conventions and trade shows• Need to increase number of days
average visitor spent in Savannah• Widely recognized need-- but
WHERE?
Possible Locations for Trade Center
Possible Locations for Trade Center
• Downtown historic district• Other sites on Savannah River• Hutchinson Island
• Remote locations– I-95 near Airport– Southside
Hutchinson Island in the 1980’s
Hutchinson Island in the 1980’s
• Industrial• Underdeveloped• Largely vacant• Dredged Slips for Ships• Constitutional Industrial Area- No
Annexation• Multiple ownership
Advantages of Commercial Development
Advantages of Commercial Development
• Expansion of Savannah’s growing hospitality industry
• Complements historic district infrastructure– Restaurants– Shopping– Entertainment
• “Largest undeveloped urban waterfront in America”
• Allows development on large architectural footprints
Opponents of DevelopmentOpponents of Development
• Industries • Port businesses• Downtown
property owners • Some taxpayers• Naysayers
Major Development Hurdles
Major Development Hurdles
• No water/sewer on north side of river
• Wells cannot be used for golf course irrigation
• No road infrastructure or interchange from bridge
• No established water taxi or ferry service to River Streets
Milestones in the Development
Milestones in the Development
• Chatham County voters approved 2/3 of cost using SPLOST funds
• Voters agreed to increase funds to improve aesthetics
• CSX donated 25 acres- most valuable land in Chatham County
• State agreed to pay approximately 1/3 of cost plus roadway access
Milestones in the Development
• Voters approve sales tax funds for trade center- twice
Milestones in the Development
• Voters approve sales tax funds for trade center- twice
• CSX donates 25 acres for trade center
Milestones in the Development
• Voters approve sales tax funds for trade center- twice
• CSX donates 25 acres for trade center
• City and County agree to provide water and sewer
Milestones in the Development
• Voters approve sales tax funds for trade center- twice
• CSX donates 25 acres for trade center
• City and County agree to provide water and sewer
• Voters and CSX approve annexation
Milestones in the Development
• Voters approve sales tax funds for trade center- twice
• CSX donates 25 acres for trade center
• City and County agree to provide water and sewer
• Voters and CSX approve annexation• DOT agrees to fund roads
Milestones in the Development
• Voters approve sales tax funds for trade center- twice
• CSX donates 25 acres for trade center
• City and County agree to provide water and sewer
• Voters and CSX approve annexation• DOT agrees to fund roads• CSX obtains financing
Water / Sewer DevelopmentWater / Sewer Development
• Property owners agreed to substantial tap-in fees which would repay the cost of installation
• County installed lines under Savannah River to service development
• City provided capacity
Reuse Water AgreementReuse Water Agreement
• Need for Golf Course irrigation without use of water from aquifer
• Location of City Sewage Treatment Plant within 2 miles of the project
• Development of Reuse Water technology• City’s agreement to upgrade to tertiary
treatment, and developer’s agreement to pay the cost
Road System and RiverwalkRoad System and Riverwalk
• Developer donated all land • County, using SPLOST funds, paid the
cost of roads on the island, including the loop road to be used for Indycar races
• County paid for riverwalk• State DOT paid the cost of interchange off
of the bridge, plus the boulevard to the trade center (as it had done in Atlanta)
Racetrack IssuesRacetrack Issues
• County’s wish to build a racetrack• Developer’s wish to limit use to
indycar type racing events• Road construction issues of setbacks
and easements• Developer’s agreement to license
the race operator’s use of land adjacent to the track
Joint Use IssuesJoint Use Issues
• Parking for Hotel on Trade Center land
• Westin’s right to reserve rooms in trade center
• Westin’s use of docks attached to riverwalk
• City’s control of the riverwalk• Cross easements
Other Thorny IssuesOther Thorny Issues
• Annexation into the City of Savannah• Water taxi service to the island• Burying major transmission lines
Why Obstacles were Overcome
Why Obstacles were Overcome
• Consistent commitment of public officials of the city and the county
• Commitment of CSX• Support of State Government • Continuity of leadership and working
groups for several years• Votes by people of Chatham County
.
