🌱 Zoning For Affordable Housing + New Pine Gardens Historical Marker

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Humid; an afternoon t-storm. High: 85 Low: 69.

🏡 Are you looking for a new and effective way to advertise your real estate business? If you've maxed out your lead generation with Zillow and Google, we have a fresh solution for you. Our exclusive sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to reach potential clients and stand out in the market. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in Savannah today:

1. The City of Savannah is finalizing plans for an inclusionary zoning ordinance and has set July as a tentative deadline to bring the ordinance to the full council for a vote. An inclusionary zoning ordinance would require that developers set aside a certain number of units in multi-family developments to be affordable for those making at or under the city's median income of $45,500. The ordinance would be limited to areas with the highest demand for affordable housing. However, not all developers are in agreement with the idea since the new rules could limit potential revenue. To bring developers on board, the city is considering reducing requirements for parking and building height. (Subscription: Savannah Morning News)
2. The Port of Savannah is taking preparations for hurricane season seriously, especially after weathering active storm seasons over the past several years. Kevin Doyle, the senior director of protective services with the Georgia Ports Authority, explained that as a storm approaches, securing equipment at the port is essential. Containers are closely stacked to increase stability during high wind events. The port has plans for ship-to-shore cranes that involve locking them in place with pins. Doyle said that planning for hurricanes at the 2,000-acre port is a year-round priority. (WJCL)
3. Savannah has a new historical marker commemorating Pine Gardens, a 1942 defense community for civilian workers who were supporting efforts in WWII on the home front. The Georgia Historical Society dedicated the new marker on May 11 with the Chatham County Board of Education and the Eli Whitney Alumni Association. The Pine Garden Defense Community housed workers for the Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation, which was one of only 18 companies in the country to manufacture Liberty Ships. Pine Gardens stands today as one of the largest, intact defense communities in the state. (Savannah CEO)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Savannah Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Savannah Patch newsletter possible.

Today in Savannah:

• Sit-In Sessions: Public Listening Room At The Drayton Hotel Vinyl Lounge (7:00 PM)
• Childcare Industry Workshop Series (Virtual), Hosted By The Small Business Assistance Corporation (7:00 PM)
• 13 Ghosts Haunted Tour Savannah At Monterey Square, 429 Bull St. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• This Thursday, the Intracoastal Playboys will have a special nine-member lineup for Wharfstop! The show will start at 6:00 p.m. at The Park at Eastern Wharf. Click here to learn more about the band. (Savannah Stopover Music Festival via Facebook)
• Officer Reyes with the Savannah Police Department helped wrangle a 6-foot alligator on Montclair Boulevard. Officer Reyes worked with animal control personnel to relocate the gator to a safer location. (WJCL)
• The City of Savannah has some upcoming events if you're still looking for an opportunity to celebrate Mother's Day. This Friday, there will be Family Bingo at Woodville Community Center from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., and there is also a Mother's and Father's Day Celebration planned at the Moses Jackson Community Center from 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. For more information, click here. (City of Savannah Government via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (May 16)
• The 2nd Annual Hallie Grace Memorial Butterfly Ball for EB (June 9)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday off right! I'll see you around.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.