Statesboro council approves variances, rezoning, contracts and grant applications

The Statesboro Mayor and Council on May 19 approved a slate of land‑use actions, procurement decisions and resolutions described below.

Land‑use approvals
- Variances for Southeastern Development Associates (Applications B 260401 and B 24260402): Staff and the planning commission recommended approval of variances from the MX district setback and parking rules for a proposed Kroger‑anchored project at 6850 Cypress Lake Road and 7406 Veterans Memorial Parkway, subject to permitting, an approved traffic study and wetlands protections. Attorney Steve Rushing and staff explained the project phasing and design constraints. The council voted to approve the variances.
- Rezoning RZ26‑403 (Billair States Estates Inc.): The council approved rezoning two parcels (6.17 acres) at Edwards Memorial Parkway and Highway 80 from R15 to MX; the applicant (Nathan Brown, Huskale Engineers) said the plan was scaled back to a single sit‑down restaurant (no drive‑thru), wetlands have been delineated and a traffic study is under way. Approval was conditioned on submission of a traffic study and a wetland protection plan.
- Sign variances (Applications 526‑04‑05 and 526‑04‑06) for Academy Sports & Outdoors at 581 North Side Drive: Staff recommended and the council approved requests to increase flagpole height (40 ft → 50 ft) and increase allowable building sign area, noting the building’s setback and visibility concerns; permitting remains required.

Contracts and resolutions
- Approved a three‑year contract (with two one‑year renewal options) for property and casualty and workers’‑comp brokerage services with Gallagher.
- Approved contract amendment #2 with Cranston Engineering for $29,900 for additional West Main Streetscape design work (ENG92).
- Approved an intergovernmental agreement to relocate the city business recruiter position to the Bulloch County Development Authority (pending the authority's approval June 9 and effective July 1, 2026).
- Authorized staff to apply for a Georgia Department of Transportation mobile road assistance grant for roughly $460,000 (Resolution 2026‑19) and approved a refunding revenue bond approval process with Queensboro Bank (Resolution 2026‑20) and a related pledge of available city funds if needed (Resolution 2026‑21).

Votes and formal actions were recorded during the meeting and staff noted concurrence with planning commission recommendations where applicable. Many roll‑call moments were voice votes summarized in the record as "All those in favor? I," and staff recorded the motions as passing.

Provenance: The variances and rezoning items were heard under agenda items 6 and 7; sign variances were agenda item 8; bond and grant resolutions were items 10–12; contracts and contract amendments were items 13–15.

Quotes (attribution per transcript):
"The planning commission unanimously recommended approval and we just ask that you adopt that recommendation," attorney Steve Rushing said regarding the variances.

"Approval of the variance does not grant the right to build without appropriate permitting," staff said repeatedly as a condition for approvals.

Next steps: Conditions attached to zoning approvals — traffic studies, wetlands protection plans and permitting — must be completed during subsequent permitting and land‑disturbance review.