Pembroke city manager addresses housing
In mid-February, developer James Dasher of Fetzer Lakes LLC withdrew his application for the rezoning and annexation of land that would have ultimately produced hundreds of homes in Pembroke.
However, with Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America expected to have more than 8,000 employees by 2031, an increase in housing in the Pembroke area seems inevitable.
Since the city does not have someone that focuses solely on land use development, it has been a tag team effort between folks inside and outside city hall to locate the best areas for growth.
“We have a development department and that consists of one staff member that plays multiple roles,” said City Manager Chris Benson. “GMC developed our current comprehensive plan. A component of that plan looks at growth and development of your city internally and contemplates where the city should grow its municipal boundaries.”
The city’s comprehensive plan emphasizes the need for smart planning as Hyundai’s presence will “create demand for residential development in the northern parts of Bryan County.”
The plan also says the city needs to “be mindful of the development pressures and needs of existing neighborhoods” and that the city may consider annexing areas “north-east and east of the city.” The county’s comprehensive plan echoes those concerns.
Benson said ideally, the city needs to add 150-200 rooftops a year.
What are the options for housing expansion in Bryan County?
Benson said although they have “limited housing stock”, the city is open to looking at everything from affordable housing to townhomes.
Cottages are another form of hous
ing listed as a possibility in the comprehensive plan and could be anywhere between 600-1,000 square feet. If the city chose to take that route, Benson pointed to the benefits of constructing them near the center of the city, saying it would encourage walkability and foster a sense of community.
“Those would be your two-bedroom, one-bathroom homes, maybe an open kitchen style,” said Benson. “The concept of cottage housing is where you don’t necessarily have your own front yard. You might share a courtyard or a tiny green space in the middle and then the cottages kind of surround those.”
Townhomes and single family detached homes will also be considered. Ultimately, the city’s goal is to provide an array of housing so residents can live in Pembroke long-term, while enjoying the benefits of home ownership.
“The more diverse housing options we can provide for our community, the greater we’re going to be at a place where people can stay and actually live here,” said Benson.
Benson said the goal is to have a planned unit development to design communities with playgrounds, green space and walking trails.
“Pembroke’s proximity to the Savannah metropolitan area, Fort Stewart, Statesboro and Georgia Southern University makes the city a small community located at a major crossroads of economic opportunity,” said Benson. “As Pembroke and Bryan County continue to grow in size and diversity, there is the potential for the city to harness this momentum and bring about huge changes while preserving its rural and historic character.”
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.