Chatham Emergency Services Director Dennis Jones said they are expecting an above-average hurricane season for Coastal Georgia this year as has been the case for the last several years ‘above average’ is really becoming the norm the City of Pooler held a hurricane preparation workshop early last week Pooler Mayor Karen Williams said that they wanted people to have access to those resources early on and to know they were trying to get that information out there as the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane season approaches starting June 1 Last hurricane season brought 18 named storms with 11 becoming hurricanes and five of those becoming major hurricanes hurricane-force winds toppling trees and no power in back-to-back Tropical Storms Debby and Helene and rounding out the season with high winds from Hurricane Milton Pooler is located about 30 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean but drainage problems have plagued some of the residents for as long as they can remember Barrington Estates off Quacco Road in Pooler was just one of the many neighborhoods in the area left with detrimental flooding Sara Hartley said in an interview at the time than the flooding they experienced during Tropical Storm Debby seemed worse than Hurricane Matthew in 2016 She believed they experienced 11 inches of rain in a day-and-a-half "Our lot specifically backs up to one of the branches of the canal system that then links into a branch of the system along 95 into the Ogeechee," Hartley said in an interview in August part of it is because it's all linked to that and eventually it just gets inundated with all the stormwater runoff and can't go anywhere fast enough They did do work to improve our drainage after Matthew but we haven't had any significant flooding until now." just days after Tropical Storm Debby dissipated said one of the first things he heard coming into the city was the localized flooding residents were experiencing in Kelly Drive and Barrington Estates Pooler has a collection of detention ponds where water is held and slowly released into the canals the city initiated a contract with Coleman Engineering to do surveys to figure out how to improve the drainage in Kelly Drive they received the results and are now trying to move forward with a three-phase project The first phase will be to restore the drainage pattern on Kelly Drive and Lloyd said the city will try to move forward with that project sometime in the second quarter of the year but probably not before the beginning of hurricane season involves working with the developer to create “essentially a nine acre lake.” Lloyd said that project is moving slower than they wanted it to This project would not only help those in Barrington Estates but everyone who is impacted by the canal.In December Pooler City Council approved the widening of the Piper Makers Canal from Pooler Parkway to I-95 which will be finished up right before hurricane season starts Lloyd mentioned that the city had a bit of a setback in developing a city-wide stormwater master plan, like Savannah when the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced an end to its Building Infrastructure and Communities (GRANT) program Pooler would have received half a million dollars to look at drainage improvements needed for large waterways and local flooding Another thing that could help with any local flooding would be for Homeowner Associations to clean out their detention ponds which Williams said many associations did not know they were responsible for The city has begun having monthly meetings with Pooler HOA’s to explain that they may not be holding the water that they should be and are required to hold “We made it perfectly clear to them that they are responsible for getting that sludge cleaned out periodically,” Williams said More: For one Pooler neighborhood, the waters of Tropical Storm Debby have yet to recede More: Savannah's location made it more susceptible to Helene's hurricane-force winds Williams said the biggest takeaway from last hurricane season is that they always have to be prepared because you never know what direction the storms are coming “We did an excellent job as a city and staff to prepare,” Williams said and those are the types of things we’ll continue to do.” was how the city responded in the aftermath of a storm event two things expected to come up in council will be the recommendation of a contract for Pooler to have its own debris management and an emergency response contractor Pooler piggybacked off the county's debris management contract “Piggybacking doesn’t give you that priority level of service though “[The emergency response contractors] have what they call a 72-hour window where you can have a contractor clear your roadways and allow you to begin to restore your city So what I’m looking at is having multiple options to respond to storms and restore our city.” Williams emphasized that the city is being proactive to try and handle any issues that may arise “I think it's important for the residents to understand that we're not going to be able to solve it all overnight try to improve drainage for the entire city,” Lloyd said Jones' presentation on how residents can personally prepare for hurricane season can be found on the Pooler website He encouraged residents to start defining an emergency plan for their families and putting together an emergency kit Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for the Savannah Morning News, covering the municipalities, and community and cultural programs. You can reach her at DAmbus@gannett.com the convenience store chain with a cult following is holding its grand opening in Pooler this month Wawa's first Chatham County store is slated to open on April 24 in Pooler at 1480 Pooler Parkway Wawa will host festivities and a ribbon cutting announce community partnerships and will host a “Hoagies for Heroes” hoagie building competition while the ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m Director of Store Operations Nancy Dulaney said in a press release “We look forward to continuing to bring our unique brand of fresh food beverages and convenience to new areas and to further our commitment to providing the community with not only a new level of convenience but a strong The store broke ground in May 2024 at the intersection of Pooler Parkway and Pine Barren Road after being approved by Pooler City Council in February Wawa opened its stores in Georgia in 2024 in Bainbridge the franchise plans to open five to six more stores before year end Wawa plans to build and open more than 26 stores in Georgia at the pace of around three to four stores per year snacks and desserts that have earned it an impassioned following Mayor Karen Williams said in an interview last May that she was thrilled the convenience store was coming to Pooler "I feel their stay in Pooler will be a remarkable one and that the community will find them to be an asset just as I do," Williams said "I congratulate them on coming to Pooler and look forward to future endeavors." Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPOOLER the Board of Directors announced the closure of the Children’s Museum of Pooler as Tanger Outlets has accepted another company’s lease.” “actively looking for a new building/location to establish a new permanent home for the Museum where we can continue to inspire and educate future generations.” The Children’s Museum of Pooler thanked the community for their continued support over the past five years “If you have any leads on available properties or are in a position to offer donation pledges towards a property and set up costs will help us create a new and vibrant space for children and families in our community Please email cdaniels@childrensmuseumofpooler.org with any pledges or leads.” Read the entire release in a social media post below: The Coastal Health District of Georgia serves the counties of Bryan The following information was posted to the City of Pooler website on Dec Boil Water Advisory Lifted: The City of Pooler is pleased to announce that the Boil Water Advisory has been lifted for all users of the municipal water system Following extensive flushing and thorough testing of the water supply the results have confirmed that the water is safe for consumption What You Need to Know: The advisory has been lifted and the water supply meets all safety standards and you no longer need to boil water for drinking For More Information: The City of Pooler is required to monitor drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis, and results are an indicator of whether or not drinking water meets health standards. Questions? Contact the Water Department at (912) 330-8650 or at mwilliams@pooler-ga.gov The City of Pooler issued a Boil Water Advisory on December 12 after the detection of E coli bacteria at one of twenty water sample sites This information was posted in a press release on the City of Pooler website: coli presence is isolated to a single site and further testing indicates that this is likely an isolated incident we are issuing this advisory as a precautionary measure to protect public health Due to the looped nature of the City’s water system all users of the supply are being notified To protect the public from ingesting water that could make them sick, all customers should boil any tap water that will be consumed, or use bottled water until the advisory is lifted. Please monitor the website of the City of Pooler for the current status of the Boil Water Advisory the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that boiled tap water or bottled water be used for the following: The complete CDC guidance can be found at this website: cdc.gov/water-emergency All food service facilities, hotels, and motels in the advisory area MUST use boiled water or bottled water for cooking, cleaning of food contact surfaces, dishwashing, and handwashing. Additionally, use of ice makers and post-mix soda machines should be discontinued. If a facility cannot implement these measures, they should contact the Chatham County Environmental Health office for further guidance Other Public Health Topics Read Our Newsletter Health Departments Environmental Health Offices Administrative Offices Public health websites by Heideldesign When Trish Brown first moved to Pooler 10 years ago she said it was for some key quality-of-life reasons: so her husband could be closer to his job so they would be closer to their kids and their school and so they could escape from the traffic that Savannah was experiencing at the time The traffic, though, seems to have followed them, along with congestion and accidents living in the city feels like a constant cycle of being stuck in your car while looking out the windows at shovels in the ground for new projects from apartments to single-family residential homes residents are planning to gather and march at Pooler City Hall for more thoughtful development they say that the protest is not about stopping development All of the residents involved in organizing have had a final straw, so to speak, and according to Brown, based on conversations she has had, the breaking point came when a hotel was approved off Quacco Road on Feb. 18. “It was just mentioned that we weren’t being listened to Tuesday, March 18 was chosen specifically because there will be an agenda item for a rezoning for Highway 80 and Sangrena Drive going from R-1 “You can almost certainly guess that as soon as a Residential-3 is approved another apartment complex is going to go up,” Brown said “And we really need things that are adding to the quality of life the library that we’ve been promised…We just need things that are going to make living here pleasurable right now Pooler passed a short-term rental ordinance. What's in it? Should ESPLOST V pass on March 18, Pooler's first high school would be high priority her final straw was similar to what could potentially happen at Sangrena There are plans to amend a planned unit development (PUD) behind where she lives to assign the almost 90 acres as single-family residential use Pooler staff recommended the PUD amendment be approved with the condition that 20-foot buffers be added and no more than 88 lots the most devastating part would be the loss of green space and the deer that she’s grown to love over the last 20 years she has lived here flooding and infrastructure for additional homes behind Hunter’s Ridge for people who have lived in Pooler for a long time and a lot of us moved here for the beauty of Pooler,” Gilliard said and now you’re getting to where there’s no green space What do Pooler residents want from city council?The march will come with a few demands an immediate six-month moratorium on developments that have not received site plan approval yet primarily apartment and multi-family housing units for council to enact a High-Impact Duplicate Development Review Process that would potentially create an avenue to deny certain projects that are within a certain radius of similar projects denying a fifth hotel near Tanger Outlets or a fourth 200-unit complex on Pooler Parkway if it overloads utilities worsens traffic beyond 15% peak-hour delay they are definitely communicating with the city that they want more transparency This includes quarterly updates online and to the public and in person about approved developments and how they align with the Pooler Comprehensive 2040 plan which is a long-term planning document for a community’s growth and development In the packets for Pooler’s Planning and Zoning meetings explanations are provided for why staff recommends approval or denial of project and often includes if the development is in line with Pooler’s 2040 plan and Future Land Use Map Director of Planning and Development Nicole Johnson said that the process to update the comprehensive plan would begin soon since the plan needs be adopted in 2026 The process of updating the comprehensive plan would require resident feedback City Manager Heath Lloyd said during the retreat that discussing zoning and land use drainage plans and more was a priority and acknowledged that residents had to be a part of that conversation 'Nobody is fighting for us'“We don’t hear anything from council unless it's 'the site plan had to be approved because it wasn’t our fault it was the administration before us',” Brown said Brown also said that city officials often say that they “have” to approve something and what I’m hearing is that people already don’t enjoy living here because of that Many people would rather pay higher taxes if it’s because of litigation While discussing the possibility of being sued for the short-term rental ordinance council passed on March 3, Mayor Karen Williams said there was always a chance of being sued after a resident brought up the possibility she clarified that she meant “anybody could be sued for almost anything nowadays” and that you had to she was talking about the conversation surrounding short-term rentals Brown was very surprised to hear that comment “It seems to me like constituents being upset is fine The city being sued by independent citizens is fine,” Brown said “But they refuse to stand up to developers decimating green spaces and putting hotels in front of schools knowing sex trafficking is on the rise and its obscenely inappropriate for that location.” “Show us that you have some backbone,” Brown said but the outcome is that your constituents know that you’re willing to fight for them Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for the Savannah Morning News (WTOC) - Chatham County’s first Wawa is officially open and ready to serve customers The convenience store chain celebrated with a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning The line around Pooler’s very first Wawa convenience store was out the wazoo Thursday Some enthusiasts of the chain camping out for hours before the doors even opened ‘I wanted to be the first person on line,” said Tripp Rodgers over a hundred fans of the convivence store joined him in line to fuel up gasoline isn’t the only fuel at the new store Hoagies and hot coffee are always available no matter the Wawa location Wawa representatives say their products and customer service continues to put them on different parts of the map “People tend to think we’re another gas station We were serving coffee and fresh foods and taking care of the community,” said Sheree Norris From first-time customers to long-time Wawa fanatics the new Pooler convivence store is stocked up with plenty of people’s on-the-road needs It’s like a little piece of my home in New Jersey is right here in Pooler,” said Gracie Ryan This is the fourth Wawa in Georgia with up to six more expected by the end of 2025 Officials said Wawa plans to open more than 26 stores in the Peach State over the next five to eight years The stores combined are set to bring 900 jobs to Georgia The closest Wawa for some people in the Coastal Empire is almost an hour away over in Hinesville Now that there’s one nearby in the highly developed Pooler area city officials are reminding folks to be patient on the roadway for the time being I just ask for grace from our residents that during this grand opening and maybe the first week or two it’s going to have a lot of traffic there And the improvements will help dramatically.” Mayor Williams also says residents are excited to have a Wawa location in the city because it’s unlike any other convenience store in the area “Our residents ae looking for a diversity of businesses not just another nail salon or another gas station or oil change We are trying to bring businesses that we don’t currently have.” Georgia fans of Wawa won't have to travel as far to enjoy it The popular convenience store chain is hosting a grand opening celebration for its Pooler location The company is known for marking these occasions in style about four miles south-west of the Tanger Outlet April 24 with the "countdown to doors opening" at 7:45 a.m Wawa will give out free "New Friends & New Flavors" t-shirts to the first 100 customers There will also be free samples of Wawa's new "Dill Pickle Ranch" sauce and "Crispy Pickle" toppings on hoagies until 8:30 a.m The celebration will continue through next week with free hot coffee (any size) through May 4 There's more than just freebies planned for the grand opening A program kicks off at 8:30 with a parade of Wawa associates introducing the chain's new "Cravings Made Easy" campaign featuring affordable foods It will conclude with a "Hoagies for Heroes" hoagie building competition between "every day heroes" and a ribbon cutting with Wawa's mascot Wally Goose Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application to the late Elizabeth Mae Burgess and James Curtis Pooler on a snowy night he later served aboard the USS Hancock in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War he married his best friend and the love of his life Marjorie Elizabeth Darling—who was also his best friend's sister—in an L.D.S Their love was later eternally sealed in the Brigham City L.D.S They were blessed with 5 wonderful children; Ayme Dale's love and passion for all things racing and automobiles lead him on a long employment journey as a mechanic and engine builder for NASCAR and other race teams Dale later worked in various racing support industries including Calico Coatings where he retired after 15 years of service He was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving as a counselor in the Elders Quorum and working closely with the church's missionaries  He was the brother of Linda Frenette of E and Ezra Pooler; and 2 great grandchildren Funeral services were held in Arizona with Burial with Military Honors at the Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors After two months of looking for another place to call home, the Children’s Museum of Pooler (COMP) has found one—just a short walk over from where they are stationed in Tanger Outlets The beloved learning space for Pooler youth will be relocating for one year to Suite 191 with an anticipated re-opening date in mid-May CMOP’s leadership was notified by outlet managers that they were not going to be able to stay in their current space through the end of their lease CMOP Executive Director Crystal Daniels said at the time that after learning the news museum staff had a bit of a grieving process as Tanger had accepted another company’s lease CMOP has a specialty lease and were being offered a lower annual lease rate while at Tanger “Tanger is a business,” Daniels said in an interview in February “We understand that they operate accordingly to retail providers we’re a nonprofit organization that really meets a community need The hard truth is that sometimes major corporations can pay a lot more than a small nonprofit museum.” A bit of misfortune for Forever 21 as they filed for bankruptcy and closed down stores became an opportunity for CMOP “We were very fortunate that they gave us an opportunity down at the Forever 21 space,” said Vice President Janet Daniels they could lease it to us for another year so we could be there for another five years like we were in this space.” CMOP has served around 250,000 children and families The museum's main goal is to provide learning opportunities to kids in the area in a creative and engaging way is to find a permanent space that they can afford as a nonprofit Previous: 'A labor of love': Children's Museum of Pooler closing after five years of service Wawa update: Wawa grand opening on Pooler Parkway set for April 24. What time do doors open? and we can continue to grow as we’ve got desires to be able to expand,” said Museum Director Sandra Bollig “We want to include a STEM lab to do a science center continue to partner alongside schools and offer learning based on their curriculum There’s nothing within the community that offers that.” The space where Forever 21 was is triple the size of the space CMOP currently has in Suite 589 The goal is to expand some of the exhibits and bring in some new exhibits though the cost of moving furniture and display from their current space is up to $30,000 at the moment CMOP has had a lot of support and donations from community partners and businesses to help with the bill “We want to get it as close as possible,” Bollig said of replicating the space “Because we found that this works so well for us if you change it too much then they feel like they’re missing out on something they’ve bonded and connected with.” The museum will continue to serve the community up until the time they have to move The last day CMOP will be open in its present location is on Saturday but even early in that day the museum will host a birthday party before they begin the preparations to be out by May 4 They will probably film parts of it just to have the memories of the last one in the building CMOP was born in “We’ve learned from the community that there is definitely a want and a desire for a place like this,” Bollig said “We’ve had a lot of people just reaching out and saying There is nothing like this for our children.” Bollig said families can go to to the museum's website if they are interested in volunteer opportunities or donating toward moving expenses the Pooler Development Authority launched a grant program for businesses aimed at improving the façades on Pooler’s Main Street Corridor This program was one of the first steps toward making the Pooler Main Street Master Plan In line with moving forward to improve main street—the 1.75-mile stretch of U.S 80 home to the city's historic core—conversations have emerged surrounding creating a development authority specifically for Pooler’s downtown area Before the regular Pooler City Council meeting Monday night five members of council discussed the creation of a downtown development authority at a workshop Mayor Karen Williams and Councilmember Shannon Valim were not in attendance for this part of the meeting A Downtown Development Authority is a public entity created by a city government under state law and is focused on revitalizing a downtown area as well as partner with public and private entities The difference between a DDA and a Development Authority is that DAs have broader economic development focus City Manager Heath Lloyd presented three main reasons why Pooler needed a DDA: to support implementation of the 2023 Main Street Master Plan provide structures and tools for reinvestment More: Pooler Development Authority launches grant program to improve Main Street façades More: Pooler adopts plan to improve Main Street. An early look at possible changes, improvements a few councilmembers expressed some concern Councilmember Michae’l Carpenter was concerned about the potential timeline If council decided to move forward with establishing the authority the item would appear on the next city council agenda on May 5 and the city would have to adopt the resolution needed to create the DDA as well as the bylaws council would have to determine who would represent the DDA from city council Within 30 days of the resolution's passage the city would have to hire an executive director the authority's board would have to be appointed a work plan would have to be presented to council Lloyd acknowledged that the dates were fairly aggressive but wanted to provide a timeline with specific milestones “I just don’t want to put us in a position that we feel like we’re trying to rush through to meet these timelines making sure that we choose the right people for the job and ensuring that whoever we do choose is for the growth of Pooler and not their own self interest,” Carpenter said Councilmember John Wilcher also had some questions regarding the necessity of DDA who only has 30 square miles of city to take care of what have we seen from them in the past few years “Is there benefit to having a DDA versus a regular Development Authority?” LLoyd said since his tenure began in August 2024 the Development Authority has been engaged and energized and referenced the facade grant program as one of the things that has been accomplished Wilcher then asked about the expenditures for both of the authorities mainly because he was opposed to potentially taxing people for a DDA of less than two miles The Development Authority had not been funded well according to Lloyd but they had approximately $100,000 for the facade program which was leftover money from an obligation bond Lloyd said that staff anticipates the DDA's annual budget would be $120,000 The funding would go toward the salary of the executive director and toward initiatives to move the DDA forward The entity would have to find more funding through grants “Can the Development Authority work in place of this DDA?” Wilcher said another board that can make the same decisions I’d rather fund the DA than waste money spending on salaries if people are just going to spin their wheels because our Development Authority has pushed nothing forward that I’m aware of.” Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Henry said that he doesn’t think the DDA would undercut any work that the DA has done or is planning to do he sees it as an opportunity to fully execute the Main Street Master Plan with great focus “It isn’t mutually exclusive with one or the other,” Henry said “I think both are great tools in the toolbox for the city There’s a lot of things that a DDA can bring to the table just through the Main Street Program that Georgia runs I feel strongly that it would help finally execute our vision and plan that’s long been in the works.” Amanda Beurle and her family moved to Pooler from the Philadelphia area in 2022 and the one thing they missed the most was Wawa when she head that her beloved convenience store was coming to Pooler last year because it’s more than just a convenience store but it’s hard to explain without experiencing it but it’s more or less like a community hub.” the Pennsylvania-based Wawa corporation expressed interest in opening a location in Pooler The chain with a cult-like following finally held its grand opening Thursday morning complete with a ribbon cutting and a hoagie-building competition More: Wawa lovers rejoice: Pooler Wawa opens with fanfare and free coffee More: Hundreds waited in line for the grand opening of the new Wawa in Pooler A three-vehicle crash in Pooler Tuesday night left one person dead according to a post by the Chatham County Police Department on X The crash was on I-95 northbound near the overpass that goes over Quacco Road There have been no further updates from CCPD or Pooler Police Department The Pooler Police Department was investigating the crash After nearly a year of discussing a short-term rental (STR) ordinance with Mayor Karen Williams casting the tie-breaking vote on Monday The ordinance will go into effect on March 18 and will extend the moratorium that council passed in September 2024 with an original expiration date of March 15 Williams said that in August she will be open to making any needed modifications to the ordinance and has arranged to talk with the Savannah Area Realtors then we will be able to have a better idea of where [the STRs] all are we're going to sit down and talk about what it looks like and if we need to make any amendments to the ordinance Pooler City Council passed a six-month moratorium on the issuance of STR licenses then extended it another six months in September 2024 This was to give city staff and officials time to workshop a draft ordinance and solicit feedback from property owners and residents about regulations Based on the feedback from the last town hall in November Pooler staff updated the ordinance from the first draft with the following: Other notable changes from previous versions of the draft include a schedule for business license fees and fines for non-compliance; proof that adjacent property owners to the STRs have been notified; proof of insurance and a “good neighbor” policy, similar to an ordinance passed by Tybee Island last year. Pooler City Manager Heath Lloyd mentioned that there are currently only 36 short-term rentals licensed within the city they found around 165-195 operating in the area The city will pay $9,156 annually to use Granicus software to monitor short-term rentals assist with compliance and outreach to notify non-compliant STRs and provide a 24/7 hotline for citizens to report complaints that will be relayed to Pooler's Code Enforcement Department The city will send out initial letters notifying the identified STRs of the new ordinance and guidelines Tybee’s STR ordinance was mentioned in passing during Pooler’s discussion, because the island community is currently in litigation regarding the tracking and registration of STRs Tybee’s ordinance requires properties to register with the city and obtain a permit that must be renewed annually the existence of an STR registry violates a part of the Georgia code limiting municipal powers on enforcement That code, §36-74-30, reads, in part that “in no event may a local government require the registration of residential rental property.” the same thing by requiring STRs to get business licenses before operating mentioned this code during the meeting when Williams allowed for public comment despite the fact that there was no public hearing for the second reading of the ordinance Porterfield claimed that part of the ordinance which states that a short-term rental may be inspected if there is probable cause to believe there has been a violation may violate the fourth amendment—which protects against “unreasonable searches and seizures by the government”—because it does not require a warrant Porterfield said that the sections of the ordinance directly discriminated against STR owners—one by requiring STR owners to notify adjacent property owners of the intended use which she said could lead to discrimination and unfair targeting as well as singling out STRs with a requirement that is not applied to any other business within the city of Pooler; and two by requiring them to sign the “good neighbor” policy with undefined standards and vague language in the ordinance this ordinance is governmental overreach toward short-term rentals and targets and discriminates against short-term rental owners' rights,” Porterfield said “We wanted to raise our concerns directly with you and would like to continue further conversation.” Pooler Attorney Craig Call said that he has stated “from the beginning” that the code Porterfield references but is being discussed as part of Tybee Island litigation and was not written with short-term rentals in mind He also said that the ordinance would not be violating the fourth amendment because it includes the phrase "probable cause." mainly with the 500-foot separation requirement which she said singled out property owners based on proximity She brought up two examples of neighborhoods with houses in close proximity to each other that would have 40 to 65 homes blocked from being able to have STR certificates “There’s also nothing in your ordinance that stops people from just buying a certificate just to block everyone else around them,” Cook said Most of the other dissenters voiced similar thoughts that the new ordinance would be discriminatory in some fashion to property owners A couple of residents came up to speak in support of the ordinance and having something on the books that could be amended and improved upon I think it protects some of our citizens here in Pooler One resident said that having all owner-occupied STRs would solve a lot of issues residents have with them which Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Henry agreed with later but said that he did not want to take away opportunities from people who may live in Pooler part-time Henry made a motion to approve the ordinance with the condition that the STRs that have already been lawfully operating can show proof and be grandfathered in for the next 90 days Shannon Valim and John Wilcher voted against the ordinance with Valim and Wilcher voicing concerns with the aforementioned potential violation of the fourth amendment and potentially violating property rights If there’s legal discussion that continues to be had,” Valim said “Why do we have to go forward with this and put teeth in it now Why can’t we move forward with the ordinance without the distance and see where we stand There’s no reason for us to not be able to come back and add teeth to it as time goes by.” Tom Hutcherson and Henry voted for the ordinance Henry said the most important thing was having an ordinance on the books that they can build on the distance could be reduced later after the ordinance had passed Williams emphasized Henry's points later and cast the tie-breaking vote Depending on the outcome of next Tuesday's vote on the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) Pooler may be getting its first ever high school Pooler Mayor Karen Williams said that Pine Barren Road improvements will move up on the city’s priority list would contain a K-8 school and Pooler’s first high school The capital funds represent 24% of the $705 million estimated proceeds from ESPLOST V ESPLOST is a one-penny sales tax that funds buildings technology and other needs outside of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System's general fund It is estimated that 40% of the funds are collected from visitors who do not live in Chatham County The Pooler educational complex is planned for a 100-acres property off Pine Barren Road that the school board already owns Pine Barren already experiences heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic during peak traffic times of the day Previous: Pooler mayor, Savannah schools super tout possible $170 million ESPLOST investment A potential $4 million road construction project would enhance traffic flow and safety by expanding the road to five lanes “We have shifted to Pine Barren being top priority for our special-purpose local option sales tax list,” Williams said “And we’ve already contracted and awarded a contract to do an updated traffic study They’re working with the school board engineers to find out the numbers they’ll anticipate for the new school so we can know exactly what we need to do for Pine Barren.” While the design phase would start this year the construction on the complex would begin at some point during or after 2027 with a completion and opening date for the 2029-2030 academic year the school board will raise their millage rate,” Williams said “The thing with ESPLOST is that 40% of it's paid by non-residents—tourists or people who just come here to buy lunch but Pooler will still be the school board’s number one project.” but the plans may not be as grand as they are now the new Pooler complex will be focused on STEAM classes “It’s my hope that all of Chatham County will see the importance of this complex for all the other schools in Chatham County.” one resident said they were first in line at 4 a.m Up until the ribbon cutting began at 8:30 a.m. customers flooded the store to sip today-only free coffee and partake of made-to-order meals and snacks Wawa was just a short walk from her Philadelphia home and Beurle went there almost every day before school Wawa was even her first job when she was 16 “The average orker would be there for breakfast but also just seeing people everyday and the way they treat their employees.” but now is so excited to have it back within two miles of her home A big part of what makes Wawa so dear to her heart is the company culture A huge part of Wawa is giving back to the community and she believes that generous spirit is what connects people to the store but also because of what it stands for,” said Mayor Karen Williams that is very community-involved and -oriented.” The store in Pooler marks the chain’s sixth store in Georgia with four more stores under construction in Valdosta bringing the total to 10 new stores in one year at an investment of $7.5 million with an average of 1,490 contractors and local partners employed Wawa will employ more than 900 people in Georgia who lives in Savannah but is from New Jersey I would tell them they have to give themselves the opportunity to just go and check it out,” Gray said “Once they experience what it has to offer they’re going to be a continuing customer.” Pooler Mayor Karen Williams shared that there was a fire at Longhorn Steakhouse on Pooler Parkway She wrote that patrons at the Longhorn were evacuated and there were no injuries there was a fire at Longhorn Steakhouse on Pooler Parkway The patrons were evacuated and there were no injuries The fire has been contained on the one wall You will see several fire trucks and a police presence there Thank you for your patience,” wrote Mayor Karen Williams The mayor of Pooler let residents know that people in the area may see fire trucks and a large police presence in the area due to the fire "The impact of this investment could shape Pooler for the next 75 years or well into the end of the 21st century," said Pooler Mayor Karen Williams at a press conference on Monday 2025 vote by the public on the referendum―one day after the city's St Construction would not begin on possible ESPLOST V projects for at least three to five years should the referendum pass Much 'thinking and planning' still to doThe district's Executive Director of Capital Projects Sonny Batra shared projected design and construction timelines for the complex at the school board's Dec. 18 Informal Session Batra said then that the current West Chatham Elementary and Middle schools "may not be demolished together." The district may have to use one school as a swing site while the other is being taken down He also noted during the Informal Session that cost estimates were based on the district's latest ESPLOST projects such the $94 million to rebuild Windsor Forest High School He said ultimately that "a lot of thinking has to go in a lot of planning has to go in before we do anything." Monday's press conference identified the K-8 school and high school are mainstays of the proposal yet the athletic complex viability has yet to be fully determined Outgoing District 7 School Board Representative Michael Johnson had been advocating for a high school in Pooler since he came onto the board eight years ago He said by email Monday morning that while the K-8 school and high school make up the bulk of the investment he is "hopeful to be able to get the athletic complex on the site however with the growth of Pooler we need to make sure we have enough seats for students." Williams shares Johnson's has high hopes for the possible athletic complex that would give the Pooler community a "unity and camaraderie" around school-age sports that the city has yet to experience No specific design plans have been drawn up for either of the school facilities or the proposed $20 million athletic facility At the press conference Watts also reiterated the district's commitment to listening to the public as it makes capital project decisions noting the district's investment in Pooler Elementary as evidence Rather than demolish or sell the aging facility the district has chosen to acknowledge how the nearly 75-year-old building "laid the foundation for education" in Pooler She has expressed at recent board meetings that Pooler Elementary could be reimagined as an early childhood learning center while the new K-8 school would meet west Chatham's elementary grade needs the city of Pooler aims to invest more in infrastructure in the upcoming year Acknowledging the growth and traffic challenges mentioned by the mayor and Johnson we're putting $35 million in our roadways." He then called the investment a "drop in the bucket for what we're going to do." the public must weigh the possibilities and unknowns related to ESPLOST which essentially identifies and prioritizes general capital outlay needs within the school district Although specific projects within the package the particulars of each project are still unfolding and will continue to unfold once―and if―the referendum passes and as projects are designed and constructed Changes in the costs of supplies and materials also could impact the final price tag of any project and are variables the district cannot predict with 100% certainty Watts and district leaders plan to hold educational meetings with families and community stakeholders about ESPLOST V in the new year Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@gannett.com In early May, Pooler got one step closer to opening one of five Wawa’s expected to open in southeast Georgia within the year As previously reported by the Savannah Morning News the chain expected to complete construction on the Pooler site and locations in Brunswick and Jesup by the end of 2024 or early 2025 the Pooler location will open in the second quarter of this year General Stewart Way and 721 Veterans Parkway are expected to open in the first quarter of this year The convenience store broke ground at the intersection of Pooler Parkway and Pine Barren Road after being approved by Pooler City Council in February 2024. which have earned it a cult-like following Wawa plans to open three to four stores a year in Georgia with a goal of approximately 30 stores across the state with five specifically in the greater Savannah area where the convenience store market is crowded with other chains such as Parker's Kitchen and Enmarket Wawa fans celebrate the groundbreaking for the future Pooler location First Wawa open in Georgia, two more locations opening next week. Here's where Wawa invests $7 million per store and employs 140 contractors and local partners with 35 associates per store They expect to create almost 1,000 long-term new jobs in Georgia as a result of the expansion "This is definitely about Pooler and the Greater Savannah area but it's also about spreading our wings into a new region and the state," said John Poplawski Wawa Vice President & Chief Real Estate Officer in an interview in May 2024 it's always thrilling to be able to bring that to a new place or back to people who have relocated." (WTOC) - The Pooler Police Department is investigating a Monday morning shooting outside the Amazon fulfillment center on Triple B Trail that left one dead Investigators say a victim was taken to a Savannah hospital where he was later pronounced dead The Chatham County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 21-year-old Keontae Grider of Liberty County The Coroner’s Office said they are investigating the death that happened Monday in the parking lot at the Amazon Warehouse the coroner confirmed that Grider was shot at least one time Officials are in the early stages of this investigation and an autopsy has been scheduled We reached out to Amazon after the identity of the victim was released “We’re saddened by this terrible tragedy and are providing support to Keontae’s family and loved ones during this difficult time Onsite counseling resources have been made available to employees and we’ll continue to work with Pooler Police Department in their investigation,” said an Amazon spokesperson in a statement to WTOC A WTOC reporter on scene observed at least 14 evidence markers in the facility’s parking lot that was blocked by crime tape Police later hauled off a white Nissan from the scene Workers who showed up to the facility told WTOC that the building was placed on lockdown “I wasn’t expecting anybody to get shot,” said Amazon employee Moses Cody “They told me that they weren’t letting anyone in or out Onsite counseling resources will be available once they return to work “We’re saddened by this senseless act of violence and are focused on supporting our employees during this time,” said an Amazon spokesperson in a statement to WTOC the Pooler Police Department has not made any arrests A year and a half after approving a plan to improve Main Street Pooler is ready to take the first steps through the launch of the Main Street Façade Grant Program The program was developed to encourage businesses located in Pooler’s Main Street Corridor to improve exterior appearances of buildings storefronts and signage to align with the standards of the overlay district and recommendations from the Main Street Master Plan Pooler’s Main Street Corridor — a 1.75 mile stretch of U.S 2024 hopes to gradually change the way that stretch between Interstate 95 and Pooler Parkway looks over the next five to ten years with new mixed-use residential and commercial structures coupled with improved walkability “The primary goal is to hopefully encourage and spur the redevelopment in our Main Street Corridor,” said Director of Planning and Development Nicole Johnson hopefully having a very pedestrian friendly and hope this grant program will encourages businesses along the corridor to start making improvements when necessary.” Applications for the grant program opened April 1 and Johnson said they would review them at the next Pooler Development Authority meeting at the end of April The program offers up to $10,000 of Development Authority investment per location but awards do require a match of at least 50% the maximum award amount from the Development Authority would be $3,750 and the awardee is responsible for the other half Awardees have one year from issuance of the check to use the funding Johnson said the Development Authority has an account with money in it from years ago and that’s how the program is being funded “We do not have any future funding sources which is something we have to work on,” Johnson said “That’s why we have a limited amount right now that we can use.” The Development Authority will keep reviewing applications at each meeting every month until the funds run out commercial businesses have to be within the Main Street corridor Eligible projects include exterior replacement of existing signage outdoor lighting upgrades or other activities up to the discretion of the Development Authority Previous: Pooler adopts plan to improve Main Street. An early look at possible changes, improvements More details: Pooler has a Main Street. It's not Pooler Parkway. Here's the plan to renew the corridor residents were invited to provide input on the long-term project aiming to improve aspects of the corridor After over 10 months of planning and feedback the plan was completed in December 2023 by city staff and TSW Design and Atlanta-based planning and architecture firm and I want to compliment you and your team working with TSW," said Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Henry in December 2023 "This is the lens in which we'll view and encourage development down here in the vicinity of City Hall." The master plan has three primary objectives: this is the only program that we’ve started and we're hoping that this will kind of kickstart that development along the corridor,” Johnson said we would like to start hopefully identifying some historic homes and structures.” Colorado-based Ziggi’s Coffee is set to open their second Georgia location in Pooler. According to their Google Business Profile the drive-thru-only coffee shop will open on Dec It will be located off Benton Blvd and Jimmy Deloach Pky Their menu offers specialized coffee and energy drinks They also have a rewards program offering members free drinks Husband and wife co-founders Brandon and Carmen Knudsen opened the first Ziggi’s location in 2004 in Longmont, CO. They recently opened their 100th store and continue to grow nationwide with the help of their franchise program Ryan and Kaitlyn Triplett own the Pooler franchise and hope to “further their involvement and investment” in the area, they stated in an interview with franchising.com Visit Ziggi’s Coffee’s Facebook or Instagram pages to find out more student read news organization at Georgia Southern University Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text In March 2020, the Children’s Museum of Pooler opened its doors to the community at Tanger Outlets fulfilling what they saw to be a need in the community “I really wanted some educational learning opportunities for my kids and we visited all these other children’s museums all over the area we needed something like that here,” Daniels said the museum has served around 250,000 children and families not including the outreach events they do in the community like going out to schools and doing STEM nights and collaborating with the YMCA They have seen and heard the impact it has had on the community citing stories of parents and school groups telling them that before CMOP there was nowhere to take their special needs or neurodivergent children on field trips “We contribute in so many other ways than a tangible dollar amount,” said Director Sandra Bollig To Daniels and the employees of the museum So when the news came in that they weren’t going to be able to have the space at Tanger after April 26 she said they all needed to have a bit of a grieving process Their lease at Tanger Outlets was not going to be renewed as Tanger had accepted another company's lease Though they are saying goodbye to that location organizers are hoping that an opportunity will arise so they can continue their mission of teaching children about the world and their community HydroFleet invests $33 million: Pooler approves map amendment for hydrogen fueling station Get your Wawa fix: Two more Wawa stores opening soon in Georgia. Here's when and where to get a famous hoagie 'We see that it's important to the community and that makes us want to work harder'CMOP also had a specialty lease so they were being offered a lower rate during their time at Tanger they paused sale of their yearly memberships which Daniels said had put them in the craziest situation The second hardest part was putting it on social media The response was immediate and overwhelming, with more than 400 comments, 800 likes and 400 shares on their Facebook post they had an uptick in business even in the middle of the day with parents trying to bring their kids to play one last time “The Pooler community didn’t have anything here before this “We see that it’s important to the community and that makes us want to work even a little bit harder because we see that it’s making a difference.” CMOP is actively looking for a new building or location to establish a new and are seeking donations to help out as well was that the Pooler area has very high leases on real estate and its been hard to find something that fits their nonprofit budget but they immediately began looking after hearing the news they said they are considering all options they just want a space to continue doing their work and encourage the community to make their voices heard “The citizens of Pooler have been asking for a while more of these things that they love,” Daniels said “They love that all these businesses are coming in but they are getting increasingly more worried that things like us are suffering Massachusetts to Elizabeth Mae Burgess and James Curtis Pooler on a snowy night.  Dale later worked in various racing support industries including Calico Coatings where he retired after 15 years of service.  The Pooler family will welcome friends on Saturday followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Interment with military honors will proceed on Monday 2025 at 11:00 am at Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park Arrangements are made under the direction of Hughes Mortuary donations may be made to Hughes Mortuary in the name of Dale Pooler to assist with the finances of the services The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading or sign up for a new account to continue reading We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content no promotional deals were found matching that code Comcast hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Pooler Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau to commemorate the new Xfinity store on Pooler Parkway Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Jackie Schott (R) presents an official Chamber membership certificate to Comcast’s Retail Store Manager JT Simpson (Middle) and Azsha Hankerson City of Pooler Councilmember Tom Hutcherson addresses the crowd and welcomes Comcast to the community Comcast employees celebrate the opening of the fourth Xfinity store in the Savannah market December 23, 2024 - Comcast recently announced the opening of its newest Xfinity store in Pooler The 2,000 square-foot retail space is the perfect place to browse the newest technology The store is located at 1541 Pooler Parkway Suite 200 and features multiple counters staffed by Xfinity sales consultants “This new Xfinity retail location is a testament to the growth we’re seeing in Pooler Part of the City’s mission is to ensure convenience and prosperity for its citizens and this store will undoubtedly do just that I thank Comcast for their investment in our community," said Karen L Customers can now make an appointment or simply swing by the new Xfinity store giving them the ability to experience products first-hand get answers to account-related questions or swap out equipment It’s also a great spot to save money by bundling services and signing up for Xfinity Mobile The store is part of Comcast’s ongoing commitment to Pooler by giving residents direct access to an in-person retail space “Our new Xfinity store in Pooler is another milestone in our larger campaign to offer a simpler and more convenient retail experience," said Rachel Ozias Comcast Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing "Designed entirely around the needs of our customers visitors can test-drive the latest technology in an interactive and welcoming environment.”  Qualified customers can also sign up for Internet Essentials a cable modem and access to millions of Wi-Fi hotspots for $14.95 per month For local businesses, Comcast Business offers a suite of connectivity, communications, networking, cybersecurity, wireless, and managed solutions to help organizations of all sizes achieve their business goals. Pooler business owners can visit business.comcast.com to learn more “The Chamber is pleased to welcome Comcast’s brand-new store in Pooler which is a great addition to the growing retail mix on Pooler Parkway," commented Jackie Schott Pooler Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau "This location will be a one-stop-shop for all things Internet and we look forward to the added convenience it will provide to residents.”  The new Xfinity store is open seven days a week Its hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m We're always interested in hearing about news in our community there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Pooler resident Kathy Center has lived in Pooler for the last 60 years she told the city council during its March 18 meeting and said she had watched the city's elected officials and “land barons” destroy the community her parents brought her to She was speaking to council during the public hearing for a zoning map amendment for the JABOT planned unit development (PUD) to add nearly 90 acres for single-family residential use behind already existing subdivisions like Hunter’s Ridge with Mayor Karen Williams delivering the tie-breaking vote Those who voted for the development did so because the alternative was the developers building 74 homes there by right some fencing and some green space through a conservation easement Residents concern around the additional homes came down to The traffic from additional housing developments along with other quality-of-life issues is what drove some Pooler residents to organize a second march on city hall prior to the hearing Those who marches attended the city council meeting to speak against the aforementioned PUD and another item a potential rezoning on Highway 80 and Sangrena Drive from R-1 to R-3-C that was withdrawn by the petitioner on March 5 Previous: Pause the paving: Pooler residents plan march on city hall for Friday and Tuesday ESPLOST passes: All is quiet on the voting front: 5.81% of Savannah-Chatham County voters pass ESPLOST one of the residents involved in organizing the protest said she just feels like there are some areas of improvement “We just share a lot of beliefs about thoughtful development very easy for them to see the types of things we’re looking for We realize normal development is not going to be paused but we just need to make sure we have things that residents are going to enjoy.” Pooler did take an anticipated step forward in the long road toward mitigating traffic by approving a $19.3 million contract for the Pooler Parkway and Quacco Road improvements Quacco Road will be expanded to four lanes between Blue Moon Crossing and Canal Bank Road with shovels to the ground expected within the next few months Those who came out for the march issued specific demands for the council: an immediate six-month moratoriums on developments that had not received site plan approval a high-impact duplicate development review process to create an avenue to deny certain projects who’s lived in Pooler since 2014 and has been attending Pooler City Council meetings since 2016 said he definitely thinks city leadership is responding to the needs of the people more now than when he first started going “I think a lot of what’s happened may not be the current administration’s fault,” Harden said just because that’s the way they’ve been doing it doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it this way.” Harden decided to come out for the protest that day because he saw much of the same reasons he moved from New York—more traffic fewer trees and less greenspace―happening up in Pooler “I’m hoping we can come up with some kind of plan,” Harden said but at least let us know what the heck is going on.” The City of Pooler is issuing a boil water advisory after the detection of E coli bacteria at one of 20 water sample sites yesterday The advisory is a precautionary measure to protect public health coli presence is isolated to a single site and likely an isolated incident The water department is flushing the system and will continue doing so until tests confirm a negative result at the affected location Residents should boil water used for drinking pet consumption or preparing food for at least one minute Do not use unboiled water for drinking or food prep and showering is safe as long as its not ingested Water can be used for laundry and dishwashing without boiling as long as the usual cleaning methods are followed Potential health risks of E.coli are diarrhea headaches or other symptoms and may pose a special risk for infants young children the elderly and the immunocompromised Water superintendent Mark Williams said that if the samples come back negative the advisory will be lifted in the evening Check here or the city's website for updates Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News