Pooler Residents Protest Proposed Development Near Park and Canal

Community members voice concerns over plans to build warehouses near Savannah-OgeeChee Canal and Tom Triplett Park.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:18am

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus photograph depicting people walking along a tree-lined path next to a tranquil body of water, conveying the serene natural setting that local advocates aim to protect.Residents gather to walk the trails near the Savannah-OgeeChee Canal, a beloved community resource threatened by proposed development.Pooler Today

Pooler residents led a walk on Saturday to protest a proposed development that would involve building a road through the historic Savannah-OgeeChee Canal. The Pooler City Council recently voted to change zoning conditions to allow the developer access to the site through the canal area, rather than the originally planned access point on Jimmy Deloach Parkway. Local advocates argue the canal and adjacent Tom Triplett Park are "precious resources" that should be protected, not destroyed by new warehouses.

Why it matters

The proposed development highlights the ongoing tensions between economic growth and environmental preservation in the Pooler area. Residents are concerned that allowing warehouses to encroach on the canal and park will damage important natural resources and recreational spaces that have been used by the community for generations.

The details

The development site is located at 200 Jesup Road, on the former grounds of Oglethorpe Speedway. The Pooler City Council voted to change the zoning to allow the developer to build a road through the Savannah-OgeeChee Canal to access the property, rather than using the originally planned access point on Jimmy Deloach Parkway. This would involve constructing a bridge over the canal. Volunteers with the Savannah-OgeeChee Canal Society and Friends of Urban Nature led a walk on Saturday to show residents the proposed construction site and raise awareness about the potential impact on the canal and nearby Tom Triplett Park.

  • On Monday, the Pooler City Council voted to change the zoning conditions for the 200 Jesup Road property.
  • On Saturday, local advocates led a community walk to protest the proposed development.

The players

Wendy Sevendant

A volunteer with the Savannah-OgeeChee Canal Society who led Saturday's community walk.

Peter Van Brussel

A volunteer with the Friends of Urban Nature who participated in Saturday's walk and showed residents the proposed bridge location.

Heath Lloyd

The Pooler City Manager, who stated that the city's focus is on mitigating truck traffic through residential neighborhoods while working within the 2022 zoning changes.

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What they’re saying

“This is one little spot, that I was like why here, why not over on Jimmy Deloach, put more warehouses there. Not here, next to Tom Triplett Park, next to Savannah Ogee-Chee canal. They're two precious resources, and they're two little gems that the city of Pooler has in their city, and they should protect it, not destroy it.”

— Wendy Sevendant, Volunteer, Savannah-OgeeChee Canal Society

“This is a space that's been used for recreation for generations, and it should be usable for generations to come. There's a warehouse issue in the greater Savannah area, and they're demolishing forests left and right. And this is just kind of a hopeful push back on a space that should be preserved.”

— Peter Van Brussel, Volunteer, Friends of Urban Nature

What’s next

The developer will need to obtain approval from the Georgia Ports Authority, Army Corps of Engineers, and Chatham County before any site plan can be approved for the new access road across the Savannah-OgeeChee Canal.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing economic development and environmental preservation in growing communities like Pooler. Residents are determined to protect the Savannah-OgeeChee Canal and Tom Triplett Park, which they view as irreplaceable community assets, from being sacrificed for new warehouses.