By Ted Carter

The Rock House restaurant on Butler Avenue will get a new awning and sign, thanks to a zoning variance granted by Tybee City Council Thursday night. But on a separate issue, the council balked at allowing an umbrella and beach chair concession at 10th Avenue.

City code specifies that awnings be retractable to prevent them from becoming projectiles. But a promise from Rock House attorney John Hart that the fixed-placed awning is certified to withstand winds of up to 130 mph convinced the council the variance would be justified.

“With winds more than that I think you should worry more about the building than the awning,” said Hart of Savannah-based Hart & Associates.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the variance, noting the awning and sign would be an attractive addition to the restaurant at 1518 Butler Ave., near the intersection with Tybrisa.Street.

The variance request came to the council with a unanimous recommendation of approval from the Planning Commission.

Meanwhile, Roy Overstreet’s bid to put a beach rental stand at 10th Street met with concern from council members the concession would be one too many and could disrupt the neighborhood by causing increased traffic.

Further, City Manager Diane Schleicher said the increased use of that stretch of beach the concession would generate could force the city to hire an additional lifeguard. “We’ll need a lifeguard stand there if it continues to gain in popularity,” she said.

But that part of the beach is already a big draw, said Councilman Dick Smith. “Tenth Street is probably the most popular spot on the beach,” he said.

Overstreet said the operator of the new concession could be an extra set of eyes on the water. He said he could get the operator certified as a lifeguard if needed.

Councilwoman Wanda Doyle argued the beach has enough concessions. “We have 10 of them already,” she said. “I don’t think we need to be encroaching on a residential area.”

Councilman Barry Brown gained agreement with a suggestion to delay a vote until residents in the 10th Street area can be surveyed on whether they think the stand would disrupt their neighborhood.