Below is the language of Rep. Buckner’s amendment to SB 367. The bill is needed to keep the Georgia Coastal Management Act from expiring which would jeopardize millions of dollars in federal grants for environmental programs on the Coast. It is important to read the language and see the specific restrictions in the amendment. If this passes, only “public picnic tables, bathhouses, and restrooms” could be built in this area (see picture). It appears that improvements to bike paths, addition of boardwalks, playground or any beach concession areas would be prohibited. This area is already protected by the Shore Protection Act, authorized for improvement under the 65%/35% law, identified as a priority for redevelopment in the JIA Master Plan and as the picture shows contains a distressed parking area that is intended to primarily serve the Jekyll Island Convention Center.  It is disappointing that this important bill was jeopardized with this amendment.

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/fulltext/sb367.htm

Tags: jekyll island development, jekyll island revitalization, Rep. Buckner, Senate Bill 367 Amendment
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For reference: David Egan wrote:

http://savannahnow.com/node/468722 - and includes a picture of the parking lot. And the legislation can be found here: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/sum/sb367.htm

Jekyll resident David Egan is right about one thing in his March 26 letter to the editor entitled “House Should OK bill preserving Jekyll,” the Georgia General Assembly holds the key to the future of Jekyll Island. Either Jekyll Island will continue its downward spiral or investment will be made in infrastructure and accommodations that will bring Georgians back to this precious resource.

Decades ago state leaders had the foresight to pass a law mandating that 65% of this barrier island remain in its natural state and never be developed. Just last year, more restrictions were put in place to limit any redevelopment on the south end of the Island. The public ignored the fact that this additional protection benefitted a Jekyll resident who funds the Jekyll Citizen’s Association lobbying efforts at the Capitol. This year, this same select group of individuals, most of whom live full-time on the Island they like to call a “state park” (no other state park has residences), have decided that even more restrictions should be put in place. They believe that vacationers should not be able to stay in accommodations along the shoreline, which is, of course, where most people would naturally like to stay. This group of individuals has started a campaign to “save” what essentially is a large asphalt parking lot along the beach. What they really want to do is stop the beach village project.

To the dismay of the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the environmental lobby hijacked a bill last week that reauthorizes the Georgia Coastal Management Act, which brings in millions of dollars in federal grants that are critical to protecting vital areas of the coast. An amendment was tacked on that would limit development in the area of this parking lot to nothing but picnic tables and bathrooms. If this misguided amendment were to become law, the Jekyll Island Authority could not even construct the proposed Environmental Discovery Center or Oceanside playground on this property, much less improved bike paths, beach concession areas, improved landscape or even plant trees.

Enough is enough. The vast majority of Georgians wants to see responsible redevelopment of Jekyll Island and do not share the views of the minority who want to close the gate behind them so that they may enjoy their own utopia. The Jekyll Island Authority has no intention of blocking access to the beach, no intention lining the beach with condos and no intention of letting Jekyll fall further into disrepair. This Authority intends to facilitate the most environmentally-friendly development on the eastern seaboard for the 35% of the Island that may be improved. Georgians of all incomes will have a variety of choices in accommodations. The Georgia General Assembly should not allow a small group of residents and some in the environmental lobby to affect policy to the detriment of hundreds of thousands of Georgians who want to see Jekyll Island returned to its heyday.

Ben Porter

Chairman, Jekyll Island Authority

Tags: jekyll island development, jekyll island revitalization, Senate Bill 367 Amendment
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