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This serves as notification from the Shore Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from Malcolm Kerr for a Shore Protection Act (SPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-230 et. seq. for the construction of an additional rock revetment, maintenance of the existing rock revetment, and landscaping within the State’s SPA Jurisdiction, 4334 and 4338 Sixteenth Street, Lots 4 and 5, St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia.
The applicant’s lots total approximately 30,056 sq.ft. (0.69 acres). The area within SPA jurisdiction for both lots totals 29,608.4 square feet (0.68 acres). The area within jurisdiction of Lot 4, 4334 Sixteenth Street, is undeveloped and currently consists of maintained lawn. The area within jurisdiction of Lot 5, 4338 Sixteenth Street, consists of a residential house, landscaping, a pool on the eastern side of the house, and grassed lawn west of the eroded sand area. The existing hardscapes within jurisdiction total 6,542 sq.ft. Each lot has undergone erosion due to recent storms. There is an existing rock revetment seaward of the upland area that extends to the north and south of the applicant’s property.
The applicant proposes to construct an additional rock revetment along Lots 4 and 5 landward of the existing rock revetment and the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM), maintain the existing rock revetment, and landscape. The additional rock revetment will be installed on the existing escarpment by first grading the escarpment to create a 4:1 slope. Once graded, geotextile fabric will then be placed and #4 gravel bedding will be placed on top of the geotextile fabric. Larger 30 inch GDOT Type 1 riprap will then be placed on top of the #4 gravel and continue a 4:1 slope into the upland area. The top surface in the upland area will be #4 gravel, and then the upland interface will be grassed and stabilized. The additional rock revetment to be constructed will total 2,792 sq.ft. (0.06 acres).
The applicant proposes to maintain the existing rock revetment, 1,738 sq.ft., by adding large rock on top of the existing rock revetment. This activity will require the temporary installation of wooden mats, 2,616 sq.ft., to access the existing rock revetment. No additional square footage of impact outside of the existing rock revetment is proposed. Access to the site for both the proposed additional rock revetment and the maintenance of the existing revetment will require access through the existing undeveloped lot, Lot 4, owned by the applicant. A 625 sq.ft. staging area will be on the undeveloped lot for the temporary staging of the rock material. This temporary staging area will be restored to its natural vegetative and topographic condition upon completion of the proposed work.
The applicant currently has no plans to develop the vacant Lot 4. However, landscaping with native plant material is proposed for the vacant lot. Final landscape plans for this lot will be provided to the Department for approval prior to landscaping with native plant material.
As proposed, there will be no changes to the total hardscapes within jurisdiction. The total existing hardscapes within jurisdiction total 6,542 sq.ft. (22%). Approximately 23,066.4 square feet (78%) of the State’s jurisdictional area will be retained or improved to a more natural vegetated and topographic state.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the project is not contrary to the public interest and that no feasible alternative sites exist. In passing upon the application for permit, the permit issuing authority shall consider the public interest which for purposes of this part shall be deemed to be the following considerations: (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful, increased alteration of the dynamic dune field or submerged lands, or function of the sand-sharing system will be created; (2) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicant's proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of marine life, wildlife, or other resources; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicant's proposal will unreasonably interfere with reasonable access by and recreational use and enjoyment of public properties impacted by the project.
Please provide this office with substantive, site-specific comments as to why the proposed work should or should not proceed. Comments and questions concerning this proposed project should be submitted in writing and be submitted by the close of business on February 7, 2019 to Jordan Dodson, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.
Click here for the Project Application
