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This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from Grand Harbor Development Group, LLC for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to construct a community marina facility located on Delegal Creek, Chatham County, Georgia.
The applicant proposes to construct a pile-supported community marina facility and parking lot to serve a 45-lot residential development known as Grand Harbor Subdivision. Currently, there are no existing structures and the subdivision is undeveloped. The marshlands component of the project is proposed to be constructed in two phases.
Phase I
Phase I of the proposed community marina will include a 6ft. x 457ft. (2,742sq.ft.) walkway, of which approximately 6ft. x 281ft. (1,686sq.ft.) will be in CMPA jurisdiction. The walkway will connect to a 20ft. x 20ft. (400sq.ft.) covered fixed deck and lead to a 5ft. x 40ft. (200sq.ft.) ramp. The ramp will lead to a 10ft. x 27ft. (270sq.ft.) landing float to provide access to a 10.5ft. x 325ft. (3,412.5sq.ft.) floating dock. The proposed floating dock will be constructed of (13) 10.5ft. x 25ft. sections with seven (7) floating dock sections extending to the North of the landing dock and six (6) extending to the South. The northern portion of the proposed structure will extend approximately 78ft. into the waterway where the waterway is approximately 247ft. at Mean Low Water (MLW). The southern portion of the proposed structure will extend approximately 52ft. into the waterway where the waterway is approximately 155ft. at MLW. The floating docks will be configured to align with the channel. Phase 1 of the project will impact approximately 5,968.5sq.ft. (0.137acre) of coastal marshlands.
Phase II
Once demand for additional floating dock space is demonstrated and approved by the Department, the applicant will proceed with Phase II of the proposed community marina. This will consist of the addition of a 10.5ft. x 300ft. (3,150sq.ft., 0.007acre) floating dock to the southern end of the project. The additional floating dock will be constructed of twelve (12) 10.5ft. x 25ft. sections and will be configured to align with the channel. Phase II of the proposed structure will extend approximately 52ft. into the waterway where the waterway is approximately 155ft. at MLW.
Total proposed impacts to coastal marshlands for Phase I and II of the project are approximately 9,118.5sq.ft. (0.21 acres).
The proposed structure is considered a Marina in accordance with O.C.G.A. 391-2-3-.03(2)(q) “Regulation of Marinas, Community Docks and Commercial Docks.”
The upland component of the project consists of an 11,509sq.ft. common area that includes 4,866sq.ft. of pervious pavement parking for automobiles and golf carts, and a 10ft. x 138ft. pervious gravel walkway (1,380sq.ft.) providing access through the upland to the marshland component of the project. Within the confines of the gravel walkway and pervious parking will be a 5,263sq.ft. landscaped section.
The 50ft. marshlands buffer is 426sq.ft. A 124sq.ft. portion of the gravel walkway will be within the buffer while the remaining 302sq.ft. area will be landscaped with native vegetation. The upland component as proposed has no impervious surfaces and there will be no direct discharge of stormwater into coastal marshlands because of construction of the upland component.
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. Impacts to coastal marshlands must be minimal in size. In passing upon the application for permit, the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee shall consider the public interest: (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful obstruction to or alteration of the natural flow of navigational water within the affected area will arise as a result of the proposal; (2) Whether or not unreasonably harmful or increased erosion, shoaling of channels, or stagnant areas of water will be created; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicants proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, clams, or other marine life, wildlife, or other resources, including but not limited to water and oxygen supply.
A detailed public notice with drawings has been distributed and is available by visiting the Department of Natural Resources website: CoastalGaDNR.org under “Public Notices.”
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 May 11, 2023 to Dillon Richter, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Georgia 31520 or via email at dillon.richter@dnr.ga.gov.
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