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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 Calvin W. Lang Jr. & Lang Seafood, Inc. for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to modify the existing commercial marina facility located on the North River, Camden County, Georgia. The proposed project is under 1/10 of an acre, and therefore may be considered a minor alteration of coastal marshlands under O.C.G.A. 12-5-280 et. seq.
The existing commercial facility consists of a 1.67-acre upland property that is occupied by existing commercial buildings and other structures. A dock house and concrete pad are located directly adjacent to the waterway and extend seaward over the CMPA line impacting approximately 1,407.7sq.ft. of coastal marshlands. The building and concrete pad are connected to a fixed deck/walkway that impacts 2,937.9sq.ft. of coastal marshlands. A 57.2sq.ft. ramp extends channelward from the north side of the fixed deck to access a 1,181.1sq.ft. floating dock. A 1,354.6sq.ft. floating dock is located directly channelward of the south end of the fixed dock. The bank is currently armored by 3,224.7sq.ft. of rip rap. South of the dock house there is an existing unserviceable 100.5sq.ft. walkway that extends from the upland. Existing impacts to coastal marshlands total approximately 10,263.7sq.ft. (0.24 acres).
The applicant proposes modifying the existing commercial marina facility and installing new floating docks. Approximately 1,715.9sq.ft. of the existing fixed deck, the two existing floating docks (2,535.7sq.ft.), ramp (57.2sq.ft.), and unserviceable walkway (100.5sq.ft.) will be removed. Existing debris and trash from years of commercial activities will also be removed from the bank and approximately 1,100sq.ft. of rip rap will be added. A proposed 5ft. x 40ft. (200sq.ft.) ramp will extend channelward from the northern end of the modified fixed deck to access a proposed 9ft. x 47ft. (423sq.ft.) floating walkway. The walkway will provide access to two 10ft. x 309ft. (6,180sq.ft.) floating docks that will be constructed parallel to the bank. A 9ft. x 70ft. (630sq.ft.) float will connect the larger floating docks at the center, perpendicular to the shoreline. The proposed modified commercial dock facility will impact approximately 14,387.6sq.ft. (0.33 acres) of coastal marshlands for a net increase of approximately 4,124sq.ft. (0.09 acres). The proposed commercial dock facility will extend approximately 194ft. beyond Mean Low Water (MLW) at a point where the waterway is approximately 902ft. wide.
The upland component for the proposed project consists of the existing buildings and other structures located within the 50ft. marshlands buffer which totals 21,313sq.ft. Existing structures within the 50ft. marshlands buffer consist of a 1,236sq.ft. portion of the dock house and a 78.3sq.ft. portion of the concrete pad. Two covered shelters (966.3sq.ft.), an additional concrete pad (781.8sq.ft.), a 113.3sq.ft. portion of a storage building and a 30.3sq.ft. portion of a fuel tank are also located within the 50ft. marshlands buffer. Existing impacts within the 50ft. marshlands buffer total 3,206sq.ft. Temporary impacts to the upland component include material storage and heavy equipment operation. These temporary activities will impact the entire upland component.
Currently the 50ft. marshlands buffer consists of 15% impervious surfaces and will not be modified due to construction.
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 August 16, 2024 to Paul Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or via email at paul.tobler@dnr.ga.gov.
Click here to view application
