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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 Hurley S. Cook and Elizabeth L. Cook for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to construct and maintain a bulkhead and existing riprap at 13 Hardee Drive, Lot 12 & 13, Moon River, Savannah, Chatham 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 project site currently consists of a developed residential lot with 208 linear feet of existing riprap and two private recreational dock facilities. A Revocable License was issued September 22, 2021, to remove one of three private recreational dock facilities and modify a second on the northeast side of the project area.
The marshlands component of the project includes riprap maintenance and bulkhead installation. Riprap maintenance will be on the southeast side of the project area to stabilize the existing riprap and additional material will be placed within the current footprint which is 208ft. x 10ft. x 1ft. (2,080sq.ft.). Due to active erosion of the shoreline, the northeast side of the project area will consist of a 223 linear feet bulkhead installation 1ft. to 1.42ft. seaward of the CMPA jurisdiction line with 26.4 cubic yards of back fill (475sq.ft.).
As proposed the project will permanently impact approximately 2,555sq.ft. (0.059 acre) of coastal marshlands.
The upland component of the project consists of all existing, permanent, and temporary activities taking place within the 50ft. marshlands buffer which totals 5,255sq.ft. Permanent impacts to the upland component of the project will consist of tie-back piles (23sq.ft.) and tie-back cables and rods (920sq.ft.). Temporary impacts to the upland component include the equipment work zone for each bank stabilization (3,582sq.ft.). The 50ft. marshlands buffer is a total of 19,410sq.ft. consisting of 3,197.7sq.ft. impervious surfaces and 16,212.8sq.ft. pervious surfaces.
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 September 3, 2024 to Cheyenne Osborne, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or via email at Cheyenne.Osborne1@dnr.ga.gov.
Click here to view application.
Click here to view description.
