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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 James H. Alexander, Leo K. Sheehan, and Margaret B. Sheehan for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) Permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq. The permit request is a revision to a previous request to construct and maintain a golf cart bridge and a shared private dock on Horsepen Creek, Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia.
This project was first placed on public notice April 20 through May 21, 2024. The proposed project included construction of a wooden vehicular bridge to span a tidal tributary and provide access to the 0.927 acre hammock immediately seaward of the applicants’ single-family residences. A shared private dock embarking from the hammock was proposed to terminate at Horsepen Creek where the applicants proposed a fixed deck and two (2) covered hoists. The proposed dock would have extended approximately 32ft. into Horsepen Creek where it is approximately 116ft. wide at Mean Low Water (MLW). Total impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed shared private dock was approximately 7,370sq.ft. (0.169 acre). Combined impacts for the proposed vehicular bridge and shared private dock totaled approximately 8,414sq.ft. (0.193 acre). In response to comments received, the applicants proposed a modified shared private dock structure.
A revised 15-day public notice ran from August 24, 2024 through September 9, 2024. The revised project included construction and maintenance of a 6ft. x 174ft. wooden golf cart bridge (1,044sq.ft. / 0.024 acre) commencing from the shared property line of Lot 5 and Lot 6 (also known as 10 Horsepen Point Drive and 12 Horsepen Point Drive). The wooden bridge would span a tidal tributary and provide access to Parcel A, the 0.927 acre hammock immediately seaward of the applicants’ single-family residences. A shared private dock was proposed to be constructed from the hammock and included a 6ft. x 740ft. ThruFlow elevated walkway (4,400sq.ft.) and terminated at Horsepen Creek where the applicants proposed to construct a 15ft. x 20ft. covered fixed deck (300sq.ft.). A 4ft. x 30ft. gangway (120sq.ft.) was to provide access to an 8ft. x 60ft. floating dock (480sq.ft.). The proposed shared dock was to be located in an area of Horsepen Creek where the applicant stated measurements at MLW were variable but, at the narrowest location, the floating dock would have extended approximately 18ft. into Horsepen Creek where the waterway is approximately 71.25ft. Impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed shared private dock totaled approximately 5,300sq.ft. (0.112 acre). Combined impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed golf cart bridge and shared private dock were approximately 6,344sq.ft. (0.146 acre).
The CMPC considered the permit application at a public hearing on November 15, 2024. The CMPC denied the permit as proposed.
The applicants submitted a revised application on November 21, 2024, requesting to construct a golf cart bridge and a shared private dock to be located on Horsepen Creek, Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia. The proposed revised shared private dock structure does not meet the exemption under the CMPA, O.C.G.A. 12-5-295, 7(B).
The current request, subject to this public notice, proposes the construction of a 6ft. x 174ft. wooden golf cart bridge (1,044sq.ft. / 0.024 acre) that would commence from the shared property line of Lot 5 and Lot 6 (also known as 10 Horsepen Point Drive and 12 Horsepen Point Drive). The wooden golf cart bridge would span a tidal tributary and provide access to Parcel A, the 0.927 acre hammock immediately seaward of the applicants’ single-family residences. The proposed shared private dock will be constructed from the hammock and includes 740ft. x 4ft. elevated walkway (2,960sq.ft.) that will terminate at Horsepen Creek where the applicants propose to construct a 15ft. x 20 ft. covered fixed deck (300sq.ft.). A 4ft. x 30ft. gangway (120sq.ft.) will provide access to an 8ft. x 30ft. floating dock (240sq.ft.). Combined impacts to coastal marshlands for the shared private dock total approximately 3,620sq.ft. (0.083 acre). The floating dock will extend approximately 18ft. into Horsepen Creek where the waterway is approximately 78ft. at MLW. The fixed deck will extend 28ft. into Horsepen Creek where the waterway is approximately 93ft. at MLW. Total impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed vehicular bridge and shared private dock total approximately 4,664sq.ft. (0.11 acre).
The upland component of the proposed project consists of a path providing access to the bridge and an at grade mulched trail through the hammock from the bridge to the shared private dock.
The CMPA 50ft. marshlands buffer for the project includes the upland area where the vehicular bridge commences from the residential properties (300sq.ft. / 0.007acre) and terminates on the hammock (Parcel A 0.927 acre). Combined, the 50ft. marshlands buffer for the proposed project is approximately 0.934 acre. Impacts from the terminal ends of the vehicular bridge and the dock will result in approximately 180sq.ft. / 0.004 acre of impervious impacts. A 9ft. x 467ft. at grade pervious earthen path (4,203sq.ft.) for pedestrians and golf carts will provide access to the dock (60sq.ft.). Temporary impacts to the 50ft. marshlands buffer include the use of equipment to remove vegetation and grading to create the earthen path. All temporary impacts within the 50ft. coastal marshlands buffer will be restored to the preconstruction state. Impervious impacts to the buffer total approximately 180sq.ft. (0.004 acre).
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 by the close of business on February 21, 2025 to Deb Barreiro at Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA 31520 or via email at deb.barreiro@dnr.ga.gov.
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