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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 requested permit is to construct a cart bridge and a shared private dock to be located on Horsepen Creek, Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia. The proposed shared private dock structure does not meet the exemption under the CMPA, O.C.G.A. 12-5-295, 7(B).
The proposed project includes construction of a 6ft. x 174ft. wooden vehicular bridge (1,044sq.ft. / 0.024 acre) that will 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 bridge will 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 a 6ft. x 747ft. elevated walkway (4,482sq.ft.) that, as proposed, will traverse two (2) unnamed tidal tributaries three (3) times. Both tributaries go dry at Mean Low Water (MLW) and measure approximately 20ft. and 10ft. at Mean High Water (MHW). The walkway will terminate at Horsepen Creek where the applicants propose to construct a 15ft. x 26.6ft. fixed deck (400sq.ft.) and two (2) 16ft. x 30ft. (960sq.ft.) covered hoists that will be serviced by approximately 408sq.ft. of catwalk. The fixed deck and two hoists will have a contiguous roof that does not exceed 12ft. in height above the decking of the structure. A 4ft. x 30ft. gangway (120sq.ft.) will provide access to an 8ft. x 125ft. floating dock (1,000sq.ft.). The proposed shared dock will extend approximately 32ft. into Horsepen Creek where it is approximately 116ft. wide at MLW. Total impacts to coastal marshlands for the shared family dock total approximately 7,370sq.ft. (0.169 acre). Combined impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed vehicular bridge and shared private dock total approximately 8,414sq.ft. (0.193 acre).
The upland component of the proposed project consists of the 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 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 May 21, 2024 to Deb Barreiro at deb.barreiro@dnr.ga.gov or Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA 31520.
Click here for Project Description
Click here for Project Drawings
