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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 Laroche Avenue Properties, 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 pile supported restaurant located on Herb River, Chatham County, Georgia.
The subject property consists of two parcels bisected by Laroche Avenue totaling approximately 2.13 acres. The parcel on the east side of the road (Parcel A) totals approximately 1.35 acres and the parcel on the west side of the road (Parcel B) totals approximately 0.78 acre. Parcel A was the site of a restaurant known as Pearl’s Saltwater Grill before being destroyed by a fire in August 2022. Parcel B was designated parking for the restaurant. Prior to the fire, a portion of the restaurant building, a portion of the deck, a portion of a smaller separate storage building, and a bulkhead/rip rap bank stabilization project were located in CMPA jurisdiction. Pre-fire impacts to CMPA jurisdiction total approximately 14,286sq.ft. (0.33 acres). This includes 5,854sq.ft. (0.13 acres) from buildings and wooden decks, and 8,431sq.ft. (0.198 acres) from the bank stabilization project. Following the fire, a Letter of Permission (LOP) was issued to the property owner in November 2022. This LOP authorized the removal of debris from approximately 5,000sq.ft. of CMPA jurisdictional area adjacent to Parcel A, as well as the demolition of the upland restaurant building and an adjacent storage building.
Existing impacts to CMPA jurisdiction on Parcel A consist of a 162sq.ft. portion of a one-story storage building that was not demolished post fire and approximately 8,431sq.ft. of rip rap bank stabilization. There are no existing impacts to CMPA jurisdiction associated with Parcel B. Existing impacts to coastal marshlands total approximately 8,593sq.ft. (0.20 acre).
The applicant proposes to construct a pile supported restaurant, associated deck and patio, a bulkhead, and rip rap stabilization on Parcel A. The proposed restaurant and deck construction are larger than the building’s pre-fire footprint. Before new construction can begin the remainder of the existing rip rap and other debris will be removed with mechanized equipment. All material removed from the site will be transported to an upland disposal site. The proposed timber bulkhead around the eastern upland portion of Parcel A will be 590 linear feet located along the CMPA jurisdiction line. The toe of the proposed bulkhead will be protected by 2,360sq.ft. of rip rap. The applicant proposes stabilizing the upland portion of Parcel B with a 190 linear foot timber bulkhead protected by 750sq.ft. of rip rap on its northwestern boundary. The bulkheads and portions of the rip rap will be located immediately landward of the CMPA jurisdiction line. The proposed bank stabilization projects on Parcel A and B will impact approximately 1,692sq.ft. (0.04 acre).
The proposed pile supported restaurant, deck, and sidewalk will be partially located over coastal marshlands. A 2,982sq.ft. portion of the restaurant building will extend into CMPA jurisdiction. The entirety of the proposed wooden deck, located immediately channelward of the restaurant building, will impact approximately 2,474sq.ft. of coastal marshlands. A 253sq.ft. portion of the concrete patio and sidewalk will also be located in CMPA jurisdiction. The restaurant building and associated decks, patio, and sidewalk will impact a total of 5,709sq.ft. (0.13 acre) of coastal marshlands.
The proposed restaurant, deck and bank stabilization will impact approximately 7,400sq.ft. (0.17 acre) of coastal marshlands. The proposed facility will not extend beyond the Mean Low Water (MLW) line at a point where the waterway is approximately 134ft. wide.
The upland component consists of the entirety of the upland portions of Parcel A and B totaling 60,924sq.ft. The upland portion of Parcel A and B landward of the 50ft. marshlands buffer consists of 4,202sq.ft. and 14,685sq.ft. of pavement parking lot/sidewalks respectively. Existing impacts within the 50ft. marshlands buffer consists of a two-story building, a portion of a one-story building, a portion of the existing rip rap bank stabilization project, building foundation, and pavement parking lots/sidewalks. Within the 50ft. marshlands buffer, existing impacts total 28,845sq.ft. Of these impacted areas, 73.6% are impervious surfaces.
Proposed impacts to the 50ft. marshlands buffer on Parcel A will consist of a 4,521sq.ft. portion of the restaurant building, 1,770sq.ft. bulkhead, 840sq.ft. of rip rap stabilization, and 13,096sq.ft. of paved/concrete areas. Proposed impacts to the 50ft. marshlands buffer of Parcel B will consist of a 570sq.ft. bulkhead, 578sq.ft. portion of the rip rap bank stabilization project, and 10,231sq.ft. of paved/concrete area. Proposed impacts within the 50ft. marshlands buffer total 31,606sq.ft. Proposed impacts will result in a 2,761sq.ft. increase in total impervious areas within the 50ft. marshlands buffer to 80.7% of the total area. Proposed impacts to upland portion of Parcel A and B landward of the 50ft. marshlands buffer consists of 2,489sq.ft. and 15,189sq.ft. of pavement parking lot/sidewalks respectively.
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 October 31, 2026, 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 the Application.
Click here to view the Description.
Click here to view the Drawings.
Click here to view the Photos.
