PUBLIC NOTICE January 13, 2023 State of Georgia: Department of Natural Resources as Custodian Removal and Replacement of Boathouse Dock and Hoist, Barn Creek, McInt

McIntosh County, Georgia

PUBLIC NOTICE
January 13, 2023 
State of Georgia: Department of Natural Resources as Custodian                                                                                          Removal and Replacement of Boathouse Dock and Hoist, 
Barn Creek, McIntosh County, Georgia

This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from State of Georgia: Department of Natural Resources as Custodian for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to remove and replace the Boathouse Dock and Hoist facility located on Barn Creek in Sapelo Island, McIntosh 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 boathouse dock and hoist are located adjacent to one another on Barn Creek, Sapelo Island, Georgia. The boathouse dock consists of a wooden fixed pier, an aluminum gangway, a wooden pile and a covered, wooden floating dock. The boathouse dock extends approximately 33ft. into the waterway at a location where the waterway is approximately 66ft. wide at mean low water (MLW). The  hoist facility consists of a concrete slab, a wood deck, an aluminum gangway, and a partially-covered hoist, beam, and structure. The entirety of the hoist structure extends approximately 35ft. into the waterway at a location where the waterway is approximately 66ft. wide at MLW. The existing structures are serviceable but will be removed from the waterway prior to the proposed construction of the upgraded structures.

The applicant proposes to construct a new boathouse dock facility that will consist of a 6ft. x 30ft. (180sq.ft.) aluminum fixed deck that will extend from the same location as the previous dock, of which 136sq.ft. will be within CMPA jurisdiction. A 4ft. x 32ft. (128sq.ft.) aluminum gangway will access an 8ft. x 22ft. (176sq.ft.) floating landing that will have a 4ft. x 72ft. (288sq.ft.) aluminum floating dock extending to the east, parallel to the shoreline. The floating dock extending along the shoreline will have three (3) 4ft. x 16ft. (192sq.ft.) fingers extending perpendicular into the waterway. The finger docks will be spaced approximately 20ft. apart. The proposed dock facility will extend approximately 29ft. into the waterway at a point where the waterway is 66ft. wide at MLW. Total impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed in water portion of the boathouse dock facility will be 920sq.ft. (0.02 acres). The 4ft. x 72ft. floating dock and associated fingers will be covered by a 26ft. x 74ft. metal roof.

The applicant also proposes to construct a new hoist facility that will consist of a 16ft. x 40ft. (640sq.ft.) pile supported concrete deck slab that will extend channelward from approximately the same location as the previous hoist structure, of which 516sq.ft. will be within CMPA jurisdiction. The bank underneath the proposed concrete deck slab will be protected by 40cu.yds. (640sq.ft) of Type 3 rip rap. On each side of the slab will be a 4ft. x 6ft. (48sq.ft.) ramp landing supporting two 4ft x 38ft. (304sq.ft.) gangways to access two (2) 10ft. x 18ft. (360sq.ft.) floating service docks. The proposed hoist facility will extend approximately 40ft. into the waterway at a point where the waterway is 66ft. wide at MLW. Total impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed in water portion of the hoist facility will be 1,868sq.ft. (0.04 acres). The proposed steel hoist, support structure, and a portion of the concrete slab will be covered by a 22ft. x 28ft. metal roof. 

Total impacts to jurisdictional coastal marshlands for both structures will be approximately 2,788sq.ft. (0.06 acres). 

The upland component of the proposed projects is made up of a 44sq.ft section of the fixed deck which will extend to the boathouse ramp and a 152sq.ft. section of the concrete slab associated with the hoist that serves as the staging area for vessels to be launched. The upland component for the proposed project totals 196sq.ft. (0.005 acres). 

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 January 27, 2023 to Paul Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or via email at paul.tobler@dnr.ga.gov. 

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