An official website of the State of Georgia.
This serves as notification from the Shore Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from Sea Shark, LLC for a Shore Protection Act (SPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-230 et seq. for the removal and installation of native landscaping and installation of a retaining wall within the State’s SPA jurisdiction at 117 East 18th Street, Sea Island, Glynn County, Georgia. The proposed project is considered a minor activity under O.C.G.A. 12-5-230 et. seq.
The applicant’s property is approximately 45,604sq.ft. (1.05 acres), of which 5,514sq.ft. (0.13 acres) is within SPA jurisdiction. The proposed project also includes a 403sq.ft. (0.01 acre) portion of the East 18th Street ROW owned by SIA PROPCO I, LLC. The area within jurisdiction consists of lawn, landscaping, and sparse grass and weeds. An existing rock revetment is located immediately east of the subject lot which has been covered with constructed sand dunes authorized by Shore Protection Act Permit #461.
The applicant proposes to remove existing vegetation and install native landscaping within SPA jurisdiction. The landscaping plan includes 3,710sq.ft. (0.09 acres) of the Sea Shark, LLC property, as well as 256sq.ft. (0.01 acres) of the East 18th Street ROW property located within jurisdiction. The existing lawn and vegetation will be replaced with seashore paspalum and a mix of native perennials, grasses, trees, and shrubs. Existing elevations within jurisdiction are approximately 7ft. An additional 182 cubic yards of suitable material for grading will be imported, with a final grading level of 9 to 10 feet. A final landscape plan depicting coastal vegetation native to Georgia will be submitted for approval prior to conducting the work. Underground irrigation will be installed in the lawn and landscaped areas. The applicant also proposes to install 17sq.ft. of block retaining wall within SPA jurisdiction, being of stucco veneer with a stone cap at a height of 4ft.
All work within jurisdiction will be accomplished with typical earth-moving equipment including excavators and skid-steer. Existing and proposed impacts within jurisdiction will total 17sq.ft. (0.29%), approximately 5,900sq.ft. (99.71%) of the state’s jurisdictional area will remain in a natural or improved topographic and vegetative condition.
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. In passing upon the application for permit, the permit issuing authority shall consider the public interest which for purposes of this part shall be deemed to be the following considerations: (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful, increased alteration of the dynamic dune field or submerged lands, or function of the sand-sharing system will be created; (2) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicant's proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of marine life, wildlife, or other resources; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicant's proposal will unreasonably interfere with reasonable access by and recreational use and enjoyment of public properties impacted by the project.
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, 2023 to Beth Byrnes, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or via email at elizabeth.byrnes@dnr.ga.gov.
Click here to view application
Click here to view description
