Wilmington Partners, LLC, Modification of an Existing Marina; 606, 612 and 618 Wilmington Island Road, Lots 33-36, Walthour Subdivision, Turner Creek, Chatham County, Georgia

Glynn

This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from Wilmington Partners, LLC for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to modify an existing, permitted marina facility along with the addition of two adjacent facilities located on Turner Creek, Chatham County, Georgia. The proposed project modification 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 project site currently consists of three existing or permitted dock facilities on lot 33, combined lots 34 and 35, and lot 36 which will all be combined into one facility called Savannah Marina. The shoreline along Turner Creek is stabilized with a 540sq.ft. existing bulkhead and 315sq.ft. of existing riprap.

The partially existing dock facility extending from lot 36 (618 Wilmington Island Road) was permitted by CMPA Permit #776 on July 17, 2020 as Lightship Marina. The timber framing for the fixed deck, walkway, and covered fixed deck has been constructed totaling approximately 2,588sq.ft. (0.059 acre). On the seaward side of the second covered fixed deck, a 5ft. x 10ft. (50 sq.ft.) landing platform will support an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant 80ft. x 4ft. (320 sq.ft.) gangway. The gangway will land on a 10.5ft. x 18ft. (189sq.ft.) float and will lead to a 21.5ft. x 10.5ft. (225.75 sq.ft.) floating dock attached, on the landward side, to a 409.5ft. x 11.5ft. main floating dock (4,709.25 sq.ft.) that will extend parallel to the shoreline. Also attached to the landward side of the main floating dock will be a 15ft. x 120ft. (1,800 sq.ft.) covered floating dock for use as storage for kayaks or jet skis.  At the western-most end of the main floating dock will be a 131.5ft. x 11.5ft. (1,512.25 sq.ft.) float that will extend perpendicular towards the channel. Approximately 60ft. seaward along this float will be a 248.5ft. x 11.5ft. floating dock (2,857.75 sq.ft. total) extending eastward, parallel to the channel. At the terminal end, a 260ft. x 11.5ft. (2,990 sq.ft.) float with fuel dispensers and wastewater pumpout stations will extend eastward and parallel to the channel. At the eastern end of the main floating dock a finger-float system will extend to the channel and will include a 129.5ft. x 11.5ft. (1,489.25 sq.ft.) center floating dock with three fingers extending from each side (six total), each measuring 43ft. x 5.5ft. (1,419 sq.ft.). On the seaward end of the center floating dock will be a 97.5ft. x 13.5ft. (1,316.25 sq.ft.) floating dock located parallel to the channel with fuel dispensers and wastewater pumpout stations.

CMPA Permit #776 permitted the project to be constructed in two phases. Phase I of the project will impact approximately 21,427.5 sq.ft. (0.492 acre) of coastal marshlands. The applicant has demonstrated the demand for additional float space and Phase II of the project has been approved by the Department. The applicant will proceed with Phase II of the permitted project that includes the western extension of three floating docks originating from the western end of the main floating dock by 248.5ft. x 11.5ft. each (8,573.25 sq.ft. total). Phase II will impact approximately 8,573.25 sq.ft (0.196 acre) of coastal marshlands. The authorized structures for both phases will extend approximately 232 feet into the waterway where the waterway is approximately 636 feet wide at Mean Low Water (MLW). Impacts within coastal marshlands will total approximately 30,217.75 sq.ft. (0.689 acre).  

The existing, unpermitted dock facility extending from combined lots 34 and 35 (612 Wilmington Island Road) consists of a 10ft. x 28ft. (280sq.ft.) wooden walkway leading to an 18ft. x 33.5ft. (603sq.ft.) covered fixed deck. Extending channelward of the fixed deck is a 62ft. x 11.5ft. (713sq.ft.) walkway extension leading to a 3ft. x 15.5ft. (46.5sq.ft.) gangway which connects to a 52ft. x 8ft. (416sq.ft.) float. The roof on the fixed deck is 11.25ft. tall to the apex and 7.25ft. to the eave. The existing dock facility impacts a total of 2,058.5 square feet (0.047 acre) of coastal marshlands.

The existing dock facility extending from lot 33 (606 Wilmington Island Road) was last modified under CMPA Permit #703 on June 19, 2015, as Sail Harbor Marina. Extending from the upland are two fixed wooden walkways. The western walkway is approximately 6ft. x 75ft. (within CMPA jurisdiction), from which the floating docks extend in front of combined lots 34 and 35, and the existing dock. A 4ft. x 32ft. gangway leads to a 7ft. x 73ft. float. On the downstream side of the main float is a 9ft. x 23ft. float, a 7ft. x 140ft. float, and a 7ft. x 267ft. float. Extending channelward from the longer float is a 20ft. x 68ft. float with a 6ft. x 36ft. finger float extending downstream and an 8ft. x 247ft. float on the channelward side. The eastern fixed walkway is approximately 6ft. x 85ft. (within CMPA jurisdiction), from which the floating docks extend in front of lot 32. A 4ft. x 23ft. gangway leads to an 8ft. x 136ft. float extending channelward. On the upstream side of the main float are three fingers measuring approximately 7ft. x 129ft., 7ft. x 128ft., and 8ft. x 125ft. An approximately 7ft. x 8ft. corner brace is located on the middle floating finger pier. Between the two fixed wooden walkways are two pile supported concrete platforms previously used to support the boat hoist. They measure approximately 2.5ft. x 103ft. and 2.5ft. x 107ft. within jurisdiction. The existing dock facility extends approximately 181ft. into the waterway at a point where the waterway is approximately 500ft. at MLW. The existing dock facility impacts a total of 12,757sq.ft. (0.293 acre) of coastal marshlands.

The applicant proposes to modify CMPA Permit #776 to include the dock facilities at lots 33-35 and their proposed modification and maintenance. All three facilities will form Savannah Marina. No modifications are proposed to the dock facility on lot 36. The applicant is proposing to modify and maintain the dock facility extending from combined lots 34 and 35. The modification involves elevating the walkway to connect to the existing bulkhead. Maintenance includes replacement of the decking, railing, several pilings, and repairing the roof. These will not include additional impacts to coastal marshlands. The applicant is also proposing to modify the existing, permitted dock facility extending from lot 33. The modification includes construction of a 120ft. x 17ft. (2,040sq.ft.) pile supported concrete deck for a marine forklift installation. Removal of some of the existing riprap from CMPA jurisdiction may be necessary and will not require replacement. The extent into the waterway at MLW will remain the same.  

No dredging, fill, bank stabilization, maintenance dredging, or other activities are proposed within jurisdiction. All work will be conducted from upland or by crane and barge in a manner to minimize turbidity in the waterway, and the applicant will ensure that no oils or other pollutants are released into the waterway during construction. Upon completion, the total impacts of Savannah Marina to coastal marshlands will be 47,073.25sq.ft. (1.08 acres).

The upland component for the proposed project consists of five dry stack structures (12,022sq.ft.), concrete surface for dry stack access (17,400sq.ft.), gravel around dry stack access (2,075sq.ft.), marina store & bait shop (3,963sq.ft.), and walkway (5,490sq.ft.) for access between the dock structures. Total proposed permanent impacts to the upland component are 40,950sq.ft. (0.94 acre).

The 50ft. marshlands buffer totals 26,820sq.ft. of which 4,072sq.ft. is currently impacted. Proposed permanent structures will impact approximately 11,340sq.ft. of the 50ft. marshlands buffer. Temporary impacts to the upland component include storage of materials and equipment needed for construction. Currently the 50ft. marshlands buffer consists of 15.2% impervious surfaces and will be 17.5% impervious upon completion of the project.

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 February 15, 2025 to Cheyenne Osborne, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or via email at Cheyenne.Osborne1@dnr.ga.gov.

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