Environmentalists Call on Public to Defeat Requested Building Permits

Business Report & Journal
October 31, 2006

The Coastal Marshland Protection Committee (CMPC) is currently reviewing requests for building permits which have raised eyebrows among some of Georgia's environmentalists. And the Altamaha Riverkeepers and Coastkeepers, a local environmental protection group, is taking it to the net, with e-mail alerts that call upon the public to question the projects before they receive approval.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Coastal Resources Division posts drawings and project information on their website. The group asks that people review the proposals listed there and address concerns and input to the applicants. Officially, the public's input must be factored in by the CMPC and the DNR's decisions.

"It is essential that the public speak out about these projects before it is too late," reads the group's latest e-mail alert.

Among the projects in contention are:

Cathead Landing

Cathead Creek is a tributary of the Altamaha River that flows into the Darien River and drains part of Buffalo Swamp, a rare tidal forest containing bald cypress, black gum and water tupelo. Flowing for eight miles through a previously undeveloped section of McIntosh County, Cathead Creek is a favorite spot for people seeking to explore the Altamaha River Bio-reserve, named by The Nature Conservancy as one of the "75 Last Great Places" in the world.

Cathead Landing Development Company proposes to extend 40 boat slips into the river just above one of the coast's dramatic bluffs. The docks are being marketed as part of the Cathead Landing project, which plans to develop 45 cottages for occasional use on 6.19 upland acres above the site. Other developers propose to build extensive second-home housing and condominium complexes in this area and will seek permits to build extensive new dock systems in this coastal river system. CRD must consider whether permitting docks serves the public interest.

Among the concerns raised by the project are the creation of navigation hazards and alteration of natural flow, degradation of water quality, harm to wildlife (including manatees) and aquatic species from expanded boat traffic and the increase erosion of the adjacent bluff and uplands caused by additional motorboat usage will.

Baisden Bluff Proposed Dock

Baisden Bluff, located on Highway 99 in McIntosh County, is currently an area of single-family homes with modest private docks that access the Crescent River. In spite of some public opposition, McIntosh County Commissioners rezoned this property to facilitate its sale to a developer proposing to build a multi-story 66-unit condominium complex. Developers now seek permission to build an expanded community dock to serve the upland development. The proposed dock structure is simply too big for this small tidal river. Environmentalists say expanded boat traffic will result in harmful impacts to wildlife, aquatic species, navigation, and current uses.

While these projects differ in size and location, they are both driven by second-home developments and create similar concerns. The group's website at www.altmahariverkeeper.org provides for more details on these and other projects that could potentially impact coastal ecology.