Caution, restraint urged on Jekyll Island upgrades

March 2, 2007
The Florida Times-Union

 
Coastal senators joined a chorus of lawmakers urging the Jekyll Island Authority to be careful as it weighs plans to redevelop parts of the state park island.

Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, and Sen. Regina Thomas, D-Savannah, introduced a nonbinding resolution Thursday asking the authority to use caution and restraint as it oversees the needed rebuilding of aging hotel and convention facilities.

Last month, several representatives signed onto a similar resolution sponsored by Rep. Al Williams, D-Midway, in the House.

Under state law, 65 percent of the island is off-limits to development.

For the available areas, plans are being discussed to build luxury resort facilities that would "yield high financial returns, but that would preclude their use by Georgians of ordinary means," according to Senate Resolution 377.

While the resolutions do not result in any changes from the General Assembly, opponents of overdevelopment of the island could use the measures as part of their current lobbying.