Senate bill protects 'jewel'
The legislation favors safeguarding south end of Jekyll Island
from development
April 20, 2007
By BRANDON LARRABEE | The Times-Union
ATLANTA - A measure protecting the southern end of Jekyll Island from development
and making it easier for lawmakers to block changes to the state park's master
plan overwhelmingly passed the Senate Thursday.
The Senate version of the legislation, approved on a 53-0 vote, differs
dramatically from the legislationpassed by the House, which contained
few protections for the island in a measure meant to jump-start new
development on Jekyll, nicknamed "Georgia's Jewel."
Despite pleas by the sponsor of the original measure, which extends
the lease of the Jekyll Island Authority, the Senate adopted a series
of amendments proposed by Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, to increase
protections of the island.
"It feels good," Chapman said after the vote. "It was
the right thing to do. ... Most importantly, it helps the Jekyll Island
Authority to accomplish what they need to accomplish."
The bipartisan vote showed strong support in the Senate for conserving
the island, he said.
"This belongs to the people of Georgia," Chapman said.
There is little controversy over the original bill, which extends
the authority's lease by 30 years, pushing the expiration date on the
body's control of the island from 2049 to 2079.
The authority says it needs the lease extension to help entice developers
to invest in the island as part of an effort to revitalize Jekyll's
tourist infrastructure. Supporters of redevelopment argue that the
island has fallen into disrepair.
"Isn't it true that the condition on the island is so bad that
even the roaches have removed themselves from the island?" quipped
Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga.
Residents and environmentalists, though, insisted that any lease extension
also include protections for the island's natural beauty.
The highest priority for those residents was shielding the environmentally
sensitive southern end of the island, which is also home to a 4-H Center
and soccer fields. An amendment barring further development of that
area passed 32-12.
Another amendment allowing a legislative committee to temporarily
block any objectionable change to the master plan and making it easier
for the General Assembly to permanently shoot down those revisions
passed 50-0.
During the debate, some senators worried that the redevelopment would
bring in high-end hotels, compromising Jekyll's character as a getaway
affordable to average Georgians.
"Not every new development has to be a Ritz-Carlton," said
Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford. "Not every new home has to look
like a home on Sea Island. ... Don't let us be hoodwinked. Let's use
our conscience."
In a reference to "alligator-shoed" lobbyists, Unterman
highlighted the money that developers and others have spent trying
to affect the course of the legislation.
"The alligators are out there in that hall and they're snapping," she
said.
But Sen. Ross Tolleson, R-Perry, said the General Assembly needs to
be careful in regulating the use of land on Jekyll.
"We don't want to get to where we're micromanaging everything
from here in the General Assembly," he said.
The measure now returns to the House. If that chamber agrees with
the Senate changes, the bill would go to Gov. Sonny Perdue for his
signature or veto. If it rejects the Senate version, the lease extension
would go to a conference committee aimed at hammering out a compromise.
brandon.larrabee@morris.com, (678) 977-3709
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