Legislature 2007: State senators cast 32-12 vote to save Jekyll Island's south end

April 20, 2007
By Dan Chapman | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 
The south end is saved. For now.

Georgia's state senators sent a message Thursday that the pristine southern corner of Jekyll Island should not be developed.

Voting 32-12, senators decided a literal line in the sand should be drawn prohibiting development of the state park's 4-H Center, soccer complex and other recreational and environmental offerings.

The Senate also voted unanimously to extend the lease of the island's governing body which, in turn, could help Jekyll's residents extend their property leases.

House leaders, who succeeded in passing their version of HB 214 a few weeks ago, strongly disagree with the Senate version. Rep. Terry Barnard (R-Glennville) who shepherded the legislation through the House, said he wasn't "sure the Senate acted in the best interests of Jekyll on the whole." He opposes restrictions on south end development and will attempt, most likely today in a conference committee, to strip anti-developer language from the Senate version of HB 214.

Few issues raised the emotional barometer this legislative session like Jekyll. It has been a developer-vs.-preservationist struggle for the soul of a park belonging to all Georgians.Thursday, typically developer-friendly Republicans sided with enviro-Democrats in a two-hour floor dust-up.

There was no mistaking the relief among senators, environmentalists, residents and others who hope to save Jekyll Island from overdevelopment. "The legislators voted their conscience because some of them were under tremendous pressure from developers," said Frank Mirasola, an island resident on hand for the debate. "We —- the citizens' association, preservationists and other people —- appealed to their conscience and they responded."

Ben Porter, chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority, which would like to develop the state park with as few encumbrances as possible, put a brave face on the defeat.

"We hope that the final legislation will give the authority the opportunity to do what's best for Jekyll Island and the people of Georgia and that is moderate development, improvements and revitalization," he said.

Jekyll is unique: a state park with more than 620 residences, a convention center, campground and historic district sandwiched on a 7.5-mile barrier island. By law, 65 percent of the island cannot be developed. What happens to the remaining 35 percent, already much-developed, entices developers. Jekyll began attracting serious interest from developers last fall. The Jekyll Island Authority, though, commissioned a master plan that seeks to manage development while maintaining the island's natural appeal. Developers have talked of plans for as much as $3 billion in new condos, hotels, houses and shops in locations all over the island. Most covet the south end with its unobstructed view of Little Cumberland Island and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

"We want people to invest money in Jekyll Island with nice new hotels and facilities," said Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry), who unsuccessfully carried what was being loosely called "the governor's bill" in the Senate.

Tolleson, while pleased with the provision in the substitute bill pushed by Sen. Jeff Chapman (R-Brunswick) that would extend Authority decision-making powers, opposed the south end restrictions. He decried as "micromanagement" other Chapman provisions, including restrictions on the number of new condominiums and residents on the island. Chapman credited citizen support —- and outrage over developers with preliminary plans drawn to build on the soccer fields and 4-H Center —- for convincing enough senators to vote for his version of HB 214.

Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford), the self-described "Queen of Sprawl," said she'd had an anti-development epiphany that helped her vote against piling condos and hotels on Jekyll. "We have to protect one of the great, last Georgia jewels," she said.

And they did. For one day.

"But it's far, far, far from over and we have to keep the pressure on to make sure the south end is protected," said Jill Johnson, a lobbyist for the Georgia Conservancy.