Jekyll, developer discuss changes

November 6, 2007
By CAROLE HAWKINS | The Florida Times-Union

JEKYLL ISLAND - The Jekyll Island Authority asked its new private development partner to take another look at its plans for beach access parking and also the impact that adding hundreds of new accommodations will have on Jekyll Island.

The authority discussed the parameters of its town square center contract with developer Linger Longer Communities at a meeting last week in Atlanta, according to authority Chairman Ben Porter.

At that meeting the authority asked Linger Longer to add more parking close to the beach in its town square center design. Linger Longer's proposed plan removes all beachside lots at Jekyll Island's main beach and replaces them with street parking, a small lot in the retail center and a parking garage shared with a new hotel.

Jekyll Island residents decried the plan because the majority of beach access parking was between 200 yards and a quarter mile from the beach.

The authority also asked Linger Longer to reconsider the number of beachfront accommodations it will add in its new development. The proposed plan would place 725 new hotel rooms, 277 condominiums and 160 time share units on a 64-acre parcel at the beach.

The meeting was constructive, Porter said.

"We have a strong good team of people, and I feel good about the relationship we have with these people," he said.

Input into the proposed plan will continue with several public meetings to be held this month. Board member Ed Bo-shears said the authority does not intend to adopt the Linger Longer concept plan strictly as it has been proposed.

"Linger Longer is aware that we have problems with the plan they've presented," he said. "We are simply not going to adopt that plan as it is."

Contract negotiations with Linger Longer will take approximately two months, said Porter, and the site plan will take about six months to finalize.

"The board wants to address the issues the public has raised. Some people have been concerned that we are going to adopt it as it is, but it is extremely unlikely that we would do that," said Porter. "There will be many changes." JEKYLL ISLAND - The Jekyll Island Authority asked its new private development partner to take another look at its plans for beach access parking and also the impact that adding hundreds of new accommodations will have on Jekyll Island.

The authority discussed the parameters of its town square center contract with developer Linger Longer Communities at a meeting last week in Atlanta, according to authority Chairman Ben Porter.

At that meeting the authority asked Linger Longer to add more parking close to the beach in its town square center design. Linger Longer's proposed plan removes all beachside lots at Jekyll Island's main beach and replaces them with street parking, a small lot in the retail center and a parking garage shared with a new hotel.

Jekyll Island residents decried the plan because the majority of beach access parking was between 200 yards and a quarter mile from the beach.

The authority also asked Linger Longer to reconsider the number of beachfront accommodations it will add in its new development. The proposed plan would place 725 new hotel rooms, 277 condominiums and 160 time share units on a 64-acre parcel at the beach.

The meeting was constructive, Porter said.

"We have a strong good team of people, and I feel good about the relationship we have with these people," he said.

Input into the proposed plan will continue with several public meetings to be held this month. Board member Ed Bo-shears said the authority does not intend to adopt the Linger Longer concept plan strictly as it has been proposed.

"Linger Longer is aware that we have problems with the plan they've presented," he said. "We are simply not going to adopt that plan as it is."

Contract negotiations with Linger Longer will take approximately two months, said Porter, and the site plan will take about six months to finalize.

"The board wants to address the issues the public has raised. Some people have been concerned that we are going to adopt it as it is, but it is extremely unlikely that we would do that," said Porter. "There will be many changes."