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This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from Belvedere Island Property Owners Association for a modification to Dock A on South Newport River, McIntosh County, Georgia. The project is less than 1/10 of an acre and is considered a minor alteration of coastal marshlands under O.C.G.A. 12-5-280 et. seq.
Dock A serves Lots 2, 3, 4, and 5. Prior to Hurricane Matthew, the applicant contends that Dock A consisted of a 4.65ft. x 428.45ft. walkway leading to a 14.6 ft. x 15.79 ft. fixed deck. A secondary 8.83ft. x 30ft. walkway extended from the center of the fixed deck. Extending to the left of the secondary walkway was a 3ft. x 24ft. ramp to an 8ft. x 17.83ft. floating dock and extending from the right of the secondary walkway was another 3ft. x 24ft. ramp to an 8ft. x 17.83ft. floating dock. After Hurricane Matthew, only the landward walkway, fixed deck, and right floating dock remained.
A Letter of Permission (LOP) was issued on June 1, 2017 to perform maintenance to eight (8) existing 4-family dock facilities within Belvedere Island Plantation, located on South Newport River in Townsend, Georgia. This LOP included the repairs to Dock A. The applicant did not make the repairs to Dock A, as authorized in the LOP issued on June 1, 2017.
Currently, the applicant is requesting to modify Dock A. The proposed new configuration would include the existing 4ft. x 428.45ft. walkway leading to the existing 14.6ft. x 15.79ft. fixed deck. A 6ft. x 30ft. secondary walkway will extend from the fixed deck. From the center of the secondary walkway a 3ft. x 24ft. ramp is proposed to extend to the center of the proposed floating docks. The ramp will terminate on a 4ft. x 6ft. ramp rest attached to the center of the proposed floating docks. There will be three floating docks hinged together. The center floating dock will be 8ft. x 20ft., and on each side of the center floating dock will be an 8ft. x 17.83ft. floating dock. The float remaining after Hurricane Matthew will be removed. The proposed construction of the dock facility will impact approximately 2,665.7 sq.ft. (0.061 acres) of jurisdictional coastal marshlands. There is no upland component associated with this project.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the project is not contrary to the public interest and that no feasible alternative sites exist. Impacts to coastal marshlands must be minimal in size. In passing upon the application for permit, the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee shall consider the public interest: (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful obstruction to or alteration of the natural flow of navigational water within the affected area will arise as a result of the proposal; (2) Whether or not unreasonably harmful or increased erosion, shoaling of channels, or stagnant areas of water will be created; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicants proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, clams, or other marine life, wildlife, or other resources, including but not limited to water and oxygen supply.
Please provide this office with substantive, site-specific comments as to why the proposed work should or should not proceed. Comments and questions concerning this proposed project should be submitted in writing by the close of business on August 2, 2018 to Jordan Dodson, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31250.
Click here for Project Application
