DeSoto Beach Hotel Associates, LP Construction and Maintenance of a Commercial Dune Crosswalk, 212 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia

Chatham

This serves as notification from the Shore Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from DeSoto Beach Hotel Associates, LP for a Shore Protection Act (SPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-230 et seq., to construct and maintain a new dune crosswalk seaward of the DeSoto Beach Hotel on Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia.

The applicant manages a thirty-seven (37) unit hotel landward of and adjacent to the beach on Tybee Island. Currently, hotel guests utilize an at grade beach path to access the beach from the facility. The proposed wooden dune crosswalk will extend approximately 200ft. seaward over the City of Tybee Island’s recently permitted sand dune restoration project immediately seaward of the facility.

The proposed crosswalk will be constructed after the City of Tybee Island constructs the dunes recently authorized under Shore Protection Act Permit #473, issued on November 1, 2019. The proposed structure will begin at the landward toe of the dune field and terminate seaward of the seaward most dune but shall not encroach seaward of the ordinary high water line in the active intertidal beach. It will be no greater than 6ft. in width and at least 36in. above the grade of the sand dune. The proposed crosswalk will be constructed in compliance with the Standard Permit Conditions for dune crosswalks.

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. In passing upon the application for permit, the permit issuing authority shall consider the public interest which for purposes of this part shall be deemed to be the following considerations:  (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful, increased alteration of the dynamic dune field or submerged lands, or function of the sand-sharing system will be created; (2) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicant's proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of marine life, wildlife, or other resources; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicant's proposal will unreasonably interfere with reasonable access by and recreational use and enjoyment of public properties impacted by the project.

A detailed public notice with drawings has been distributed and is available by visiting the Department of Natural Resources website: CoastalGaDNR.org under “Marsh & Shore Permits”.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 and be submitted by the close of business on December 5, 2019 to Deb Barreiro, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 185 Richard Davis Drive, Suite 104, Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324.

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