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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 Morningstar Marinas/Golden Isles, LLC for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) Permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to modify and maintain an existing commercial marina facility located on the Frederica River, Glynn County, Georgia. The proposed project is under 1/10 of an acre, and therefore may be considered a minor alteration of coastal marshlands under O.C.G.A. 12-5-280 et. seq.
The existing marina facility is authorized by CMPA Permit #224. The full service live-aboard marina provides moorings, bait, ship store, transient boater services, water, electric, fuel and pump-out services. The marina consists of a 12ft. x 226.6ft. walkway extending from the upland and a 24.6ft. x 40ft. fixed platform with a 19.25ft. x 27.42ft. gazebo on the right side of the walkway approximately 130ft. from the upland. The walkway terminates at an 11.3ft. x 25ft. gangway landing with an 8ft. x 59ft. gangway extending seaward. The gangway lands on a 606.17 square foot L-shaped floating platform. Extending to the north of the L-shaped landing platform is the 162.10ft. x 10.25ft. Connector Dock. The Connector Dock is accessed from the north by a 6ft. x 43ft. gangway extending from the 21.08ft. x 183ft. fixed pier to the Rack Dock. The fixed pier has a 15ft. x 33.5ft. cleaning station structure, a 7.5ft. x 20ft. walkway extension extending seaward, and a 5ft. x 38ft. gangway extending seaward to the Rack Dock. The Rack Dock consists of a 14ft. x 104.25ft. floating dock, a 10ft. x 395.76ft. floating dock, an 8ft. x 66ft. floating dock, six (6) 4ft. x 56ft. finger piers, and a 16 square foot substation platform.
“A” Dock extends seaward from the L shaped platform and consists of a 10.25ft. x 403.42ft. floating dock with nine (9) 5.6ft. x 40.42ft. finger piers extending to the south and nine (9) 5.6ft. x 56.58ft. finger piers extending to the north. At the seaward edge of “A” dock is a 19.75ft. x 59.75ft. floating platform with a 13.6ft. x 23ft. enclosed dock shop. Seaward of the dock shop platform is the Transient Dock with a 10.58ft. x 140.75ft. floating dock extending north and a 14ft. x 467.83ft. floating dock extending south.
“M” Dock extends south from the L shaped platform and consists of an 11ft. x 514.75ft. floating dock. “B” Dock extends seaward from “M” Dock and consists of a 10.3ft. x 288ft. floating dock with six (6) 5ft. x 49.16ft. finger piers extending to the north. “C” Dock consists of a 12.6ft. x 288.5ft. floating dock with a 6ft. x 10ft. substation and extends south from “B” Dock. “D” Dock consists of a 12.6ft. x 288.5ft. floating dock with a 6ft. x 10ft. substation and extends south of “B” Dock. “E” Dock consists of a 10.3ft. x 351.16ft. floating dock with a 6ft. x 10ft. substation and extends north and south of the terminal end of “B” Dock.
The applicant proposes to modify the structure by adding a 10ft. x 16.4ft. (164sq.ft.) substation to “A” Dock, adding a 5ft. x 16.3ft (81.5sq.ft.) substation platform to the existing dock shop platform, and extending the 14ft.-wide Transient Dock to the south by an additional 40ft (560sq.ft.). A Letter of Permission was issued on November 25, 2019 for replacement of “A” Dock and the Transient Dock within the existing footprint. The total impacts associated with the proposed modifications are 805.5 square feet (0.018 acre). Total impacts for the proposed modifications and the existing facility are approximately 59,207.42 square feet (1.36 acres).
The applicant has stated that the modification to the existing facility does not contain an upland component.
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 and be submitted by the close of business on January 5, 2020 to Sam LaBarba, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.
Click here for the Project Application
Click here for the Project Description
