Jekyll Island Legislation alert: UPDATED

Senator Jeff Chapman introduced legislation (plus 2 other bills) that will protect the main public beach of Jekyll Island State Park from development. The legislation bans any new development east of Beachview Drive. Information on the legislation can be found in the AJC and Jacksonville Times-Union.

According to the Times-Union:

The first bill limits beachside construction to the footprint of existing hotels. The second prevents any new construction from being used as permanent residences. The third clarifies language from earlier legislation, including how Jekyll should achieve a mandate to keep its amenities affordable to average-income Georgians.

UPDATED: It's imperative that anyone interested in this issue call Senators on the Economic Development Committee:

Chip Pearson, head of the committee; Sen. Rogers; Sen. Carter; Sen. Brown; Sen. Chance; Sen. Hooks; Sen. Thompson; Sen. Mullis; Sen. Schaefer; Sen. Tarver; and Sen. Jackson.

Also, please call your Senator and ask them to support the legislation. Others to call are Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson, both of whom favor the Linger Longer/JIA plan.

The Jekyll Island State Park Authority and pro-development advocates are painting this legislation as "effectively stopping the revitalization" of the island. It does no such thing. It protects the main public beach from a massive development unwanted by most of the public, the people who own the island.

The arrogance of the JIA and in particular its chairman, Ben Porter, in working with the public on this issue was nicely summed up in a recent opinion piece from the AJC. In it, Art Hurts says:

"The heated controversy over the master plan for Jekyll Island redevelopment was so unnecessary, so predictable and so avoidable that we must ask ourselves, "What were they thinking?"

He goes on to point out that "With regard to the master plan for redevelopment, JIA has willfully and systematically excluded the public from any participation in the planning process."

Interestingly, in 2006 the Jekyll Island State Park Authority did a guest survey which is included in their 2006 Annual Report. Among other things, the report states:

"It is clear that the guests prefer Jekyll Island as a travel destination because of the unique combination of natural, seaside beauty, interesting historic sites and limited development."

When asked, "Which choice best describes your feeling about the future of Jekyll Island?"

- over 50% said any new development should be limited to existing sites

- over 17% said new development is needed but should be strictly limited and increase to no more than 20% (possibly one additional new hotel, 75-100 condo units)

- over 16% said leave it as is

- only a little over 5% said that strict limitations should be eased to allow for more development of new hotels, homes and shops

So essentially, in the JIA's own survey, only 5.2% of visitors to the island thought that what has become the endorsed proposal would be a good idea. Go figure.

Please call committee Senators and your own Senator, along with Lt. Gov. Cagle and Sen. Eric Johnson. Please ask them to support Senator Chapman's legislation. Redevelopment is already taking place all over the island. We need to protect the people's state park.