Glynn County Zoning Update

Preserving Our Rural Character

Concerns

The draft zoning ordinance includes a zoning designation called Forest Agriculture (FA). According to the ordinance, the intent of FA is: “to be utilized and reserved for agricultural purposes, as well as residential uses, certain specialized recreational, and other public purposes.

1. To encourage the formation and continuance of a compatible environment for public and recreational areas and agricultural uses; and
2. To discourage any encroachment by incompatible housing developments, scattered commercial and/or industrial operations, or other uses capable of adversely affecting the basic agricultural or open character of the district.”

While we agree with this intent and with the theory of having a rural zoning category for West Glynn and the North End of St. Simons Island, the ordinance assigns a density of 2 units per acre for rural properties. If large tracts of land in rural areas are developed at 2 units per acre, the new development would throw Glynn County’s infrastructure planning and investments upside down. New schools would need to be prioritized in rural areas, sewer and water infrastructure would need to be extended in built, and roads would need to be widened—all in areas where these infrastructure investments are not currently planned. Additionally, existing residents and current opportunities provided by Glynn County’s rural areas would be threatened and/or pushed out.

Redevelopment in the Right Places

Concerns

A significant uptick in development within Glynn County, particularly in previously undeveloped areas, can cause significant harm to our coastal character and environment.

Marsh Buffers

Concerns

The draft Glynn County Zoning Ordinance includes requirements for buffers. The wetland buffer provision is required to be consistent with the state law or 15 feet, whichever is greater. During recent work sessions and as has been reported in the media, some members of the Mainland Planning Commission have expressed skepticism about the ordinance including whether wetland buffers are needed at all. This is concerning because of scientifically proven benefits buffers provide to homeowners in terms of flood protections and to our wetlands in terms of water quality.

Conservation Subdivision Provision

Comments

The draft zoning ordinance includes a conservation subdivision provision. The provision is generally well done.

Beach Lighting

Concerns

Artificial lighting poses a significant annual threat to threatened loggerhead sea turtles in Glynn County, by deterring adult females from nesting and causing hatchlings to become misoriented as they emerge from their nests. Overall, there are three primary concerns when addressing the effects of artificial light on nesting sea turtles: 1) the quantity of light, 2) the quality of light, and 3) the directionality of light. The current and draft ordinance deal only minimally with the quantity of light and do not address the necessary components of quality (wavelength) or directionality.

The St. Simons Island Sea Turtle Project and Georgia Department of Natural Resources have been working to update this outdated, ineffective ordinance for many years; however, to date, no changes have been made. Jekyll Island (located in Glynn County) has a good example of a lighting ordinance that balances economic development with sea turtle protection.

Creating Pedestrian & Cyclist-Friendly Transportation Corridors

Concerns

Though a bicycle and pedestrian framework currently exists, there are infrastructure gaps that hinder the ability to use the network as a practical form of transportation.

Tree Canopy Preservation

Concerns

Unfortunately, land is often clear-cut during development for its cost effectiveness. This not only negatively affects the wildlife that calls Glynn County trees home, but also weakens the ecosystem benefits provided to humans. There is a tree preservation requirement already included in the zoning ordinance, but it only refers to St. Simons Island. Mainland Glynn County is being underlooked in this regard, and as Glynn County continues to grow and develop, protecting our mainland trees is more important than ever.

Protecting Green Space

Concerns

Setback and buffer requirements currently found in the zoning ordinance do not fulfill the community need for green space. As Glynn County continues to grow and to promote the quality of life for all who live here, it is important to be intentional about how people can  benefit from the built environment by utilizing the natural environment that has already been provided to us.

Megan Desrosiers

President and Chief Executive Officer

Megan Desrosiers is the founding President/CEO of One Hundred Miles, Georgia’s coastal advocacy organization. In an effort to elevate the Georgia coast as a recognized place of historical, cultural, and biological significance, Megan spends her time working in local communities, on regional collaboration projects, and lobbying in Atlanta.

Megan and her team have accomplished a remarkable amount since the organization’s inception in 2013. One Hundred Miles is responsible for improvements to the Erosion and Sedimentation Act which now requires a 25-foot buffer for all salt marsh, galvanizing statewide opposition to offshore drilling, and preventing the US Army Corps of Engineers from dredging during the summer when Georgia’s sea turtles come home to nest. Under her leadership, One Hundred Miles has built a network of more than 16,000 advocates who stand ready to respond to bad and promote good ideas that will affect our coast. In six short years, the organization has grown from two employees to ten, an annual budget of $250,000 to more than $1 million, and a donor base of six to one of more than 1,100 today.

Before coming to Georgia’s coast, Megan spent 10 years at the Coastal Conservation League (CCL) in South Carolina. She was instrumental in efforts to conserve land in the Ashley River Historic Corridor and on Johns Island. She also worked to establish the organization’s first climate and energy and agriculture program agendas.

Megan has worked through the years to help start up organizations form and become sustainable coastal advocacy partners in Georgia and South Carolina. In addition to forming One Hundred Miles, she worked with a team to start GrowFood Carolina, South Carolina’s first local food hub, and collaborated with a group of diverse leaders to initiate Charleston County’s Greenbelt Program. Megan has also served on the founding boards of the South Carolina Outdoor Education Program (SCOEP) and Charleston Moves, a bicycle/pedestrian advocacy organization.

Stephanie Chewning

Coastal Education Coordinator

Stephanie’s love for the ocean started at a very young age on the beaches of Stone Harbor, New Jersey, searching for and collecting shells with her Nana. This childhood passion never stopped, and she followed her interest in the outdoors by pursuing a degree in Marine Science from American University in Washington, D.C.

After college, Stephanie spent time teaching environmental science in Florida, California, and Georgia. Ultimately settling on the Georgia coast, she worked at Driftwood Education Center on St. Simons Island as the Program Director and later with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as a Naturalist on Sapelo Island. Stephanie continues to share her love of our coast as a part of the One Hundred Miles education team.

Kristen Clark

12th Grade, South Effingham High School

What Three Words Best Describe You?

Adventurous, Creative, Assiduous

What Is Your Dream Career?

I don’t know exactly what it is I want to pursue later in life, but I know I want it to be something that gives me the freedom to travel and explore the world while still making a difference. I want to do something that allows me to be creative and pursue my passions, something more than just a standard desk job.

What Is Your Claim to Fame?

I’ve participated in South Carolina’s Olympic Development Program for soccer for the past two years.

What Is Your Favorite Place Along Georgia’s Coast? What Do You Like Most About It?

My favorite place probably has to be Saint Simon’s Island. It’s not just about how beautiful and serene it is, though. I like how being there makes me feel. I like that it makes me feel at peace with myself and lets me escape from the world around me.

What Coastal Issue(s) Are You Most Passionate About? Why?

I think that major coastal issues to be concerned about primarily surround plastic pollution and the degradation of beaches and coastal lands. There are so many issues that are important and worthwhile, but I feel that plastic pollution is especially important. It threatens wildlife and chemicals leeched can harmfully impact human health, as well.

What Advice Would You Give to Other Students Who Want to Be Leaders or Make a Difference?

You are never too small to make a difference. Every movement and every change in history has started with one action, one idea, that was built upon to create change. All contributions, big or small, have the power to make a difference.