Fri, Apr 4, 2008
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Jekyll Island
Once again, people from all over have spoken and let the developers know how they feel about Jekyll Island. The citizens must be ever vililant and know that the issue is never over. Those who care only about the bottom line will keep coming back again and again. We have so few natural areas that they must be protected at all cost. Google earth along the coast of Florida and you can see only development on the coast. With sea level rising this is disasterous ecologically and financially. So for the time being, congratulations to the people for holding the developers at bay, and continue to let them know you will be there when they come back to try and destroy what precious little of the natural world is left.
Gary Galin Drury
Jackson, GA
As a young sailor sent to Brunswick's Glynco Naval Air Station in the 1950s, Jekyll Island was the place my future bride and I loved to go for a Saturday's outing on a truly beautiful beach. One could look northward across the sound to Saint Simon's Island and its likewise pretty beaches where serious growth was just beginning. Take a visit to Saint Simon's now and the glut is truly overwhelming. Looking across the sound now is reminiscent of what one sees from the Straits of Dover at the looming white cliffs, only the cliffs of Saint Simon's are really a solid wall of condos. Though the beaches are still there, albeit less expansive, finding a parking place to enjoy them is a truly daunting experience. That prospect now looms ahead in Jekyll's future if Linger Longer's special-interested-oriented proposal is implemented.
I returned to the island three years later to my first civilian job. At that time, Jekyll was experiencing its first spurt of real growth with the leasing of residential lots, and we jumped at the opportunity to build our first home there. It was a typical '60s-style three-bedroom, one-bath ranch that we considered our castle. In doing so, I suppose we contributed to the inevitable 'modernization' of Jekyll. However, the restrictions placed upon us as homeowners by Macon's Judge Hartley, the Jekyll Island Authority's director, kept the residential areas tidy and pleasant to the eye.
I left my job in 1964 for a career in the Air Force, returning from England after my first tour to find that a huge change had already begun in our own neighborhood, as well as to the rest of the island. The little pond by the side of our house, its resident alligator gone, had been filled in, replaced westward to the end of the street with several rather unsightly, tiny duplexes. The wild turkeys that earlier roamed through our yard were gone also. The late '70s, the '80s, and the '90s saw a decline in visitation as well. The motels, with revenue-sharing requirements imposed by the Jekyll Island Authority, apparently could not modernize to keep pace with the likes of Panama Beach and Myrtle Beach.
We still have that little house, and it provides us with a refuge in retirement, a place for relatives and friends to gather while enjoying the best saltwater beach in Georgia. All of this will change if current plans prevail. The new development will almost certainly destroy easy access to the beach for day-trippers, as has happened on Saint Simon's. There is also serious doubt that the accommodations will, in fact, be affordable for the average Georgian.
Thanks to Sen. Jeff Chapman of Brunswick, our chief advocate on the scene, Linger Longer Communities, is beginning to feel the heat of public opinion. On the other hand, our governor appears to side with the developers and other heavies in Atlanta who have lots of staying power.
Please check out Senator Chapman's Web site, www.jeffchapman.us, and then lend your voice to help us preserve Jekyll through logical modernization.
Darrell Moyer
Perry, GA
Everyone I talk to is in favor of Rep. Buckner's tacking her bill of an amendment onto legislation that would extend the life of the Coastal Zone Management Act. The amendment seeks to block certain development from certain areas of the Jekyll Island waterfront.
THE PEOPLE WANT JEKYLL ISLAND LEFT WILD, FREE, AND BEACH ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE! That is easy to understand. This is the best beach in Georgia. They can tear down and rebuild as many old buildings as they want without taking up more beach, parking and wild areas. WE DO NOT WANT BUSINESSES AND CONDOS ALONG THE BEACH!
As they say, follow the money. That is the reason the developers put pressure on politicians to sacrifice our precious coast. Let the CZM Act be extended and the amendment with it to protect our resources.
We may have to start a class action law suit against the Jekyll Island Authority to stop over development on the island. Georgians unite! REMEMBER THE POLITICIANS WHO WOULDN'T HELP US! Vote them out the next chance you get. They have already sold us out.
Linda Tucker
Darien, GA
I amongst those having concerns about revitalization plans for Jekyll Island and would be considered in the ìhandfulî of residents opposed (to quote Jim Langford of LLC). Truth is, I am for revitalization and have heard no significant opposition from others on Jekyll. Islanders have spoken of the need for revitalization years. We are people who volunteer at events that welcome visitors not want to savor the island for ourselves.
The proposals are TOO: close to the beach, near endangered species, expensive, big. What has been proposed is akin to needing a transfusion and winding up with a heart transplant.
There are ENDANGERED species on Jekyll; turtles and birds. Adding people traffic to that area would have a huge impact on these animals. They must have habitat for their expansion. Donít count on the agencies to protect them as sadly they have been ìtalked toî. I am sure the revised LLC plans will address these issues to some degree, be scaled down and be ìstate of art greenî. But maintaining critical habit for endangered species is a different ballgame altogether.
There are also issues with room costs, accessibility for visitors who want more than a towel on the beach. The entire effort appears to be about money, power and elections. Mercer Reynolds will surely show his appreciation. I urge everyone to out all the facts and to take these into account in the fall election.
It's about the nature of and on Jekyll Island.
Nancy Reed
Jekyll Island, GA
All the people of Georgia owe Rep Buckner a vote of thanks for her efforts to maintain Jekyll as a State Park and not another beach front owned by the super rich of our state. As a citizen of Georgia and a frequent visitor to Jekyll, I can assure your readers that Jekyll was not falling apart in recent years nor was it declining as a place to visit.
Yes, three hotels have been demolished and many old, beautiful oaks will soon be demolished as previous developers have been given a free hand in destroying the natural beauty of Jekyll in order to erect huge buildings while making millions in profit for themselves.
We need to preserve Jekyll's main beach area and not turn it over to Linger Longer, even if the Reynolds business interests are major contributors to state and national Republican party candidates.
Bert Richmond
Athens, GA
Editor:
There are many flaws in your editorial concerning Jekyll and Linger Longer's proposed development, but I would like to focus on your bizzare claim that "Jekyll Island has gone nowhere but downhill over the past two decades."
Editor, do you actually go to Jekyll? Try going over there and stay in the Jekyll Island Club hotel some time. In the eighties, the clubhouse, the annex and San Soucci were vacant and boarded up. There was no public marina. Two decades later, I have found the hotel complex to be a wonderful place to stay, providing first-rate amenities and service during a recent three-night stay. I had similar pleasant experiences with the Jekyll Marina,
which hosted some of the Carolina Skiff boat shows while I was a Carolina Skiff stockholder. This is your idea of going nowhere but downhill? What a total insult you have made to the great folks running the hotel and marina.
We do not need a massive Linger Longer development, especially on the public beach, to make Jekyll desirable, which is basically what you're saying. I also think that Buckner, Chapman and some of the other public-minded
politicians are making a lot more sense than your editorial.
Richard Sasser, Architect
Athens, Georgia
Your editorial missed the point again. What Buckner and Chapman are trying to do is to keep Greedy developers from taking beautifully beach front for their condo's and townhouses. These will be affordable to less than 15% of population. Room rates from $150 to $250 a night is again out of range for most Georgians.
Nobody will answer my question: Why do we need condo's and townhouses developed on State property? I thought that Jekyll was to be for the average Georgian. The average wage for Georgia is less than $60,000 a year.
Everyone agrees that the present facilities need updated but not with condo's and townhouses on the beach, renovate the facilities that are there.
It's too bad that your paper has such a greedy outlook about this project. I would assume that your paper is read by more average Georgians than by people who can afford $500,000 condo's.
Donovan Schoonover
Townsend, GA
I disagree with the commentary on the "Sneaky tactic..." on so many levels. First, Representative Buckner is only doing what the people of Georgia want - to protect the beach at Jekyll Island from overdevelopment and blocking access to the public. Also, if "no one knows what the final version of the plan will be", why are we giving Linger Longer - or anyone - carte blanche to proceed as they wish? Jekyll Island will not continue to deteriate without this development. Hotels are already being replaced. Others are planned for renovation or replacement. Once these are completed, there will be plenty of nice, up-to-date rooms available and visitation will increase. Let's go slow - once the bell has been rung, you cannot un-ring it.
Angela Ivey
Athens, GA
I would like to take exception to the commentary about "Sneaky Tactics". There is plenty of rejuvenation already in the works on Jekyll Island. The issue has nothing to do with making the State Park better. The great asset is the beach and you think going shopping there on the beach will improve this? I do not blame Linger Longer Communities for wanting to maximize this resource as they were given directions by the Jekyll Island Authority to use that area of the island. That was the bad decision to begin with. The only professional consultants used for this misadventure have been financial consultants telling Linger Longer how many condos and time shares to sell to underwrite the rest of the project. Oh,and by the way, Rep. Buckner is not micro-managing; she is giving thousands of Georgians a voice. I would say that she and Jeff Chapman are heros in all of this.
Martin McConaughy
Tucker, Georgia
Your editorial staff apparently has not reviewed Linger Longer's winning proposal for revitalizing Jekyll. You say " it just wouldn't make sense to deny people access to the one drawing card Jekyll has, which is the beach ". That is precisely what we opponents have been saying. The winning proposal as selected by the JIA calls for removing the existing convention center, moving Beachview Drive further from the beach and constructing condos, hotels and private residences from the present convention center site to Blackbeards restaurant. That effectively denies the general public access to the beach.
Lamar Williamson
Townsend, GA
The problem is we disagree with what it is that will improve Jekyll Island.
Maybe the answer is to let the sides take their ideas to the public, a
referendum on Jekyll. Actually putting the decision in the hands of the
people who, after all, own the place. Democracy, what a novel idea of a way
to conduct public business.
Janie Hopwood
Tifton Georgia
You are correct but misguided. The Governor and his hand picked Jekyll Island Authority are about to commit the ultimate sneak attack on the people of Georgia by placing in the hands of his political supporters for development,one of the most treasured portions of land in the State of Georgia. When I visit the beach, I want to see the dunes, sea oats and ocean views not hi rises and shopping centers. If I want to see these , I can visit Hilton Head, Miami or even Panama City. It is true Jekyll could use revitalization of motels etc., but this should be accomplished within the current areas without enlarging our destructive footprints to the remaining unspoiled portions of the island. If the politicians are listening, this is the same message they are being sent from across Georgia and it would be well for the message to be heeded.
Larry Pickett
Jackson, Ga.
I am intrigued with your complete support of the proposed Linger Longer development on Jekyll Island and no mention of other hotel development. Your paper makes it sound like it's the Linger Longer proposal for revitalization or nothing. What Rep. Buckner is trying to do is save the heart of Jekyll Island, it's central beach, from "Over Development". Two hotels have been demolished and need to be rebuilt. The Shopping center needs redevelopment. Perhaps the convention center needs redevelopment. The magnitude of the Linger Longer Development is not needed.
Your article said that "...no one knows what the final version of the plan will be." Rep Buckner is trying to make sure that the final version of the plan will not spoil the integrity of Jekyll Island.
Your article said that , "Secondly, why would anyone spend or invest $342 million in a project that would deny people access to the one drawing card that Jekyll Island has, which is the beach?" Rep. Buckner is attempting to make sure that everyone who visits Jekyll Island has access to the beach.
Judy Winiecki
White Bear Lake, MN
Talk about trying to shove something distasteful down the throats of Georgians!
Isn't that exactly what you've been trying to do from the moment the island was handed over to Linger Longer?
Your endless boosterism on their behalf is incredible.
You know damned well that opposition to Linger Longer's project is based on the the fact that it will overwhelm the beachfront with condos, hotels, and time shares where none have ever been before, on the most accessible beachfront on Jekyll.
And opposition is also based on the appearance (or the reality) of political cronyism. Jekyll was handed over to the Reynolds family by politicians & their cronies who most certainly stand to profit from this handout, directly or indirectly. To hell with the wishes of the people of Georgia.
But this island is not just a random piece of real estate to be tossed out as a political patronage plum.
It is an immensely precious place to millions of Georgians.
Why are you so rabidly bent on abetting the destruction of what is unique & beautiful about Jekyll? Why do you want to make it look like every other beachfront from New Jersey to Florida?
I have come to Jekyll at least yearly for more than 25 years because it is NOT Virginia Beach, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, St. Simons, Fernandina, etc., etc. etc.
If it is ruined by condos & beachfront development, I will never come back and WILL NOT SPEND ANOTHER DIME IN GLYNN COUNTY. EVER.
You have some nerve to criticize Debbie Buckner & Jeff Chapman for having the courage to represent the wishes of the people of Georgia.
Poll your readership, folks. You will find out exactly how angry you are making your readers pushing Linger Longer down THEIR throats.
They are not stupid people. They know lies, greed and cronyism when they see them. They know smoke and mirrors when they see them
Joan Lardin
Hawkinsville, GA
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