Petition updateStop Bay Point Destructionment at St. Helena Island in the Gullah/Geechee NationSave Bay Point in Beaufort County, SC @GullahGeechee! Write ZBOA.
Gullah/Geechee Sea Island CoalitionSt Helena Island, SC, United States
Jun 5, 2020

The destructioneers focused on Bay Point are ignoring the over 11,000 of us that have signed on to our petition against their project.

They are now offering the community free workshops that they design which the community never asked for and more low paying service jobs where staff must use a ferry to get to work.   Ask Gullah/Geechees from Daufuskie how this same scenario worked out for them if you can find them living on the mainland or other islands. 

These motel and resort owners say they will minimize impact to the island and will build environmental awareness and respect which they want to do via a certification program that they will control and through a foundation that they will control.  These two elements have been added to their proposal to make them appear to be working with the “locals” which does not usually mean “native Gullah/Geechees” in Beaufort County.  That can also mean working with people that live in locations that have already gated out the native population.

The very nature of barrier islands is to shift and move. Building 50 housing units, two restaurants, a spa and fitness center, swimming pool and community building are going to do nothing to contribute to conserving the environment. Remember the cabins at Hunting Island washing away, look at the houses at Harbor Island in the ocean, and how many of us remember when the existing structure on Bay Point was hundreds of feet back in the woods?    Now the tide washes under it on a regular basis much less during king tides and hurricanes. 

WE NEED YOU to continue to stand up with us to oppose this destructioment!  

1) PLEASE sign the petition to stop this destructionment and pass it on to others around the world:

http://chng.it/gcmmgqFq

2) PLEASE email the Zoning Board of Appeals and tell your friends to so as well. Please cc the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition at GullGeeCo@aol.com, 

Beaufort County Planning Department:

Eric Greenway   egreenway@bcgov.net    (843-441-6129 or 843-255-2140)

and

Hillary Austin   hillarya@bcgov.net

Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals

John Chemsak        jchemsak@gmail.com

Thomas Gasparini  gaspo27@gmail.com

Kevin Mack             mlchauling@gmail.com       

Mark McGinniss      markmcg429@gmail.com

Cecil Mitchell          cecil@mitchellbrothersinc.com

Bernard Rivers       bsrivers7198@gmail.com

Chester Williams    zboa@ccwlaw.net

3) Please contribute to the Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy Fund and assist us with getting more people contributing to our fund to fight these types of legal cases: https://gf.me/u/x4xvbz

Significant public pressure will play a huge role in making government see the folly in participating in the wanton destruction of this beautiful natural resource and continuing to contribute to adding to negative impacts on the sustainability and continuation of cultural heritage and the quality of life of the citizens of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.

Tenki Tenki fa standin wid we @GullahGeechee!

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