First of all thank you for signing a petition against the original plan to eliminate St Simons SurfSailors from their Coastguard beach location. They have been pushed back from the direct beach access but at least they are still there.
The proposed plan will not be evaluated by the Island Planning Commission on February 19th as originally reported. Instead the CVB and Historical Society have requested a workshop before the full County Commission on February 19th at 2 p.m. in the Pate building. The SurfSailors will not be allowed to speak (nor any other public input) unless recognized by the chairman of the commission
The proposed plan has many serious faults:
1. The number of parking spaces has been reduced from the current 341 shown on a drone photograph this summer when the lot was full... to 260. The surf sailors presented a plan allowing 385 spaces which was rejected by the CVB and Historical Society.
2. There is a roundabout for automobile drop off and subsequent pick up at the Southgate where the boat park now is.
3. Buses are planned to use this drop-off for off site parking and possibly tourist drop off which of course will require returns to the site to pick people up.
4. Changing stations and rinse off stations are adjacent to the roundabout.
5. Police and lifeguard stations for motorized vehicle access to the beach are adjacent.
6. A food truck Court will operate in or adjacent to the roundabout.
7. Emergency vehicles are expected to use the area "more efficiently".
8. The Vehicle Access pathway to parking lot directs more of the public to the south side so that more beachgoers will be passing through to the South.
9. This will bring more beachgoers to an area that is already filled by people staying in the condos to the South.
10. There is only one lane for traffic to approach the roundabout and on the side at that point are handicap parking spaces which are also present beside the north access point and are therefore felt to be superfluous and likely to add to the congestion.
11. Finally catamarans kayaks paddle boards and windsurfers are expected to pass through this area from their planned location just behind the roundabout.
Bear in mind that the majority of people arrive between 9 a.m. and noon and will depart between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. for the most part.
The beach is busy during a season lasting 3 to 4 months during which it can be even busier on weekends. The present parking lot is very efficient and there were only 12 days of overflow parking last year
This plan was voted in by the County Commission after they were told that there would be 100 additional parking spaces and that there would be a more efficient traffic flow for the public.
This was false information
The Sailing Community needs to be able to access the beach from the current Southside location otherwise recreational sailing will be severely impaired.
Please email or better yet call the commissioners and request that the SurfSailors should maintain the current beach access. They have acquiesced to a smaller footprint and are also planning for greater interested public involvement including access to specific boats by non boat owning members this year together with training.
Contacts are:
General Mailbox: commissioners@glynncounty-ga.gov
Mike Browning: Phone Number: (912) 264-3697
E-mail: mbrowning@glynncounty-ga.gov
Peter Murphy: Phone Number: (912) 638-7114
Email: pmurphy@glynncounty-ga.gov
Wayne Neal: Phone Number: (912) 261-1045
Email: wneal@glynncounty-ga.gov
Bill Brunson: Phone Number: (912) 264-5314
Email: bbrunson@glynncounty-ga.gov
Alllen Booker: Phone Number: (912) 398-9923
E-mail: abooker@glynncounty-ga.gov
David O'Quinn: Phone Number: (912) 230-0080
Email: doquinn@glynncounty-ga.gov
Bob Colemen: Phone Number: (912) 264-8621
E-mail: bcoleman@glynncounty-ga.gov
Thank you again for supporting a wonderful sporting and recreational activity enhancing the appeal of this beautiful Island.