Some of you have may been following this issue already. If not, here you go:
A development company, Linger Longer, has been seeking rights to develop a huge beach front luxury hotel/condo residences project where Jekyll Island State park now exists. Pretty bizarre, huh? Like the state would allow that! Well, "they" are about to allow it. The Georgia coast is one of the most unique, well-cared-for, healthy beach zones in the USA. (Did you know it gets the #1 top rating in the US by some coastal conservation organizations who rate all the coastal states' beach zones?) We also enjoy total public access laws to 100% of our coast line. While, I personally am not anti-development in my general perspective -- I mean, I love to go to the beach and I want a place to stay -- we don't need more "exclusive" beach front resorts that physically close off reasonable access to the beach for everyone by removing parking to 1/2 mile distances and being allowed to barely stay in the law by laying a well-disguised sidewalk or two that leads to the beach among their "private-- guests only" facilities.
One of our elected senator's from that region has been vociferous in protecting our beautiful beach at Jekyll for all of us. Here's what you can do to help.

Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island State Park
February 13-14, 2008

SENATOR JEFF CHAPMAN’S JEKYLL BILLS:

Senate Bills 426-428: The Key to Defending Our State Park

Last week, Senator Jeff Chapman introduced Senate Bill 426, which prohibits new permanent residences from being built on Jekyll; SB 427, which prohibits construction along Jekyll’s remaining open oceanfront land; and SB 428, which defines a number of terms and phrases in existing Jekyll legislation that require clarification, including “average income” and “lowest reasonable rates” with reference to the meaning of affordable lodgings. To read the full text of the Jekyll bills, visit http://www.savejekyllisland.org.

Senator Chapman’s Jekyll bills are our best chance to promote responsible revitalization of Jekyll Island State Park and to prevent the commercialization of Jekyll’s most popular beach. Unless we do all we can now to support SBs 426, 427, and 428 over the next few weeks, Linger Longer’s beachfront development project may become a reality, and Jekyll will have taken a giant step toward being Jekyll no more.

SO, WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW?

1) We need to telephone the chairman of the Economic Development Committee (EDC), Chip Pearson, which is where the Jekyll bills have been sent. To date, he has been sitting on the bills and shows not sign of allowing them to be heard in the EDC. We need to move him off that position. Please call him at 404-656-9221 and ask for him, or his administrative assistant, Donna Youmans, if he is unavailable.

Please emphasize how important the Jekyll bills are for you, and that you want him to allow them to be heard in the EDC.

2) We also need to contact Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who hopes to be Gov. Perdue’s replacement and is open to public opinion on the Jekyll redevelopment issue. We need to stress how important the Jekyll redevelopment issue is to us and to everyone we know, and that we want him to do what he can to make sure that the Jekyll bills are heard in the EDC.

Lt. Gov. Cagle’s office number is 404-656-5030. If the Lt. Gov. is unavailable, ask to speak with his chief of staff (Brad Alexander) or his deputy chief of staff (Russel Carlson).

Time is short and Jekyll’s need is great. Please, please act now.

Please note that if Senator Chapman’s bills move on for a vote by the EDC and then to the full Senate, we will be contacting you again regarding how to help ensure the passage of the bills. If you do not wish to help in this regard, please let us know so that you do not receive further email messages on this subject.

Thank you,

David and Mindy Egan

Co-Founders, Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island State Park