The Coastal Marshland Committee unanimously approved the county’s proposed Waterways Township marina near Red Bird Creek Friday, during a joint meeting of the Coastal Marshlands and Shore Protection Committees at the EMC Building off Highway 17 in Midway. The committees come under the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The Coastal Marshlands Protection Act permit application was approved with some modifications made by the committee.
In a memo to committee members, Committee Chairman Chris Clark said, "…the area is to be used, among other things, for recreation and for facilities necessary to accommodate an authorized use."
"We are a water community," said Bryan County Commission Chairman Jimmy Burnsed, in reference to the number of residents who own boats and desire more water access for recreational use.
The county has agreed to a 99-year lease with the private developers of Waterways Township, Savannah Landholdings LLC, to provide access to Red Bird Creek for township residents and for residents who do not live in the development.
"This project would be at no cost to the taxpayers. That’s the plus," Burnsed said.
County officials said the county also needs more dry storage for boats, and that 100 of the project’s 200 dry dock storage units would be reserved for the public.
-Read more in the Bryan County News.