GLYNN COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Transcription

1 GLYNN COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 4145 Norwich Street Brunswick, Georgia Phone: (912) / Fax: (888) M E M O R A N D U M TO: FROM: Board of Commissioners Dave Austin, Public Works Director DATE: April 14, 2017 SUBJECT: Gould s Inlet Fishing Pier Extension Background Over the years, a sand bar has developed in front of the fishing pier located at Gould s Inlet on Saint Simons Island. Visitors to Gould s Inlet have injured themselves on the Johnson rocks while trying to access the newly developed beach area. We are proposing adding an extension to the existing fishing pier, converting it into a beach access crossover. This permit application will be submitted to the Coastal Resource Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). If approved by the DNR, the fishing pier will be converted into a beach crossover in order to provide a safe beach access to the beach a Gould s Inlet. Alternatives: 1. Sign the permit application, so that the DNR can review our request to convert the pier at Gould s Inlet into a fishing pier. 2. Do not sign the permit application. Recommendation Alternative 1. Funding Source The permit application fee of $ will be taken out of the normal operational budget for Public Works. Funds were already budgeted and approved prior to the 2016/2017 fiscal year. Recommended Motion to the Board of Commissioners I move to approve the signing of the permit application by the Chairman so that the DNR can review our request to convert the pier at Gould s Inlet into a fishing pier.

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9 GLYNN COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 4145 Norwich Street Brunswick, Georgia Phone: (912) / Fax: (912) Gould s Inlet Pier Extension St. Simons Island, Glynn County PROJECT SUMMARY: Some time ago, the pier at Gould s Inlet was built for the purpose of fishing and to obtain easy access to a small portion of East Beach on Saint Simons Island. Over the years, sand has built up in this area rendering the pier useless for its initial fishing purposes. A new sand shore has developed approximately 3 feet in front of the end of the fishing pier. The width of the inlet between the existing beach shore and the newly formed sandbar shore is anywhere between 3 and 6 feet depending on the tide. The sandbar merges into the beach shore approximately half of a mile south on East Beach. The two shores are separated by the inlet, but are also separated by large, sharp rocks that have been placed at the location for erosion control purposes. This has recently caused a safety issue as many tourist and guest of Gould s Inlet have fallen and injured themselves on the rocks while trying access the shore of the sand bar. In order to prevent injuries to visitors, Glynn County will change the purpose of the Gould s Inlet fishing pier by converting it to full beach crossover. A 20 foot extension will be added onto the end of the pier and will feature stairs leading the shore of the sand bar. Glynn County Public Works will enter the beach at low tide with a hydraulic excavator. The excavator will enter the beach area along the hard packed sand to avoid disturbance to the sand sharing system. The sand that is excavated during the work will be carefully backfilled and leveled. No additional sand will be needed. Other types of equipment that will be used during the project include nail guns, air compressors, gas powered generators, basic hand tools and any other equipment deemed necessary to complete the project Glynn Count Public Works recognizes the fact that the sandbar by Gould s Inlet has only recently developed to the size it is now and that the sand bar could diminish back into the ocean over time. If the bank of the sandbar erodes away into the ocean, then Glynn County Public Works will remove the stairs

10 of the crosswalk and return the beach crosswalk back to its original state as a fishing pier. The Coastal Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources shall have the final say in when and if the Gould s Inlet beach crossover should be reverted back to its original state as a fishing pier. Signs will remain in place warning guest of the dangers of attempting to cross over the rocks. The crossover addition could attract higher number of visitors to the area. Despite the fact that parking may become more limited, there are no plans to make any changes to the parking area. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED An alternative solution would to be to clear out a 6 foot wide section of the large rocks, next to the existing fishing pier, in order to make a safe pathway for the visitors that are trying to access the sandbar at Gould s Inlet. This alternative solution would not be as safe as the primary proposed solution. A clearing would not be as noticeable as a beach crossover; therefore some beach goers may still attempt to cross the sharp rocks if unaware of the cleared path. Once a path is cleared of the large rocks, visitors would still have to cross the shallow water reach the bank of the sandbar. The rocks that would be removed were placed there for the purpose of erosion control and removing the rocks could cause damage to that are of the shore over time. LANDFILL/HAZARDOUS WASTE STATEMENT No evidence has been found by Glynn County to state that the project locations have hazardous or landfill material. PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT a. Sand Sharing system In order to reduce to impact to the sand sharing system, Glynn County Public Works will enter the beach at low tide with a hydraulic excavator. The excavator will enter the beach area along the hard packed sand to avoid disturbance to the sand sharing system. The sand that is excavated during the work will be carefully backfilled and leveled. No additional sand will be needed. b. The area will be checked for sea turtle nest at the site of the new construction and along the path of the excavator before construction begins on the crosswalk. c. The goal of this project is to enhance the safety and the accessibility of the area to the general public. By converting the Gould s Inlet Pier from a fishing pier to a beach crossover, the public will have a safe passage way to more beach area that would otherwise be inaccessible. In the past, while attempting to cross the Johnson rocks, visitors have injured themselves to the point that they required medical attention from Glynn County EMS. The goal of this project is to prevent this from happening as much as possible.

11 DEED AND PROPERTY PLAT See Attached VICINTY MAP See Attached ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS (SEE ATTACHED PLAT) RALPH T SKELTON JR 2228 BRUCE DR. SAINT SIMONS ISLAND, GA MRS J R DELLINGER 4310 FIFTEENTH ST. SAINT SIMONS ISLAND ZONING LETTER See Attached HURRICANE CERTIFICATION See Attached

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15 4/13/ , to Gould's Inlet Public Beach Access Google Maps , to Gould's Inlet Public Beach Access Drive 4.1 miles, 11 min Map data 2017 Google 2000 ft , Take Demere Rd and Ocean Rd to 14th St in Saint Simons Island 1. Head southeast on Torras Causeway toward Yacht Cir 2. Continue onto Kings Way 3. Slight left onto Sea Island Rd 4. Turn right onto Demere Rd 5. At the traf 韛 c circle, take the 2nd exit and stay on Demere Rd 6. Turn left onto E Beach Causeway 7. Turn left onto Ocean Rd 10 min (3.9 mi) 0.2 mi 463 ft 0.3 mi 1.1 mi 1.0 mi 0.4 mi 0.7 mi Continue on 14th St. Drive to Bruce Dr 1 min (0.2 mi) /Gould's+Inlet+Public+Beach+Access,+2300+Bruce+Dr,+Saint+Simons+Island,+GA+31522/@ /2

16 4/13/ , to Gould's Inlet Public Beach Access Google Maps 8. Turn right onto 14th St 9. Turn left onto Bruce Dr Destination will be on the right 0.1 mi 367 ft Gould's Inlet Public Beach Access 2300 Bruce Dr, Saint Simons Island, GA These directions are for planning purposes only. You may 韛 nd that construction projects, traf 韛 c, weather, or other events may cause conditions to differ from the map results, and you should plan your route accordingly. You must obey all signs or notices regarding your route. 2/2

17 Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, USGS, Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri Korea, Esri (Thailand), MapmyIndia, NGCC, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community Legend ³ Project Vicinity Map 1 inch = 0 miles Miles April 13, 2017 Glynn County GIS Department Phon e: G IS@gl yn ncounty-ga.gov This map is a product of Glynn County Geographic Information Sys tem (GCG IS). The GCGIS expressly d iscl ai ms any liabili ty th at may resu lt from the use of th es e map s. Auth or: W eb AppB uilder fo r Arc GIS Document Name: e58a29 461ab0b a5820

18 GLYNN COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 4145 Norwich Street Brunswick, Georgia Phone: (912) / Fax: (912) Gould s Inlet Pier Extension St. Simons Island, Glynn County On behalf of Glynn County I, Ben Pierce, have reviewed this project and certify that this project has been designed to meet hurricane-resistant building standards. My Georgia Professional Engineering license number is Ben Pierce, PE Roads and Drainage Division Manager

19 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 1725 Reynolds Street, Second Floor, Brunswick, GA March, Mrs. Skye Stockel Permit Coordinator GA DNR/Coastal Resources Division 1 Conservation Way Brunswick, GA Zoning Certification for the Gould s Inlet Beach Crossover project Dear Mrs. Stockel, The Gould s Inlet Beach Crossover project is located at Gould s Inlet on St. Simons Island. This property has a zoning designation that permits park and recreation in the area. The proposed project does not violate Glynn County s Zoning Ordinance. If you have any questions please call Sincerely, Pamela Thompson Director of Community Development