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Surfin’
the News
Published by Permar Publications • P.O. Box 20539 • St. Simons Island, Ga. 31522 • 912-265-9654 • ssislander@bellsouth.net
November 24, 2008 Established 1972 Vol 36 Issue 47
Ocean Lodge
gets go ahead for
extra parking
By Matthew J. Permar
After month after month of
routine meetings, Glynn Comi
ty’s Island Planning Commis
sion (IPC) found itself faced
with knotty proposal last week
that drew a large number of
detractors as well as support
ers to the Tuesday, Nov. 18
meeting.
The controversial request
was made by developer-hotel
Parking request
meets strong
opposition
owner Joe McDonough who
asked for a revision to the
Ocean Lodge hotel's original
site plan. Ocean Lodge is locat
ed at 935 Beachview Dr. on St.
Simons Island between Third
and Fourth Sts. on property
zoned Resort Residential.
A hotel, motel or inn with a
restaurant and lounge is one of
the permitted uses in a Resort
Residential zoning district.
The revision to the Ocean
Lodge site plan, which was
approved by the IPC on a 4-1-2
vote after a very long discus
sion, will increase the number
of parking spaces from 22 to
32. This increase will allow
McDonough to operate the
hotel restaurant as public res
taurant instead of as an ame
nity for hotel guests only.
Originally, due to his lim
ited parking McDonough was
not allowed to open the res
taurant to anyone other than
guests staying in the hotel.
Voting in favor of
McDonough's application were
board members Paul Sand
ers, Preston Kirkendall, Joan
Wilson and chairman Robert
Ussery. Desiree Watson voted
nay, while John Dow and Wil
liam Lawrence both abstained
without explanation. Dow
lives across the street from the
Ocean Lodge but did not state
if that was the reason for his
abstention.
The ten new parking spaces
will be located primarily on
the west side of the hotel. In
Turn to Page 5
Ocean Lodge
GP Brunswick
operations slowed
by economy
Current market conditions
in the construction industry
have made it necessary for
Georgia-Pacific to reduce its
workforce at the Brunswick
Gypsum facility, according to
company spokesman Randal
Morris.
The company announced
to employees last Thursday,
November 20 that about 60 of
them will be laid off over the
next few weeks. By mid Janu
ary, wallboard production will
cease.
About 20 employees will
remain at Brunswick Gypsum
with the plaster production
operation.
"The employees that are
being laid off have done a great
job," said Morris, "this is not
a reflection on their efforts.
Georgia-Pacific appreciates
their dedication and commit
ment."
In addition, Brunswick Cel-
Turn to Page 5
Changes at GP
Frederica/Demere
Roundabout to
receive award
Thomas & Hutton Engi
neering Co. (T&HE), the civil
engineering firm responsible
for the design of the Fred-
erica/Demere Roundabout,
will receive a Preconstruction
Design Award from the Geor
gia Dept, of Transportation-
Georgia Partnership for Trans
portation Quality (GPTQ) for
the roundabout design.
On Thursday, December 18,
T&HE will be honored in Ath
ens as a winner in the “Traf
fic Safety/Intersection Design”
category.
This category recognizes
projects that have improved
an existing road or intersection
to enhance safety for motorists
and pedestrians.
The 2008 GPTQ Precon
struction Awards reception
and banquet will be held at the
Georgia Center on the campus
of the University of Georgia.
A representative of Thomas
Turn to Page 5
Roundabout award
Glynn Fire admin officially open
Although the
Glynn County
Fire Depart
ment has been
operating out
of their new
administrative
headquarters
on Public Safety
Blvd. (photo at
right) next door
to the Police
Department's
public safety
complex since
August, Fire
Chief Al Thomas
was not able to
have a grand
opening until last week when a number of local officials gathered for a ribbon cutting.
Cutting the ribbon to officially open the department's new administration building
and Fire Station #8, which is next door, last week were: (top photo left to right) County
Administrator Charles Stewart, Fire Chief Al Thomas, County Commission chairman
Don Hogan (At large) County Commissioner Tony Thaw (Dist. 3) and County Commis
sioner-Elect Amy Calloway (Dist. 1). Explaining the delay in the official opening, Chief
Thomas said, "We moved in during the middle of hurricane season and had some
storms to keep an eye on and be prepared for in case any headed our way. Things
have slowed down and now we finally have a time when there are no conflicts so we
can open our building up and invite the public to see this great new facility."
The building is about 6,000 sq. ft. and houses the chief's office, the fire inspector's
office, a rescue squad, training rooms, the ambulance billing department and the
quartermaster's storage room where additional fire fighting gear and medical sup
plies for the ambulances are kept.
"This facility is set up to operate as an emergency center in the event of a storm,"
Thomas explained, "we have our own power source and showers in case we need to
stay here a few days."
Photos by and courtesy of Capt. Jerome 'Fred' Johnson, GCFD