About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 22, 2019)
Page 8, July 22, 2019, The Islander ZBA overturned Continued from Page 6 staff had the ability to deny that per mit based on the facts presented in the application as far as accessing Village Drive as a public road,” Mumford said. “Again I am trying to recall as best I can what I was asked to answer but to that general extent I don’t think Vil lage Drive is an issue that would give them grounds to deny that permit,” he said, “based on concerns about Village Drive.” “Staffs review is limited to what they have under the ordinances,” he said. Booker also asked if subdivision ordinances applied in this case. Mumford said he didn’t believe the subdivision ordinances were triggered by this. “Subdivision ordinances are triggered when you subdivide proper ty,” he said, “or you start to improve, change, realign rights of way or pri vate access easements.” “I don’t think review of those streets would have played a role in this be cause that subdivision ordinance was not triggered by this application for infrastructure permit,” he said. O’Quinn asked SSLT attorney Johnson about Susan Shipman’s affi davit stating that the SSLT decision to move forward with the grant went up through the chain of Dept, of Natural Resources command and through the governor’s office. O’Quinn wanted to know was there ever any discussion prior to the grant with any Glynn County officials about the use of the road. “I see where you asked up but did you ever ask down?” O’Quinn asked. Johnson said he didn’t know. “That was before my time. But my off the cuff response is, its a public road so there was no reason to ask permission to use it,” he said. O’Quinn agreed it’s a public road, but he said, “The frustration that lies with the POA is that ‘it’s a pub lic road’ has been used in the past by developers to push the envelope on St. Simons.” He continued when Frederica Park was developed, “They set the gold standard in my opinion,” he continued. “They laid out their plans but we don’t see that here with the SSLT. For a lot of people that’s the troubling as pect of what we see in this argument - well it’s a public road and we have the right to use it,” O’Quinn said. Johnson said while he wasn’t part of that previous process, “The facts as they exist now, we don’t have alter nate access.” O’Quinn asked, “Is the conservation Turn to Page 11 ZBA overturned CjVJIC/C L Over 5% of customers face genuine financial need but you can help! Please visit BGJWSC.org/donations for more information on the Customer Assistance Program
