Never doubt for a moment that your voices changed the course of the Cumberland Island issue. Throughout the alarming process from a seemingly innocuous 87-acre hardship variance application to the possible eventual development of 1,000 acres in the heart of a National Seashore, you spoke out, attended meetings, and shared information online. Because of you, the fate of the Island was taken out of the hands of five Camden County Commissioners and will now be decided on the larger stage of the National Park Service.
But now is not the time for complacency or silence. If the landowners feel that the NPS isn’t moving quickly enough or that they will not receive the decision they want, they may well leave the bargaining table and place this back in the Commissioners' laps.
The variance was granted by the planning board and the SELC agreed to drop their appeal so that the Camden County Board of Commissioners could consider rezoning the 1,000 acres of private property on the island from Conservation/Preservation to something that would allow residential development. The Park Service then asked the Commission to delay their decision so that they could negotiate with the landowners. These negotiations are still ongoing but we have learned that the Park Service is leaning towards a compromise which will allow up to 25 houses to be built on the island.
The Sierra Club wants the Park Service to abide by the enabling legislation which states that “the seashore shall be permanently preserved in its primitive state, and no development of the project or plan for the convenience of visitors shall be undertaken which would be incompatible with the preservation of the unique flora and fauna or the physiographic conditions.”
We believe that the Park Service has the authority to prevent incompatible land uses on land within the boundaries of the National Seashore and that it is likely necessary that they purchase the land. We also believe the Camden County government should not change the zoning.
What Can You Do?
1. Submit your comments to the National Park Service and request that they are included in the “file.” (Mr. Reynolds will be leaving office in the near future and it is important that your comments not get lost in the shuffle):
- Acting Director: michael_reynolds@nps.gov
- Southeast Regional Director: stan_austin@nps.gov
- Cumberland Island Superintendent: gary_ingram@nps.gov
2. Call and share your message with the Commissioners: Don’t Develop Cumberland Island!
- Lannie Brant, District 1: (912) 552-4246
- Chuck Clark, District 2: (912) 674-8791
- Jimmy Starline, District 3: (912) 882-5691
- Gary Blount, District 4: (912) 882-2211
- Ben Casey, District 5: (912) 552-4703
- Camden County Planning Director: Eric Landon: (912) 729-5603
3. Write letters to the editors of local and national papers. Contact Ricky Leroux, Georgia Chapter Communications Coordinator, for help at ricky.leroux@sierraclub.org.
4. Watch "The Shrinking Sanctuary." We are coming together in support of Cumberland Island National Seashore and raising our voices in opposition to rezoning that would allow the development of this fragile and precious Biosphere Reserve. Documentary filmmaker Mark Albertin has produced a 30-minute film about the controversial potential development on this gem along our eastern seaboard. The film is called "Cumberland Island - The Shrinking Sanctuary." Watch it here.
5. Join and spread the word. Share this page on your own. Email your friends and political representatives. Do all that you can to encourage others to fight for Cumberland Island. Join us on Facebook. Share with all your friends and use #SaveCumberlandIsland #ProtectCumberland hashtags.