Public Notice
June 17, 2023
City of Tybee Island
Construction and Maintenance of Public Amenities
Atlantic Ocean, Tybee Island, Chatham County
This serves as notification from the Shore Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from the City of Tybee Island for a Shore Protection Act (SPA) Permit under O.C.G.A. 12-5-230 et. seq. for the construction and maintenance of public amenities in SPA jurisdiction on Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia.
The applicant is proposing four (4) separate projects on the beach that includes construction and maintenance of dune crosswalk benches, maintenance of existing pavilions on City of Tybee Island public access dune crossovers, construction and maintenance of stand-alone swings on the beach, and seasonal placement of rental equipment storage boxes and rental equipment on the beach at designated locations.
The applicant is proposing to construct benches, no more than 8 ft. in length and 4ft. wide (32sq.ft.) on the south side of existing permitted public dune crossover maintained by the City of Tybee Island. The proposed benches will be constructed no closer than 100ft. landward of landward toe of most seaward dune. Proposed bench locations include 13th Street, 11th Street, 10th Street, 9th Street, 8th Street, 7th Street, and 6th Street. Existing benches located at Chatham Avenue, 17th Street, 16th Street, 15 ½ Street, 14 ½ Street, 12th Street, Eastgate, Gulick Street, and Taylor Street, will be removed and reconstructed in accordance with the proposed location and dimensions. Total impacts for sixteen (16) benches on existing public access dune crosswalks are approximately 512sq.ft. (0.01acre).
The applicant is also requesting authorization to maintain two (2) existing octagonal, covered pavilions associated with existing public dune crossovers located at the 19th Street and North Beach. The 19th Street pavilion impacts approximately 250sq.ft. and the North Beach pavilion impacts approximately 270sq.ft. Total impacts for the existing pavilions are approximately 520sq.ft. (0.01acre).
Additionally, the applicant is requesting to construct and maintain sixteen (16) stand-alone swings on the dry sand beach seaward of residential areas identified by the City of Tybee Island’s Zoning Map as residential zones: R-1, R-1-B and R-2, and R-T (Residential Transition) zoning districts, as well as the three designated ADA dune crossovers located at Tybrisa, Eastgate, and North Beach. Each structure will be located seaward of the seaward toe of the most seaward dune and no less than 90ft. landward of the Ordinary High Water (OHW), as identified annually by the Department. Each 6ft. x 4ft. swing will be supported by an 8in. x 8in. (1.33sq.ft.) frame with two pilings embedded in the dry sand beach. Total impacts for the proposed swings are approximately 16sq.ft. (0.0005acre).
The applicant is also requesting authorization for the seasonal placement of beach rental equipment and associated storage containers for up to three (3) licensed vendors on the beach, annually from March through September, at the seaward terminus of the public access dune crosswalks located at 19th Street, 18th Street, 17th Street, 16th Street, 15th Street, 14th Street, Center Street, 3rd Street, and North Beach. At each location, no more than two (2) 14ft. x 18ft. (252sq.ft.) wooden storage containers for beach rental equipment will be installed between the seaward toe of the most seaward dune and not less than 50ft. landward of the OHW mark. Up to 150 stacked beach chairs (225sq.ft.) will be associated with each storage box. Total impacts for eighteen (18) proposed storage boxes and associated stacked beach chairs are approximately 8,586sq.ft. (0.197acre).
As proposed, total jurisdictional impacts for the dune crosswalk benches, dune crosswalk pavilions, beach swings, and storage for beach rental equipment are approximately 9,634sq.ft. (0.221acre).
It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the project is not contrary to the public interest and that no feasible alternative sites exist. In passing upon the application for permit, the permit issuing authority shall consider the public interest which for purposes of this part shall be deemed to be the following considerations: (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful, increased alteration of the dynamic dune field or submerged lands, or function of the sand-sharing system will be created; (2) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicant's proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of marine life, wildlife, or other resources; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicant's proposal will unreasonably interfere with reasonable access by and recreational use and enjoyment of public properties impacted by the project.
A detailed public notice with drawings has been distributed and is available by visiting the Department of Natural Resources website:
CoastalGaDNR.org under “Public Notices.” Please provide this office with substantive, site-specific comments as to why the proposed work should or should not proceed. Comments and questions concerning this proposed project should be submitted in writing by the close of business on July 16, 2023 to Deb Barreiro, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA 31520
