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Commission reviews pier and upland plans for county-owned coastal access property; staff to pursue DNR permitting and site visits
Summary
County staff presented two predesign options for a recently purchased public-access property; commissioners favored an option with a central covered canopy on the pier and directed staff to continue permitting work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and to schedule site visits.
Liberty County commissioners reviewed conceptual designs for a county-owned coastal property acquired to preserve public access to deep-water tidal areas, and directed staff to move forward with permitting and additional study rather than making a final design decision at the meeting.
County staff said the parcel was purchased after Department of Natural Resources advised that public access points along the coastline were at risk. The county engaged a consultant experienced with DNR permitting to prepare upland site plans and alternative pier layouts. Two main pier options were shown: Option 1 with a covered canopy closer to shore and smaller benches; Option 2 with the covered canopy placed farther out over deeper water and additional bench cutouts along the way. The engineer said Option 2 had stronger community support in informal polling of staff and stakeholders.
Staff described the upland design as a paved access road, parking on both sides, a 15-foot vegetative buffer, and space for a future playground and restroom. The pier will require long piling work to traverse broad marsh flats; staff said composite decking and durable rails are likely and that much of the substructure would use timber piles. The consultant noted the project must meet DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (if applicable) wetlands standards and that wetland mitigation or credits will likely be required.
Commissioners did not adopt a design or commit construction funds at the meeting, but they authorized staff to proceed with the permitting process, schedule site visits for commissioners, and refine the upland program with a focus on preserving oak trees and minimizing marsh impacts. Commissioners and staff said they prefer Option 2 and that permits and detailed predesign work will be required before construction can be scheduled.
Next steps: staff will continue DNR permitting and environmental review, return with a cost estimate and a recommended option after completing predesign and survey work, and arrange commissioner site visits.
