HomeMy Public PortalAbout030_011_Copy of BMP Action Items AI# Action Item Short Title
BTF-1 Consolidate Beach Ordinances
Monitoring Shared Beach
BTF-2
Responsibilities
Alleviate Limited Water Access for
BTF-3
Human powered Craft
BTF-4 Identify Overall Parking Strategies
Ensure Public Accessibility of its
BTF-5
Beaches
BTF-6 Consider Other Ideas for Crossovers
Maintain & Establish New Dune
BTF-7
Paths
Maximize the Return of Post Storm
BTF-8
Removed Sand to the Beach System
BTF-9 Purchase a Small Dredge
Increase the Height and Length of
BTF-10
the South Tip Groin
BTF-11 Determine Legal Beach Ownership
Remove Derelict Structures
BTF-12
Associated with Ft Screven
Obtain Approved Standard vertical
BTF-13 Cross Section "Template" Sand
Dunes
BTF-14 Establish a Dune Sprinkler System
BTF-15 Sand Fencing
Coordinate with the DNR Wildlife
Resources Division (WRD) to
BTF-16
protect the areas where birds are
nesting
BTF-17 Enforce the Beach No-Dog Rule
Monitor Beach scarping prior to the
BTF-18
Turtle Nesting Season
BTF-19 Perform Compaction Testing
Determine if the City Tree Canopy
BTF-20
Inventory is Still Valid
Determine Requirement for a Real
BTF-21 Estate Transfer Tax for Green Space
Acquisition
Determine if Additional Beach
BTF-22 Maintenance Access Sites are
Needed
Determine if all Property Beachside
BTF-23 of the 1938 North Beach Sea Wall is
Owned by the City
BTF-24 Coordinated Traffic Movement Plan
Increase recycling and trash pickup,
BTF-25 particularly on holidays and
summer weekends
Conduct a one day workshop to
BTF-26
discuss beach community needs
T
Description
This section should consolidate ordinances into one section of the City code. Included will be safety
and enforcement, commercial vendors, fishing regulations, pier use, and other rules and regulations
and ordinances that should have the effect of law.
The Savannah District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps), monitored Tybee Island's
beaches for the first 5 years after the 2000 beach re-nourishment as required by the federal project
for Beach Erosion Control (Tybee Island, Georgia, Operations, Maintenance, Replacement, Repair, and
Rehabilitation Manual, U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District,July 2009). After the fifth
year, it became the responsibility of the City of Tybee Island to perform the required monitoring for
the remainder of the life of the project. The City of Tybee Island hired ARC Engineering Jacksonville,
TN. Olsen and Associates evaluates the annual surveys. This has been done by aerial photography
and on ground surveys by consultants for the City of Tybee Island, with ongoing status reports of
present beach conditions and the rate of sand loss. Some fluctuations to beach conditions are caused
by wind, water, and storms, and some to manmade impact, such as the shipping traffic and tourism.
Of particular concern is the "hot spot" at the "Anchor" curve at 2nd Street and whether design changes
have worked to reduce erosion.
The Tybee Island City Council has an ecotourism committee. The mission of this committee is two-
fold: to promote ecotourism on Tybee and to identify green space and seek ways to make green
space accessible to the general public.
The HDR study continues to discuss overall parking strategies due to the fact that parking spaces are
inadequate during peak periods in the summer. Overall parking strategies recommended by this study
include enhanced beach access signage, satellite parking and shuttle system, and a toll at the entrance
to the island (Tybee Island Traffic& Parking Study, HDR Engineering, Inc.,January 2005).
To remain eligible for federal beach re-nourishment funding through the latest Project Cooperation
Agreement between the Department of the Army and the City of Tybee Island (available at City Hall),
Tybee Island needs to ensure public accessibility of its beaches. For more information on this subject,
please refer to the Project Cooperation Agreement between the Department of the Army and the City
of Tybee Island, included as Appendix B of the Tybee Island, Georgia, Shore Protection Project
Operation and Maintenance, Replacement, Repair and Rehabilitation Manual, dated July 2009
It is the recommendation of the Beach Task Force to consider other ideas regarding crossovers,
possibly similar to ones used on the Jersey Shore built after Super Storm Sandy. After visiting the
area, Mayor Buelterman considers these types of crossovers are worth evaluating.
DNR also has guidance on maintaining and establishing dune paths. The DNR, Coastal Resources
Division may allow the use of a path through the state's jurisdiction under the Shore Protection Act.
O.C.G.A. 12-5-230 et. seq. The purpose of a path is to provide pedestrian access through the
vegetated dune area of the dry sand beach in areas of low traffic where public access does not exist
and the functionality of the dune system will not be degraded.
Post storm removal of sand efforts from the plat of Tybee Island should seek to maximize the return
of such materials to the beach system. Depending upon the nature and location of such deposits,
screening of the sand for debris may be required prior to placement. FEMA can pay for such sand
relocation measures. Consultants to the City can assist with the facilitation of sand replacement.
At a public meeting on June 20, 2005, one private citizen suggested that Tybee Island purchase a small
dredge that could move sand from flood tide deltas to eroding areas. These kinds of creative
solutions need to be researched and thoughtfully planned out by the citizens and public servants of
Tybee Island in coordination with the State.
The height and length of the South Tip Groin was originally optimized in order to establish and
maintain the main front beach, with just enough material flowing over and through the rubble mound
groin to help avoid starving the South Tip and Back River beaches. It may be possible, with
coordination and approval of the Corps and other State of Georgia agencies, to increase the height
and length of the south tip groin in order to reduce the amount of littoral drift moving annually into
Tybee Inlet. This item should be considered in the next project authorization report.
The issue of who owns parts of the beach on Tybee Island is an important one to understand.
Ownership issues are based on some records and the absence of other records. It is fairly certain that
the front beach area (between the north & south federal groins) is owned by the city to the mean
high water mark. The city did condemnations of the beach in that area when the first nourishment
was planned in the 1970s. Land seaward of the mean high water line is owned by the state — the
offshore also.
There is little indication of ownership of the land adjacent to the Savannah River (North Beach). Parts
that were once part of the old Fort Screven might arguably belong to the City of Tybee Island, but
those parcels conveyed to private ownership could vary depending on deeds, accretion & easements.
On the Back River side, it has always been an understanding of most people that the beach was on
"public property" but not necessarily defined as "city property." When the Back River project was
done, easements were secured from all abutting owners to permit the project to permanently allow
public use and access. Occasionally, an upland property owner facing the Back River will claim title to
a portion of the beach in this area. However, no such claim has ever been validated.
There are some "King's Grants" to some properties on the island, particularly in the Lazaretto Creek
area. Not all such grants say the same thing & depending on facts following the American Revolution,
the actual title ownership to some water adjacent properties can be impacted.
The resolution of a definitive demarcation line would be evaluated as a part of a long range action-
item category. The issue is complicated by the impact of historical information on erosion & accretion
as land ownership ordinarily accretes to the upland adjoining landowner, at least when it occurs
naturally.
A project was authorized and funded to remove the derelict structures that were associated with Ft
Screven. Work commenced in late 1986, working from North to South. In the fall of 1986, a contract
was awarded to raise the North End Groin and to place approximately 2,200,000 cy of sand from the
North end southward to the area near 19th street. At the time of the award of the renourishment
contract, there still remained approximately 1,000 feet of Ft Screven Seawall and Groins that still
needed to be removed. A decision was made to terminate the DERP/FUDS project so as to not
interfere with the renourishment contract, feeling that the safety issue would go away once new sand
would cover the derelict groins and seawall. The Corps of Engineers' position is that the then Mayor
Hosti concurred with this decision and thus the removal of the seawall and groins ceased.
There is no approved, standard vertical cross section "template" for sand dunes at Tybee Island.
However, there are templates for the placement of the sand fencing, as attached. Basically, the snow
fencing should be placed perpendicular to the prevailing wind. For the north end of the island, the
snow fencing should be placed in a northwest to southeast direction (configuration 1). For the
southern end of the island, the snow fencing should be placed in a Northeast to Southwest direction
(also configuration 1 but reversed). Where there is no prevailing wind direction (middle beach), the
snow fencing should be placed in a "W" as in configuration 2.
Vegetation on top of dunes: The recommended plantings for the top of the dunes are Sea Oats.
Along with the plantings, it is recommended that a sprinkler system be established such as was
established as a part of the dune building program for the North Beach (in front of the North End
parking lot.
Sand fencing: The City of Tybee should put together a very specific plan regarding placement and
rational for locating sand fencing.
Beach-nesting birds are a high conservation priority for the Wildlife Resources Division of the DNR.
The beach flats and dunes on the north end of Tybee occasionally attract sea birds to nest. In 2005, a
small flock of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) nested on Tybee. The City of Tybee should coordinate
with the DNR Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) to protect the areas where birds are nesting, to
achieve mutual conservation goals. State nongame biologists can assist in sign placement and rope
barriers to keep the public away from beach nesting birds.
Dogs can disrupt and harass birds on the beach. Tybee's no-dog rule needs to be enforced for the
entire island.
Beach Profile-The constructed beach profile should be gradually sloping rather than an elevated flat
terrace to reduce scarping. The beach should be monitored for scarping prior to the nesting season.
Escarpments in excess of 18" extending more than 100 ft should be mechanically leveled to natural
beach contour prior to May 1.
Compaction-Sand compaction should be measured at a maximum of 500 ft. intervals along the fill
area. Compaction will be measured at 3 stations along three transects corresponding to the landward,
middle and seaward portion of the fill berm. At each measurement station, a cone penetrometer shall
be pushed to depths of 6, 12, and 18 inches three times (3 replicates) and the compaction readings
will be averaged to produce a final reading at each depth for each station. If the average value for any
depth exceeds 500 cone penetrometer units (cpu) for any 2 or more adjacent stations, then that area
will be cross-tilled from the high tide wave rush to the seaward toe of the dune prior to May 1. If a
dune feature is constructed as part of the project, the dune feature should be tested for compaction
prior to the planting of vegetation or sand fence construction. If compaction readings are greater than
500 cpu at any of the test depths (6", 12" 18") for 2 consecutive stations, the dune feature should be
tilled prior tcured from all abutting owners to permit the project to permanently allow public use and
access. Occasionally, an upland property owner facing the Back River will clai
Tree Canopy-The city has conducted an inventory with geo-location tools of all trees of 2" diameter at
breast-height or greater on city rights of ways, parks and other property. One purpose of this project
is to qualify for Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) reimbursement if the city were to lose any of
these trees due a FEMA declared emergency. Funding for the project was in combination with city
funds and a grand from the Coastal Resource Division of the DNR. This inventory also allows city staff
to analyze the mixture of tree species currently on the island to some degree.
Some discussion has ensued regarding a real estate transfer tax for green space acquisition that would
require state action for Tybee Island to collect a small percentage of a transfer tax when real estate
changes hands. In 2004, the City of Tybee Island received a grant from the Georgia Forestry
Commission to inventory and map remaining undeveloped forested and green space areas. The goal
of this project was to develop, from this inventory and map, a series of walking and biking trails and
linear parks (personal communication, Bob Thomson, July 2005). There are several ordinances in
place, such as the prohibition of any fill of marsh and freshwater wetlands that exceed the State's
minimum requirements (City Code 8-3-240, Wetlands Protection). A map of green space on Tybee
Island is located in Appendix M.
O.C.G.A. 12-5-248 (a) (1) provides that governmental vehicles may be utilized for beach maintenance
without a permit as long as those vehicles operate across existing crossovers, paths, or drives. The
letter goes on to state that pursuant to Board of Natural Resources Rule 391-2-2, Appendix A, Tybee
Island's three such existing access sites are the north, middle, and south access drives. Other access
points would need to be approved by the Shore Protection Committee.
Furthermore, the statute mandates that proper vehicular activity must be conducted so as to provide
protection to sea turtles and birds.
The City of Tybee owns a portion of this beach and adjacent land for parking. On the north end it is
necessary to clarify ownerships as described in the previous beach community section (Savannah
River Beach). It is thought that to the south of the public beach, ownership to the beach side of the
1938 sea wall has been quitclaimed legally to the City. The Tybee Island Task Force recommends that
the City of Tybee Island seek to clarify this issue.
Sunny summer weekends and holidays bring heavy traffic to Highway 80 and Butler Avenue. The
dead-end numbered streets tend to fill up quickly by beach goers hunting parking spots. There is
directional signage, but a coordinated plan to move traffic and inform the public of available
parking is needed.
Due to the high human usage, recycling and trash pickup, particularly on holidays and summer
weekends, should be increased.
It is recommended that citizens of the six beach communities be chosen to work with the Tybee Island
BTF and City staff from Public Works, Planning & Zoning, and others as identified, to hold a one day
workshop to further discuss these beach community sections.
ybee Island Beach Management Plan
Action Item List
Responsible Agency Action Item POC Date Due
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
Beach Task Force ? ?
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF/ FEMA ? ?
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF/Tybee Island City Council
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF/Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF/Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF/Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF/Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF / Tybee Island City Council / 7 ?
DNR
BTF/Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF/Tybee Island City Council ? ?
DNR ? ?
BTF/Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF/Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF/Tybee Island City Council/ 7 2
Shore Protection Committee
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
Tybee Island City Council ? ?
BTF, City, Public Works, Planning
&Zoning
Date Completed Page# Paragraph Notes
10 3
17 2
21 1
21 4
22 1
22 5
22 5
25 3
26 3
28 3
28 4
30 1
31 3
31 4
32 1
33 2
33 3
34 5
34 4
35 5
36 2
40 5
48 1
54 2
59 2
67 4