DeBordieu Colony Community Association’s permit for beach nourishment has been upheld by South Carolina’s Chief Administrative Law Judge.
DeBordieu Colony South Beach
Included in the plan is the placement of up to 650,000 cubic yards of sand and three perpendicular groins on DeBordieu Beach at the southern end to reduce the erosion rate.
The construction permit was approved by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), a division of the S. C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
“The court order simply reaffirms what is written clearly in South Carolina’s coastal zone management laws. State policy is to preserve and protect the state’s beaches while acknowledging private property rights,” said Blanche Brown, general manager of the DeBordieu Colony Community Association. “Our plan does exactly that. It will also ensure Georgetown County a sustained and reliable tax base while improving the wildlife ecosystem.”
According to an economic impact study conducted by economist Dr. Joey Von Nessen, DeBordieu Colony has a $220 million a year economic impact for Georgetown County and supports 2,864 jobs.
From the DCCA: “In a 35-page order …… Judge Ralph K. Anderson III wrote, ‘the best long-term option to balance protecting the threatened structures at Debidue Beach and limiting environmental disturbances over time was the proposal to install three groins with an accompanying renourishment’. Continuing to replace the sand without employing tested, environmentally-friendly technologies such as groins would have severe economic consequences, not only for DeBordieu property owners, but the county as well. Additionally, less frequent sand renourishment projects would be beneficial to the long-term health of the beachfront.
Still to come is the permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. The project design is in its final stages, and the project will move forward. I wholeheartedly support this plan, and the continued renourishment of DeBordieu Beach. If you have any questions about the program, or anything about DeBordieu Colony, please give me a call at (843) 455-4523.
