Up for consideration at a recent Tybee Island City Council meeting was a special review for an extension of an existing dune crossover at a beach side home. Both the planning commission and councilmembers unanimously denied the crossover extension, following staff’s recommendation that the project would be inconsistent with the island’s comprehensive plan and dune restoration projects.
Michael and Angela Gochenour sought to extend the crossover, which extends 25 feet past the property line, but ends in the dune with a walking path continuing to the beach. This crossover is located less than 200 feet south of an existing public crossover, Eastgate Beach. Community Development Director Patricia Sinel said that she believed the applicants wanted to extend the crossover for stability, not because of accretion or erosion, during the meeting.
“We’re asking to extend it, because right now, it does drop in the middle of the dune field,” aid Michael Johnson with Shaw Architecture Interiors, which represents the Gochenours. “By our judgment, there’s excessive damage done when you cross over in the center of the dune field, and then you’re obviously walking through the dune field.”…