Tracking sustainability news and events in Savannah, Georgia (and beyond)
Category
Water
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11.24.08The Marina They Deserve?Last week, in a case involving a proposed coastal Georgia development, the GA Supreme Court voted (5-2) for a narrow interpretation of Georgia's 38 year old Coastal Marshlands Protection Act. The central legal issue before the Court was whether development on land adjacent to coastal marsh, rather than just in the marsh itself, is covered by the CMPA. You can read more background on the case and the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act HERE. Savannah Morning News coverage is HERE. Summer Teal Simpson's excellent piece of journalism about a related case is HERE. And if all that isn't enough, check out the Court's ...
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10.10.08Tybee Island City Council Strikes AgainAt a time when we are witnessing what happens when greed and short-sightedness mix with lack of regulation and oversight, the Tybee Island City Council voted (again, last night) 4-2 to repeal the city's shoreline protection ordinance. Since its passage in 1999, the city's ordinance has provided a level of protection (from the negative impacts of ever encroaching real estate development) above and beyond what the state requires. The repeal not only strips away this additional layer of protection, but also hands jurisdiction back to the state. The four council members above voted for the repeal. I have four questions for them ...
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09.30.08Recent News of NoteTrip highlights river ecology, history "When you think of the Savannah River you think of the ports and the issue of harbor deepening and you've heard about (nuclear power) Plant Vogtle," Neal said. "You think it's going to be an industrial corridor, but really it's an isolated wild river. That's what makes those issues vital. It's a great viable wild river right at our back door." Read more of Mary Landers' story in the Savannah Morning News here. Bill Dawers: Whitaker Street, growth, city's future shape "... despite several years of ambitious private investment, Whitaker is in bad shape. In ...
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09.19.08Red, White and Blue. And Green!This post on Boing Boing led me to a wonderful gallery of high resolution images on the American Legion Web site. In the gallery are hundreds of posters used during World War II to encourage civilians to change their daily routines to aid in the war effort. The individual, who originally posted the link, suggested the posters are, "relevant to a peak oil, global heating world..." I agree. And ours is a country again at war, despite the fact that no similar sacrifices have been demanded of most of us, nor have we been asked to cooperate or conserve. Folks who ...
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09.03.08Can building green make storms less mean?On Sunday, Savannah Morning News Environmental Reporter Mary Landers included an interesting angle in her wide ranging story, "Big losses likely when Savannah's luck runs out." Here's a snip: "The damage would be enormous in part because development itself intensifies a storm's effects. Hard surfaces such as streets, parking lots and roofs don't allow water to soak into the ground." Can greater use of pervious paving, green roofs and other stormwater management techniques offset the potential for damage presented by our jumbo-sized parking lots and other sprawling paved areas?
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08.22.08WSAV drills deeper into oil storyOur local television news operations are good at a number of things. Delivering spot news, weather and interviews with high school football players are among these. Unfortunately, tight deadlines usually prevent them from fully exploring complex issues, which can't be told with two interviews and some b-roll. Russ Riesigner's "Drilling for Answers" report, which aired on Aug. 20, is the exception to the rule. Riesinger starts off in standard mode, interviewing representatives Barrow and Kingston, both of whom express support for offshore oil drilling. Then David Kyler, of the Center for a Sustainable Coast, offers a contrary view, followed by comments ...
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07.28.08Tony Thomas talks trashI was recently watching a long-running reality television series on Comcast cable channel 8. TV Guide described the most recent episode of "Savannah City Council Meeting" as a "regular meeting of Savannah's mayor and aldermen." The episode I watched was taped before a live studio audience on July 17. Near the end, Tony Thomas—who joined the cast of "Savannah City Council Meeting" during the 2000 season—described a recent visit to an illegal trash dump. Thomas was clearly angered by the pile of trash which contained, among other items, a "Christmas statue" and a "fish aquarium." Also present was paint, which ...
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07.09.08ImaginationLast night, creative city making champion Charles Landry spoke to a packed house. I had the pleasure of being in the audience along with most of the usual suspects (govt., real estate development, business, downtownies, a few artists & SCAD folk) . . . you were probably there too. He was worth standing up for, even if my feet are paying the price today. For those of you who couldn't make it, I'll briefly summarize. Landry defines creative cities as those in which ordinary people (along with their local bureaucracies) solve problems (or rather, create opportunities) in imaginative ...
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06.04.08Judge rules in favor of trees, against residents and U.S. Army Corps of EngineersA federal judge has stopped residents' plans to destroy cypress trees near Statesboro, a decision that's supported by Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper Chandra Brown. Cypress Lake is a picturesque pond on Lotts Creek in Bulloch County. Like many mill ponds across the region, it's lined with cypress trees and homes. It feeds a slow-moving river the color of iced tea. Except on this lake, residents want to turn the cypress into mulch. Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper Chandra Brown says, that would alter federally-protected wetlands, something requiring a permit under the Clean Water Act. "These areas are absolutely critical," Brown says. "They are what make ...
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05.19.08GA Supreme Court Examines Scope of CMPABackground: The Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) states . . . This coastal marshlands resource system is costly, if not impossible, to reconstruct or rehabilitate once adversely affected by man. It is important to conserve this system for the present and future use and enjoyment of all citizens and visitors to our state. Activities and structures in the coastal marshlands must be regulated to ensure that the values and functions of the coastal marshlands are not impaired and to fulfill the responsibilities of each generation as public trustees of the coastal marshlands for succeeding generations. (Code 1981, § 12-5-281, enacted by ...
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About
Transportation, land use, local farming and green building are all potential topics for Sustainable Savannah. The goal is to aggregate content about local events and projects, so there will be a central place to review everything that’s happening. The site is aimed at encouraging collaboration and information sharing between groups and individuals currently engaged in sustainability efforts. The site can also provide a snapshot of Savannah for green-minded people who are considering visiting or moving to the area.
