Legislation that would have blocked a major redevelopment plan on Jekyll Island failed to make it out of a Senate economic development committee.
Senator Jeff Champman (R-Brunswick) backed proposals to prohibit new private residential housing on any state-owned land, and limit the style, and character of any new structures on state park property lands.
Chapman called the defeat a blow for the average Georgian.
"I felt sure they would be compelled to want to try to move this legislation out of this committee to the Senate floor, to strengthen it so that they felt like they were making a good choice. But instead what happens is tens of thousands of Georgians voice has been shut off today."In recent days, redevelopment on the island has centered around Chapman's allegations that the Jekyll Island Authority has purposely under reported its revenue for more than a decade. Authority officials dispute that claim and say the island and its amenities are simply old, and need to be replaced.
