Project cleared to start Brunswick News 05/15/06 Plan forms new communities By MARY STARR There is a lot of growth going on in Southeast Georgia, to be sure. But there's not anything quite like the developers of a new venture, the Turtle River Community Improvement District, have in mind. A bill to create the special district, originally sponsored by Rep. Roger Lane, R-Darien, passed the Georgia General Assembly during the term that ended recently. Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the bill into law earlier this month. Perdue's signature gives the Little Satilla development group permission to move forward with plans to build two communities in southwestern Glynn County, adjacent to U.S. 82 and Georgia 99. That means that: * The Community Improvement District concept puts special tax features into motion. * Glynn County and developers can start laying infrastructure and attempting to attract industry. * A St. Simons Island developer and an Athens businessman can start work on their project. District provides for taxes. CIDs provide developers a taxation plan to generate revenue to pay for infrastructure. The county can be asked to levy an additional 2.5 percent property tax on commercial properties within the boundaries of district for up to 12 years. The district can then use those funds – under the direction of a board made up of two county commissioners and five district property owners – solely to provide infrastructure such as roads and water and sewer facilities. Infrastructure can go in. The Turtle River project will enable Glynn County and the developers to work together to attract high-growth technology dependent businesses and entrepreneurs who are interested in relocating to Coastal Georgia, said John Carbonell, executive director of the project. "We specialize in providing technically advanced and customer centric communities," Carbonell said. Some of those initiatives include water recycling, digital communications and energy efficient construction standards. The Turtle River Community Improvement District will include two new communities: Turtle Isles and Georgetown. Both will include commercial areas, neighborhoods, circulation systems, amenities and subtropical habitats. Circulation systems are the network of roads and cart paths that will connect neighborhood homes with the development's habitat parks, and central business, shopping and service areas. "We plan extensive use and parking of carts," Carbonell said. "We are researching carts that use alternative fuels, including hydrogen cells." Turtle Isles represents the more leisure and laid-back island living lifestyle, while the Georgetown business district is being pitched as a model for new growth business, alternative transportation, regional shopping and social vitality. "We have spent the past 19 months learning how to position new communities in Coastal Georgia," Carbonell said. "We can develop workplace and lifestyle opportunities for every type of business group, resident and visitor throughout our communities without compromising the sub-tropical habitat in the surrounding neighborhoods and village centers." Backer can develop plans. The 2,800-acre Community Improvement District is part of a portfolio of new community properties owned and managed by Little Satilla. Glynn County real estate developer Joe McDonough and Athens businessman Paul Martin are the owners. They are underwriting the district's planning and development. McDonough owns and operates several hospitality properties on St. Simons Island. John Carbonell, executive director of the Turtle River Community Improvement District and a Savannah native, has 40 years of new community development experience, including Peachtree City in the Atlanta metropolitan area, as well as a number of new communities both in the United States and abroad. Plans for the developments are still being finalized, Carbonell said.