By VICKY ECKENRODE, The Times-Union

ATLANTA -- Georgia lawmakers want to make it easier for developers aiming to build a 2,000-acre commercial and housing development along the Turtle River in Glynn County.

The Senate on Monday gave final legislative approval on a bill establishing a so-called Community Improvement District, or CID, near the Sterling community. The district would cover a proposed 320-acre grouping of stores, restaurants and logistic centers for trade operations.

In the district, businesses would pay an extra 2.5-percent tax based on the value of their properties to help fund improvements, such as roads and water and sewer lines.

By establishing the district, the developers also would be able to seek bond financing.

Under existing state law, the districts are allowed for commercial areas but not in residential projects.

John Carbonell, managing director of the St. Simons Island-based New Brunswick Communities company in charge of the project, said the district designation would help the company shave at least a year off their development plans.

He said the community is expected to be finished by 2011.

“It will begin to function and open within two years,” he said. “The CID accelerates the funding for the infrastructure. The county wants these jobs. They want the additional revenue.”

Dubbed the Turtle River Communities, the plan is to build about 6,000 single-family homes, townhouses, apartments and golf-community houses, proving a mix of residential options.

It also includes a 300,000-square-foot shopping center, offices, and multiple spaces for logistics facilities taking advantage of trade activity at the Port of Brunswick.

That complex, called Georgetown Village Center where the CID would be in effect for up to 12 years, sits along U.S. Highway 82.

“R and D and Logistics of handling of materials [from the port] will obviously be some more stable jobs,” said Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, adding that the project also would provide construction jobs as well as long-term commercial employment.

He said he supported the CID legislation because county officials also had endorsed the idea.

Carbonell said his company has been working closely with county planners as well as state economic development officials about marketing the property.

He said New Brunswick Communities is in the middle of attracting commercial tenants and is talking with home-building operations about the residential end. He also is working on rezoning requests with the county for the large, undeveloped tract.