The Brunswick News

As dry as the topic may sound, the Glynn County Comprehensive Plan is the stuff that can rile passions.

How much land is enough for construction of condominiums? Should development be allowed in wetlands? Could a public park be turned over to commercial development?

With questions like those, it is easy to understand why the county's planning staff is up to its elbows fleshing out a 10-year state-mandated comprehensive land use plan.

The plan will address all zoning, development and other land use issues, as well as identify specific recommended policy guidelines for the county commission and county staff to follow.

Mainland and island planning commissioners reviewed a section of the plan Thursday called the Community Agenda, which identifies eight specific character areas in the county, as well as the needs of each and possible recommendations for their protection or improvement.

"This is the guts of the main part of the (comprehensive) plan," said York Phillips, planning and zoning director for Glynn County.

Character areas identified are central Glynn County, St. Simons Island and Sea Island, the airport and industrial sector, Colonel's Island, Blythe Island, west Glynn County, Brunswick and Jekyll Island.

Among the topics pinpointed by the agenda that must be addressed are a stormwater master plan, transportation, historic preservation objectives and growth preparedness.

The community will have a chance to offer ideas, suggestions and comments about the comprehensive plan during a public meeting next month.

An Atlanta-based planning consultant, EDAW, has been hired by the county to help assist the comprehensive plan process, due to be submitted to the state by October.

The county is spending $228,000 to solicit outside help for the comprehensive plan.