Black residents of the Hogg Hummock community on Sapelo Island packed a meeting of McIntosh County’s elected commissioners to oppose zoning changes that residents say favour wealthy buyers
An isolated community face being forced off a Georgia island as commissioners consider doubling the maximum size of houses that can be built in the area.
Black residents of the Hogg Hummock community on Sapelo Island and their supporters packed a meeting of McIntosh County’s elected commissioners to oppose zoning changes that residents say favour wealthy buyers and will lead to tax increases that could pressure them to sell their land.
Commissioners voted 3-2 to weaken zoning restrictions the county adopted nearly three decades ago with the stated intent to help Hogg Hummock’s 30 to 50 residents hold on to their land.
Yolanda Grovner, 54, from Atlanta, said she has long planned to retire on land her father, an island native, owns in Hogg Hummock. She left the county courthouse Tuesday night wondering if that will ever happen.