2023 Landings Roundtable Recap

The Landings Association hosted its first Landings Roundtable with elected and appointed officials since COVID-19 on September 28. Pre-pandemic, this meeting was organized by The Landings Association each fall to provide a forum for obtaining information, seeking support, or making requests on various issues impacting The Landings. Additionally, this meeting brings all the various parties together into one room at the same time, so everyone can state their issues and openly discuss them in a positive and respectful way. The agenda, developed by the Association, included a range of topics, as described below.

Landings Association Board President Herman Stone opened the meeting by asking the assembled group to introduce themselves. In attendance were County Commission Chair Chester Ellis; County Manager Michael Kaigler; Assistant County Manager Linda Cramer; District 4 County Commissioner Pat Farrell; Chatham County Engineering Director Suzanne Cooler; Chatham County Engineer Nathaniel Panther; Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) Director Dennis Jones; Chatham County Police Department Chief Jeff Hadley; Chatham County Police Department Captain Nick Ojanovac; Chatham County Public Works Director William Wright, Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) Assistant Executive Director Pamela Everett; Chatham County Resilience Program Administrator Jackie Jackson, Chatham County EMS Coordinator Zach Shuman; Chatham County Public Information Director Catherine Glasby; Edward Marrow, with the MPC; Landings Association Legal Counsel Tom Mahoney, several Landings Association Board Directors, Landings Association General Manager/COO Karl Stephens, and staff.

Road/Cart Path Improvements

Michael Kaigler and Suzanne Cooler kicked off the meeting by giving an update on the four-way intersection at McWhorter Drive and Green Island Road and the status of a roundabout previously recommended in that area. Kaigler told the group that the installation of a roundabout is still recommended. However, due to the lack of interest by Landings residents at the time it originally was presented, the County has since shelved the issue. He said the County is happy to reopen discussions regarding a roundabout in that area if Landings residents are interested in further pursuing the matter. Cooler echoed that a roundabout would be a benefit to the community.

“Roundabouts offer a great deal of safety in terms of reducing accidents, especially t-bone collisions,” she said. “They allow traffic to keep moving and lessen the severity when accidents occur.

Stone shared that one of the upcoming Community Survey questions will gauge members’ interest in a roundabout at the four-way intersection at McWhorter Drive and Green Island Road.

The County was also asked to share the status of the Green Island Road Cart Path they are looking to install. County officials confirmed they have not yet purchased the Green Island property but have secured a grant to assist in the purchase of it. They assured the Association that their primary goal is conservation and there are no plans to build a bridge or promote mass visitation that could compromise the privacy and security of The Landings. The grant secured by the County mandates that the path be open to the public, and the County said that the area will only be accessible by boat.

Police Updates

Stone asked the County about the status of drivers staging at Butterbean Beach and drag racing on McWhorter Drive. Captain Ojanovac told the group that Chatham County Police Department has increased patrols on Butterbean Beach and McWhorter Drive, actively disrupting this behavior.

 Emergencies

TLA representatives shared with the County the desire by some Landings members to have a dedicated Skidaway Island ambulance by Chatham Emergency Services, paid for by Skidaway Island residents. Kaigler said the County has no issues if The Landings is willing to bear the costs associated with having a dedicated ambulance on-island. To better gauge the appetite of The Landings for this service, there will be a question regarding paying for this additional service on the upcoming Community Survey.

The County currently is working to transition EMS dispatch from Chatham Emergency Services to the County. Stone asked if there was a way the County could keep Landings Security and Skidaway Island First Responders in the loop on these emergency calls, utilizing the resident volunteer, First Responders the same as in previous years. EMS Coordinator Zach Shuman told the group that although he is a strong supporter of First Responders, in order for the volunteers to be present at a public EMS call, they would have to be licensed by the State. He added that if Skidaway First Responders are interested in pursuing licensing he is happy to help them navigate the process. Kaiger, added there may be some work arounds where his team can notify Landings Security, so they can continue assisting with traffic control and by leading the ambulance through the streets of the community to the appropriate address, saving valuable time during emergencies.  

To keep up with police and Chatham County happenings, County officials recommend residents download the “Chatham County PD” app and the “My Chatham” App. Both apps can be found in the app stores of your smart phone.

Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) Updates

Chatham Emergency Management Director Dennis Jones spoke about the bridge disruption plan the Association recently inquired about updating. He shared that years ago, before the construction of the fixed Skidaway Narrows Bridge was constructed, there was a bridge disruption plan. He said this plan was not a quick fix, was cost prohibitive, and would take a long time to put into place, so CEMA decided to forego that plan for an Emergency Operations Plan. The Emergency Operations Plan addresses a variety of issues and allows more flexibility to resolve those issues through utilizing various resources such as marinas and helicopters, as needed. The Landings is in a good position for quicker than normal evacuations should there be a bridge disruption because of our two deep-water Marinas and the Landings Community Park, which could be used as a landing strip for a helicopter.

Other

• Sea Level Rise/Storm water Management - Resilience Program Administrator Jackie Johnson shared details of the County’s Resilience Program, which began in 2022. According to the County’s website, “the purpose of the program is to reduce the vulnerability of the County’s facilities and its residents to climate change and build greater resilience against the risks to our government and the public.” As part of this program, there is a Smart Sea Level Sensors Project, which aims to install a network of internet-enabled water level sensors across flood vulnerable Chatham County. This program is a working partnership between Chatham County and the City of Savannah, together with a team of scientists and engineers from Georgia Tech. There are three sites located on or near Skidaway Island. Click here to view data from water level sensors across the County, including Diamond Causeway at Shipyard Creek Water Level Monitor, Rodney J. Hill Boat Ramp Water Level Monitor, and Landings Harbor Marina Water Level Monitor.
• Hurricane Response to Gated Communities - CEMA Director Dennis Jones shared with the group that after Hurricane Matthew, the County along with many gated communities, including The Landings, realized the impact of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s historic position that the County doesn’t go onto private property to remove storm debris. At the time of Hurricane Matthew, Chatham County had nothing in place to protect itself and private communities. However, since that time the County has developed the Public Assistance Guide. Under this plan, the County can go onto private property as long as a State of Emergency has been declared, the County Chairman agrees to going onto these properties, and there is a Private Entry Agreement, like the one The Landings has with the County in place. The Private Entry Agreement that The Landings has with the County is a 20-year agreement and is still valid. Barring any changes to Federal Law, the County can continue removing storm debris from private properties, like The Landings, throughout Chatham County.
• Landings Master Plan - The Landings Association was told a few years ago that the original Master Plan for The Landings was destroyed in a fire at the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) located in downtown Savannah. In 2016, The Landings Assocaition updated the Master Plan. However, it never was finalized with the MPC and County. MPC Assistant Executive Director Pamela Everett confirmed that the plan was recertified in 2016 is recorded at the MPC. She said TLA staff are welcomed to visit the MPC to ensure everything is correct. General Manager Karl Stephens agreed The Landings Association and its legal counsel would make an appointment to meet with MPC staff to review and finalize the plan.  

Stone and Stephens thanked attendees for their time and commitment to The Landings.  Commissioner Farrell and Chairman Ellis shared it was great to be able to come together and discuss important issues. The Roundtable, which began at 2:30 p.m. concluded at 4 p.m.

Photos By Jeffrey Garris