The Battle of Jekyll Island isn't over.

A string of beachfront condos and hotel rooms were recently purged from a $352 million development, and its opponents claimed victory. But builder Linger Longer has its eye on another of the state park's natural assets —- part of the lush maritime forest.

Details of the developer's revised 64-acre condo-hotel-retail project will not be publicly unveiled for at least a month. But critics are gearing up to fight any incursion into the so-called "maritime swamp forest" that includes a rare freshwater wetland, unique flowers, ferns, trees and, possibly, historical dump sites.

"Maritime forests are extremely rare and getting more so all the time," said David Kyler, executive director of the nonprofit Center for a Sustainable Coast. "We don't think any of it is expendable, especially at a state park accessible by causeway."

Developer Jim Langford cautions critics not to pre-judge the newest proposal, which he said will minimize any impact on the maritime forest.

"I have seen a lot of speculation by a lot of people who know nothing about what's going on," Langford said. "While that may be fun for some people to indulge in, I don't think it's very productive for anybody."

The Jekyll Island Authority selected Linger Longer in September to help redevelop the barrier island near Brunswick. The Greensboro-based builder proposes hundreds of hotel rooms, condos and time-share units sandwiched between the island's marsh-side entrance and the Atlantic Ocean, less than a mile away.

The beachside convention center will be torn down and rebuilt inland with taxpayer money. A frayed shopping district, between the entrance and the beach, will be replaced. Linger Longer also plans to build a luxury hotel, town squares, parks, trails and an environmental education center.

Replacing some of the island's run-down lodging and retail establishments is supported by many Georgians. Hotels and condos, separate from Linger Longer's project, are under construction or planned.

But many Georgians, according to informal polls, public comments and interviews, oppose Linger Longer's project, particularly its size, location and impact on Jekyll's natural environment. Critics also don't believe the state park will remain affordable to "average Georgians," as state law mandates.

In August, Linger Longer unveiled its pastel-colored proposal, which included a mile-long stretch of hotel and condo construction along the beach. State Sen. Jeff Chapman (R-Brunswick), whose district includes Jekyll, claimed a popular swath of beachfront property north of the convention center would be rendered inaccessible to day-tripping visitors. Linger Longer disagreed.

Along with Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City), Chapman introduced legislation earlier this year to keep Linger Longer off that stretch of beach. Neither legislator succeeded.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources determined that a shoreline permit would be needed to build there. The prospect of a lengthy, and litigious, regulatory battle helped persuade Linger Longer to abandon a 2,500-foot stretch of beachfront property. The developer can still build upon an adjoining half-mile stretch of beach.

David Egan, co-director of the nonprofit Initiative to Protect Jekyll, who helped galvanize public opposition to the beachfront development, said the victory could prove short-lived if Linger Longer's 64-acre project is pushed westward into the maritime forest.

"I don't get the sense from speaking with people at Linger Longer that the project will get smaller. The profit picture needs to stay pretty much the same," he said.

Langford sought to allay fears of any wholesale penetration into the forest that runs the length of the island.

"What we've said consistently is that we'd try to minimize any impact on the maritime forest," Langford said. Initially, "we had three roads going into the forest. That, for sure, will be reduced."

Jekyll Island's 1996 master plan for development called for safeguarding the maritime forest, saying "it is critical that the quality of these areas of native flora and wildlife habitat not be further degraded." But it didn't expressly prohibit development.

In its original plan, Linger Longer planned to use 15.4 acres of undeveloped, partly forested land between the convention center and Shell Road.

Greg Krakow, who manages a DNR conservation database, surveyed the forest's plant population last year. He reported that part of the targeted area, a freshwater wetland filled with tall red maples and Virginia chain ferns, "may turn out to be a significant, possibly rare, natural community." Another spot includes many unique hibiscus plants —- "a species of conservation concern," he said.

Krakow, a botanist by training, said neither plant community is protected by state or federal regulations.

By law, only 35 percent of the island can be developed; that allotment is almost all in use. The Jekyll Island Authority completed a conservation plan two years ago, but it hasn't been approved by the board. The authority recently hired an environmental consultant to help guide development. Any push into the maritime forest must pass muster with the Georgia DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said Eric Garvey, the authority's marketing director.

"Whatever we do needs to be done in an environmentally responsible manner," Garvey said. "Our goal is to be a model for how development takes place on the coast."

THE STORY SO FAR

> Previous: Developer Linger Longer proposes a $352 million project with hundreds of condos, hotel rooms, time-share units, shops, parks and more.

> Latest: Developer backs off a plan to build hotel and condos along a half-mile stretch of beachfront property after learning state environmental rules could create a lengthy and litigious battle.

> What's next: Linger Longer to unveil a revised plan, perhaps next month.

 SHANNON PEAVY / Staff
Partial map of Jeckyll Island is numbered to show the following:
1 Historic district
2 Maritime forest
3 Shopping district
4 Convention center
5 Days Inn
Inset map pinpoints Jeckyll Island's relation to Atlanta.