Georgia House votes to approve shoreline construction changes

The Georgia House voted Friday to adopt a new system of determining how close to the ocean new homes or businesses can be built.

House Bill 271, known as the Shoreline Protection Act, that offers new restrictions on construction on the coast after a bipartisan group backed changes. The measure passed by a unanimous vote.

“We’re going to make a jurisdictional line that also follows the shoreline we’re trying to protect,” state Rep. Jesse Petrea, R-Savannah.

An initial version of the bill would have redrawn the definition of sand dunes, infuriating environmentalists who called it a “destruction” bill. But that language was rolled back in a committee meeting.

“We are OK with this bill,” said state Rep. Jason Spencer, R-Woodbine. “It balances stewardship with the private property rights of people along the coast.”

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