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sapelo Island Zoning Vote Highlights Fight to Preserve Gullah-Geechee Culture and Land
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A pivotal vote is set to take place on Tuesday in McIntosh County, Georgia, where residents will decide the fate of zoning regulations on the remote Sapelo Island, sparking a debate over cultural preservation, property rights, and the future of one of the South’s last remaining Gullah-Geechee communities. The outcome will determine whether large-scale residential advancement will be permitted, a move feared by Black landowners who believe it could lead to unsustainable property tax burdens.
A Legacy Under Threat
Founded by freed slaves, the Hogg Hummock community on Sapelo Island has maintained a unique cultural identity for generations. This identity is deeply intertwined with land ownership, and a decades-long struggle to protect that land from outside pressures has reached a critical juncture. For over ten years, relations between Hogg Hummock’s Black landowners and county officials have been strained, fueled by the increasing acquisition of land by external buyers and the constant threat of development.
Last year, county commissioners approved zoning changes allowing for the construction of up to 130 homes on the island, a decision met with immediate opposition from residents.A petition to put the zoning changes to a referendum garnered enough signatures, leading to Tuesday’s vote. “We’re hoping that the people of McIntosh County will see the importance of preserving this community,” said Shirley James, a long-time resident and owner involved in organizing the referendum push. “What happens next is still kind of a legal question based on what the county does.”
However, the vote is not expected to definitively resolve the underlying tensions. County commissioners have suggested that if voters repeal the zoning changes, thay will consider Hogg Hummock to be without any development limits, potentially opening the door to even more extensive construction. Dana Braun, an attorney representing the Hogg Hummock landowners, accused county officials of employing this argument to discourage voters from supporting the referendum.
Rising Property Values and Tax Concerns
Adding to the urgency, county assessors are currently evaluating a recalculation of taxable property values in Hogg Hummock – the first reassessment since 2012.Blair McLinn, the county’s chief appraiser, anticipates notable increases, potentially jumping the average value of a half-acre lot from $27,500 to $145,000.
While McLinn stated he plans to meet with island residents to address their concerns, he acknowledged that recent sales – with half-acre lots fetching up to $210,000 – make ample increases likely.”To leave it alone is not going to be an option, as far as revaluation goes,” McLinn explained.
A US Treasure at Risk
Sapelo Island, located approximately 60 miles south of Savannah, remains largely undeveloped, with the state of Georgia owning the majority of its 30 square miles. The island’s unique ecosystem and cultural heritage have earned it recognition as a national treasure. Hogg Hummock, encompassing less than a square mile, is home to between 30 and 50 black residents who continue to live a traditional lifestyle along dirt roads.
The Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, extending along the Southeast coast from North Carolina to Florida, represents a vibrant legacy of African traditions preserved through relative isolation. Scholars believe this separation allowed these communities to retain a distinctive dialect and cultural practices. Hogg Hummock was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, but its long-term preservation relies on the support of McIntosh County, where 65% of the 11,100 residents are white.
“People worked hard to get this land on sapelo and they worked hard to preserve who they are,” said Maurice Bailey, an island native dedicated to supporting local farming initiatives. “Without this land, all of our descendants lose their connection.”
Past tax increases in 2012 prompted protests and a subsequent rollback of tax bills. A 2022 settlement froze property assessments until last year. Though, residents felt blindsided by the 2023 zoning changes, which they view as a betrayal of previous agreements and a threat to their way of life.
The outcome of Tuesday’s vote will not only determine the immediate future of development on Sapelo Island but also signal the broader commitment of McIntosh county to protecting the cultural heritage and land rights of its Gullah-geechee community. The fight for Sapelo Island is a microcosm of a larger struggle facing historically Black communities across the Southeast,as they navigate the pressures of development
