City to hold discussion on 'nuisance properties' in response to stabbing

Mar. 2—In response to the recent stabbing and hospitalization of a downtown business owner, the Brunswick City Commission will start a discussion about "nuisance properties" at its meeting on March 15.

Matthew Milburn, 47, owner of Victorian Place Antiques, 1412 Gloucester St., exited the front door of his business at around 1:30 p.m. Monday when police say Nathan Cook, 45, a homeless man, allegedly used a shard of glass from a broken mirror, wrapped in Spanish moss, and stabbed Milburn in the neck, Assistant Brunswick Police Chief Angela Smith told The News.

"At the next meeting we'll be having a very frank and open conversation not only among ourselves but with community stakeholders as well about nuisance properties ... drawing and attracting those that may be causing issues around our cities," Brunswick Mayor Cosby Johnson said at the end of the city commission's Wednesday meeting.

Pay for officers has been raised, benefits increased and a gang unit reinstituted, he said, but the commission needs to take a look at other sides of the problem of violence.

"When we have violent, moments, and especially random acts, it is incumbent on the leaders of a community to react in cohesive and transparent ways for the protection of our citizens," Johnson said.

While he did not specifically mention The Well, a daytime hospitality center for the homeless, Johnson said the city appreciates the work of all its nonprofits but must consider the safety of citizens.

In other business, the commission approved a liquor license for a new rooftop restaurant on Newcastle Street called 1509 Brunswick, which will open at the end of the month.

"1509 is a rooftop bar and grill. It'll have indoor seating and outdoor seating on two levels of rooftop," said Kori McGraw, representing the owner, Tommy McGraw.

It will only be open for dinner hours and brunch on Sundays, McGraw said.

The restaurant sits atop the Kress Building in downtown Brunswick, which Tommy McGraw has been restoring. On the first floor is a bouldering gym, which has not yet opened, and a handful of hotel rooms and a piano bar, part of The Kress, a boutique luxury hotel. Most of The Kress' rooms are on the second floor.

Commissioner Julie Martin raised some concerns about parking, worrying that big events at the hotel or restaurant could strain the already limited parking in the downtown area.

"If you've got a seating capacity of 243 guests and you think about how many cars that could be ... have a parking plan, maybe shuttle people to the restaurant," Martin said.

Kori McGraw said they'd already considered that. Since the hotel and restaurant are under the same umbrella, the company has options to minimize outside traffic when it comes to catering and food service for events. The company also has a parking plan, she said.

Commissioner Johnny Cason thanked McGraw for being part of the revival of the city's commercial core.

The commission also granted a liquor license to Newcastle Wine Merchant a wine shop at 1328 Newcastle St. Currently, the store will only be able to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption. Brandon Boudreau, the owner, said he's working with the city's legal counsel, Brian Corry, on a new license type that would allow his shop to offer wine tastings as well.

Boudreau said he's been in the Golden Isles for several years, having worked at Sea Island and most recently ran a champagne bar on St. Simons Island.

"We really want to create good vibes in the community and great experiences, and bring wines that didn't exist before in the coastal area to Brunswick," Boudreau said.

Martin asked how Boudreau's wine shop is different from Silver Bluff Brewery or Richland Rum, to which Corry responded that both are subject to different rules because they make their own product.

Two citizens spoke in favor of the request. Lance Sabbe, a historic district resident, lauded Boudreau for bringing something different to the downtown area.

In other business, the commission denied a liquor license request from H&H Mini Mart, the new owner of a store at 1603 L St. called In & Out.

Commissioner Kendra Rolle lives near the store and was concerned about another liquor store right down the road from L Street Liquors, in a predominately African American area and in a location where many school kids walk.

"You're making money off of individuals in the community, but I don't see where you're pouring back into the community, whether you're donating to scholarships or giving to churches," Rolle said. "You can make money off selling other things, ice cream, chips, vegetables."

Members of the public were given two minutes each to speak their minds.

Anita Collins, on behalf of the Urbana-Perry Park Neighborhood Planning Assembly, said the area doesn't need any more liquor stores. This one in particular has been closed for several months, and allowing it to open again as it was before would not be good for citizens, she said.

"All I have to say is no, we don't want alcohol," Collins said. "The number of businesses that sell alcohol in the Urbana-Perry Park neighborhood is astounding. The numbers are ridiculous, and I ask you to look at those numbers. That's my two minutes. The answer is no."

Other residents spoke about issues with public intoxication, theft and violence in the neighborhood that will only be made worse if this store reopens.

Another who lives near the store said the loitering that went on near the store gave the whole area a bad reputation as "the hood." As someone who plans to live out the rest of his life there, he said that's not acceptable to him.

Johnson said other areas of town have thriving groceries selling fresh meat and produce, and asked the owners, Harikrushina Patel, to consider a similar business model. The owner said 85% of the store's revenue would be alcohol.

The commission also passed a resolution supporting efforts to get the Okefenokee Swamp designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Georgia House Bill 71, which would limit surface mining near the Okefenokee.

It's the second time the resolution has come before the commission. At its last meeting, Johnson led most of the discussion. He said that he wanted to weigh evidence from both environmental advocates and Twin Pines Minerals as to whether a plan to mine titanium at the periphery of the swamp would harm the ecosystem.

Johnson also said he didn't feel comfortable passing a resolution regarding matters in another municipality's jurisdiction.

HB 71 would not impact Twin Pines' proposal.

Cason opened the discussion by saying everyone from the area has good memories of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

"God gave it to us, and we need to protect it," Cason said.

Alice Keyes, with environmental advocacy group One Hundred Miles, said the language of the resolution had been changed somewhat to less strongly condemn the current mining proposal while still promoting the preservation of the swamp.

Three members of the public spoke to the commission during a public comment period regarding development on U.S. 17. One Hundred Miles CEO Megan Desroziers and Marshview Condo homeowners Mary McFadden and Rhonda Decrescenzo coordinated their speaking time to deliver a consistent presentation on the Glynn Avenue Design Framework and a planned apartment complex near the condo complex.

Desrozier said one of her organization's goals is to advocate for development regulations and respect the unique character and natural resources of Coastal Georgia. Each new development should improve residents' quality of life and access to "key features" in some way, she said, specifically the marshfront in this case. The three of them were there Wednesday night due to concerns about the proposed 216-unit apartment complex.

"The ability to develop anywhere in the city of Brunswick is a privilege, not a right. In exchange for the ability to develop, developers must comply with the laws put in place to govern that development," Desroziers said.

City officials were not upholding the requirements of the design framework, she said, which is an overlay applying additional development restrictions to properties along U.S. 17 in the city limits.

Decrescenzo said the developer, Maritime Homes LLC, owned by Vassa Cate, has shown a consistent disregard for residents of Marshview. A construction fence prevented anyone trying to turn out of the complex onto the highway from being able to see oncoming traffic and crews have failed to use a water truck to water down construction dust, allowing the wind to carry it to the condo complex, she said.

Those concerns were not addressed until several complaints were filed with city code enforcement. Dust continues to be an issue, and trucks have damaged the condo complex's sign as well.

Further, the developer is known for failing to protect the natural beauty of a property when developing it, primarily on St. Simons Island, Decrescenzo said. She suggested that he plans to clear-cut the U.S. 17 property in violation of city code.

The development doesn't meet any of the walkability stipulations in the framework, doesn't provide access to the marshfront for which the framework calls, or the design guidelines, which state buildings should be "human-scaled," McFadden said.

It's still early in the design approval process, said Johnson. The city's Planning and Appeals Commission recently reviewed 50% complete plans, and the developer will have to submit plans at 90% completion as well before city commissioners give the final sign-off.

He did thank the residents for bringing their concerns and said the city would look into the issues of the sign and dust control measures.

In other business, commissioners:

—Recognized City Manager Regina McDuffie, who received an award from the International City and County Management Association for 25 years of service to local governments.

—Heard an update on an initiative by the city Planning, Development and Codes Department to update Brunswick's zoning ordinance.

—Heard an announcement from Roxanne George, Community Development Block Grant manager, regarding a grant award. The grant will allow the city to repair a storm-damaged home, the first of its kind in the city.

—Reappointed Valerie Hepburn to the Glynn County Board of Health.

—Awarded a $585,950 contract with Georgia Asphalt Producers to add a left turn lane from eastbound Gloucester Street onto northbound U.S. 17 and intersection improvements at Lanier Boulevard and Gloucester.

—Awarded an $841,383 contract to Swindell Construction for upgrades to Mary Ross Waterfront Park.

—Voted to buy a backhoe for the Public Works Department cemetery division at $107,537. Public Works Director Garrow Alberson said the cemetery division uses its backhoe multiple times a day, and it's showing a lot of wear and tear.

—Granted a request from the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission to amend the city's ordinances to give the utility more leeway to adjust fees and charges, and more flexibility in refunding customers for high water bills resulting from a leak.