Descendants of enslaved people vow to fight after Georgia county approves larger homes for enclave

Russ Bynam
·1 min read
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Hog Hammock resident and Sapelo Island descendant Maurice Bailey talks with McIntosh County Commission Chairman David Stevens following the County Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at the County Courthouse in Darien, Georgia. Stevens was one of 3 commissioners to vote for an amendment that will allow for larger homes to be built in the historic Gullah Geechee community of Hog Hammock on Sapelo Island.

This article originally appeared on apnews.com.

DARIEN, Ga. (AP) — Descendants of enslaved people living on a Georgia island vowed to keep fighting Tuesday after county commissioners voted to double the maximum size of homes allowed in their tiny enclave, which residents fear will accelerate the decline of one of the South’s few surviving Gullah Geechee communities.

Black residents of the Hogg Hummock community on Sapelo Island and their supporters packed a meeting of McIntosh County’s elected commissioners to oppose zoning changes that residents say favor wealthy buyers and will lead to tax increases that could pressure them to sell their land.

McIntosh County Vice Chairperson and representative for District 1 Kate Pontello Karwacki, has a heated exchange with someone in attendance at the County Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at the County Courthouse in Darien, Georgia. Karwack was one of the 3 commissioners to vote in favor of an amendment to allow for larger homes to be built in Hog Hammock on Sapelo Island.

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More than a hundred residents, many from Sapelo Island turned out for the McIntosh County Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at the courthouse in Darien, Georgia to see the results of a vote for an amendment to allow larger houses in the historic Gullah Geechee community of Hog Hammock.
More than a hundred residents, many from Sapelo Island turned out for the McIntosh County Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at the courthouse in Darien, Georgia to see the results of a vote for an amendment to allow larger houses in the historic Gullah Geechee community of Hog Hammock.

Regardless, commissioners voted 3-2 to weaken zoning restrictions the county adopted nearly three decades ago with the stated intent to help Hogg Hummock’s 30 to 50 residents hold on to their land.

Yolanda Grovner, 54, of Atlanta said she has long planned to retire on land her father, an island native, owns in Hogg Hummock. She left the county courthouse Tuesday night wondering if that will ever happen.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia county approves zoning changes that endanger historic Hogg Hummock