In a landmark victory for the Gullah Geechee community on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, residents have overwhelmingly rejected a zoning amendment that threatened to open the door to unwanted development. In a referendum that was only the second of its kind in the state’s history, nearly 85% of the 1,869 voters in McIntosh County opposed increasing the maximum residential square footage permitted in the Hogg Hummock area from 1,400 to 3,000 square feet.
The referendum, initiated by a petition signed by over 2,000 registered voters, was a hard-fought battle against efforts by local authorities to pave the way for larger vacation homes and outside developers. The Gullah Geechee, descendants of enslaved West Africans who have inhabited the island for generations, feared that such development would price them out of their historic community and forever alter the island’s cultural and environmental landscape.
“All those people who want to build houses here ain’t gonna close me in,” said Ire Gene Grovner, a 70-year-old resident whose family lineage on Sapelo Island stretches back nine generations. Grovner and his neighbours are determined to preserve their way of life, which revolves around self-sustenance, close ties to nature, and a deep-rooted cultural heritage.
The referendum’s resounding success has set a precedent that could inspire similar grassroots efforts across Georgia. “Every county in the state of Georgia is looking at this,” said Kathleen Russell, editor of the Darien News, as the result demonstrates how residents can now challenge zoning rules through the referendum process.
This historic vote is particularly significant in the context of the South, where “states where formerly enslaved people lived, the state governments did not want those people to exercise their power,” according to Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.
The battle is not over, however, as the McIntosh County attorney has suggested that the referendum’s outcome leaves Hogg Hummock with “no zoning” – a situation that could potentially open the door to uncontrolled development. Residents have vowed to continue fighting through the courts if necessary to protect their community’s future.
As Nick Macías, who works at the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, put it, “When it comes to preserving the [Gullah Geechee] culture, it comes down to the next generation being able to live there.” The residents of Hogg Hummock have taken a crucial step in ensuring that their unique heritage and way of life endure for generations to come.
