A Gullah Geechee community on Sapelo Island, Georgia, achieved a historic win by overwhelmingly rejecting a zoning amendment that would have allowed larger vacation homes, protecting their ancestral land from encroaching development.
The Gullah Geechee community of Hogg Hummock on Sapelo Island, Georgia, descendants of enslaved West Africans, recently secured a historic victory against significant development pressures. Led by residents like Ire Gene Grovner, the community mobilized to oppose a zoning amendment that sought to increase the maximum residential square footage from 1,400 to 3,000 sq ft. This proposed change would have opened the door for larger vacation homes, potentially driving up property taxes and making it difficult for the Gullah Geechee people to remain on their ancestral land. In a rare citizen referendum—only the second of its kind in Georgia's history and notably uncommon in the South—nearly 85% of McIntosh county voters rejected the proposed zoning increase. This outcome is crucial for preserving the unique Gullah Geechee culture, which has dwindled to 30-40 residents but maintains strong ties to the island, and for protecting the island's vital ecological landscape, recognized for its healthy marsh grass communities. Despite the clear public mandate, the county attorney has controversially suggested that the vote results in 'no zoning' for Hogg Hummock, potentially setting the stage for further legal battles. The community, which has a long history of fighting for its land rights, remains resolute in its determination to protect its heritage and secure its future on Sapelo Island.
