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Georgia supreme court sides with Gullah Geechee residents fighting to protect land

Decision reversed lower court ruling that weakened zoning restrictions put in place decades ago to preserve lands

The descendants of formerly enslaved people on Georgia’s Sapelo Island are a step closer to retaining their land and culture after a state supreme court ruling on 30 September. Two years ago, McIntosh county commissioners voted to increase the maximum size of homes allowed in the Black community Hogg Hummock, also known as Hog Hammock, weakening zoning restrictions put in place several decades ago to protect the residents’ lands. The 30 to 50 Black residents of the enclave feared that the zoning changes would raise their taxes and displace them. Tuesday’s decision reversed a lower court ruling that halted a voter referendum aimed at repealing the changes. Now, county voters can decide whether to restrict large developments in the community in the future.

Dana Braun, an attorney for the Hogg Hummock residents, told the Associated Press that they were happy with the ruling. Now, she said, county residents will have “some real say”, on the allowable sizes of homes.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Vx1jP8C
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