NEWS - Residential Real Estate

SBJ Staff Report

July 11, 2011 - The National Park Service (NPS) has announced the release of the Former Reserved Properties Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan and EA) for Cumberland Island.  The plan outlines how seven properties, which were formerly held under reserved property agreements on Cumberland Island National Seashore, a unit of the National Park System, will be used by the NPS to further its mission of resource protection and visitor service.

The Plan and EA complies with provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, including a 30-day public input or comment period that will continue through August 12.  After that date, NPS will review the comments received and prepare a decision document to finalize the plan.

The “Reserved Estates” on Cumberland Island stem from a provision in the 1972 federal legislation that established the Seashore.  The legislation permitted the owners of improved property to reserve for themselves and their successors or assigns a limited right of use and occupancy after the properties were acquired by the Federal Government or its agents.   The

reserved estates could be established by deed or other agreement for a specified number of years or as a life estate that ended at the death of the owner or successors.  

When the agreement period ended, the rights of use and occupancy would terminate and full use of the property would revert to the NPS.   Five of the estates established under this legislation

have expired: one in 2000, three in 2010, and one in May 2011.  In total, the list of assets associated with these expired agreements includes seven tracts comprising approximately 50 acres of land, seven residential homes, and a number of smaller structures.  The primary purpose of the plan now under public review is to establish the most beneficial and appropriate use

of the land and structures associated with these properties for the established purpose of the Seashore.

The Plan and EA identifies five options that could potentially be applied by the Seashore for future use of the properties such as reuse for visitor services, education and/or recreation purposes; reuse for park operational purposes; reuse for private residential purposes; housing for park staff, volunteers, and/or cooperators; or removal of the structure.  The NPS has used a number of resources and methods to determine the best option for each structure, including internal reviews, public scoping, inspections, cost analysis, and a “choosing by advantages” analysis.   The resulting Plan and EA identifies a “no action” alternative and an “action”

alternative.  The “action” alternative allows a mixture of removal and adaptive re-use of structures.  The Plan and EA analyzes potential impacts to the environment resulting from the two alternative courses of action.

The Plan and EA is available for review in several places.  On line access is available through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cuis. It is also accessible through the Seashore’s web site at http://www.nps.gov/cuis. 

Through August 12, the public can offer comments via a variety of methods.

Comments can be made online through the PEPC website site mentioned above.

E-mail comments can be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Written comments can

also be mailed to Superintendent, Cumberland Island National Seashore, 101

Wheeler Street, St. Marys, GA 31558.

The NPS will also hold a public meeting for the Plan and EA in St. Marys at

6 p.m. on July 27 at the St. Marys Elementary School at 600 Osborne Street. 

Cumberland Island is the largest barrier island off the coast of Georgia, encompassing more than 36,000 acres of maritime forests, salt marsh and beaches.  The island’s natural and cultural resources provide a rich and diverse habitat for wildlife and offer a glimpse into the long history of coastal Georgia.