Hogg Hummock residents refile lawsuit against McIntosh County

SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. (WSAV) – Descendants of enslaved people living in Hogg Hummock, or Hog Hammock, are refiling a lawsuit against McIntosh County over zoning ordinances.

Back in March, a judge ruled that the civil complaint had to be dismissed because of technical errors but allowed a new version of the lawsuit to be filed.

According to the suit, for 25 years, construction in the Gullah-Geechee community was limited to 1,400 square-foot single-family dwellings. However, a zoning amendment increased the maximum square footage to 3,000 square feet.

The new lawsuit argues the zoning ordinance has a disproportionate impact on the historic Black community. Residents are concerned about the increase in property value that would in turn cause their property taxes to increase.

Further, they claim the ordinance should be void, saying the county violated rules for public meetings.

The lawsuit was refiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center on May 30.

The Associated Press contributed to this report