City Hears Plan to Build Some New Dunes
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WEEKEND Artrageous Productions at Traditional EVENTS Artwalk ACT, AMP Folk(s) PAGE 1B PAGE 2B PAGE 2B $1.00 FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 / 16 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS • fbnewsleader.com City hears plan to build some new dunes JULIA ROBERTS a preliminary one that has to go to the Corps’ News-Leader regional office and then to the federal level, but the first step is gaining approval from the city of The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants Fernandina Beach. to construct some new dunes in Fernandina “We will be doing some planting, some dune Beach to help protect beach property from the fencing, maybe some walkovers, but it’s not storm surge and flooding that accompanies going to be a massive construction project at major storms. The results of a new USACE this time,” Keiser added, noting that approval study, along with a dune management plan, would modify the initial authorization for a Corps were presented to the Fernandina Beach City of Engineers project made “back in the ’70s.” Commission Tuesday. If the plan is implement- “We didn’t know as much about the science,” ed, the initial costs would be covered 100% by Keiser said. “What we have now is a beautiful, the federal government. The Corps does not flat berm that we’ve built out so far. You have yet have a final price tag for the project, but the beautiful dunes in Nassau County right now, but initial estimate in the study is around $750,000. if they were to get taken out by a major storm, Maintenance costs would fall on the local gov- we would not be able to help you get them back.” ernment. The USACE recommends fortifying at key The USACE said the plan is not mandatory points the dune system that stretches the length and the city could decline to put it in place. If the of the federal project area, from the north end dune resiliency plan is not put in place or the of North Fletcher Avenue to 1,000 feet south of dune is only built in certain areas, the Corps said, Sadler Road. and a storm does come, the federal government Two areas identified as vulnerable to storm will not be financially responsible for storm dam- surge are the vehicle access points at Dolphin age sustained due to the lack of a dune. Avenue on the north edge of Main Beach and at “If you don’t approve this and the big storm Sadler Road. Durkn said the plan calls for adding comes, we would not build the dune back,” some elevation to the Dolphin Avenue access Planning Lead Martin Durkn said. “The focus with a mat that would allow for smooth vehicle areas for closing the gaps are our recommenda- access for emergency vehicles. However, in the tion. We understand the concerns of how people time since the survey used for creating the dune use the beach. It’s not mandatory. This is what plan was conducted, the Dolphin Avenue access we are recommending for resiliency.” has built up naturally, Durkn said, so it could Jackie Keiser, Jacksonville project manag- already be at the desired elevation. CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH er, and Beau Corbett, Nassau County project At the Sadler Road access, a stockpile of sand This diagram shows two places where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would like to cre- manager, joined Durkn in presenting the plan would be placed near the access, ready to close ate new dunes in Fernandina Beach in an attempt to prevent damage from storm surge and to the City Commission. They said the Corps the access when a storm approaches. At the flooding from a major storm. Another huge pile of sand would be placed on the beach at the spent $2 million to study the federal project end of Sadler Road, ready to be shifted in front of the beach access in case a major storm is area in Nassau County. The resulting plan is DUNE Continued on 6A expected. Approval to sell or change RV park on Sadler? PAMELA BUSHNELL forms and process. conservation land discussed News-Leader “At this point in time, it is up to the developer to work with an engineer JULIA ROBERTS could happen if similar errors are found is grossly unfair to the homeowner,” A county Developmental Review and create a site plan that meets the News-Leader in the future. Chapman said. “You’re going to have Committee held a pre-application con- requirements of the county codes,” said “What happens if new technology people voting on emotion, not on facts.” ference Tuesday on a proposal to allow Saver. “We won’t have another meeting The City Commission of Fernandina comes out … and somebody’s neigh- Lednovich cited mistrust of gov- a travel trailer park at 2202 Sadler Road. until the application is submitted for the Beach unanimously approved Tuesday, borhood falls into conservation?” Miller ernment demonstrated in the recent Amelia Tree Conservancy board mem- DFC to begin review or the engineer on its second reading, an amendment asked. “If it comes to one neighbor- citizens survey as a reason to allow bers and residents of Pirate’s Bay are requests an additional pre-application to the city charter requiring the sale of hood, and the rest of the city doesn’t citizens to approve FLUM changes. already voicing concerns about the plan. meeting. If no site plan is submitted any city-owned conservation land to be want to see it happen, that makes that “There is deep, deep distrust of city ATC would reportedly like to see within 120 days, they will be required approved by voters. neighborhood essentially useless. I government. That was overwhelmingly the parcel and its trees preserved while to have another pre-application meeting Two commissioners said they want- don’t want to put (a future) commission obvious,” he said. “Given the environ- residents of Pirate’s Bay object that “a with the DRC.” ed even more restrictions put on land in a big legal fight if there’s an obvious ment of mistrust of local government, travel trailer park will be totally out of Although the public may attend DRC use in the city’s codes. Commissioner mistake on the map. If it’s that obvi- our citizens, especially when it comes character with other commercial parcels meetings, no public comment is per- Chip Ross floated the idea of requir- ous, that the whole commission figures to conservation land, want the final say- on Sadler Road” and that such a park mitted. Once the application has been ing voter approval, and a supermajority it out but the public says, ‘Screw the so over what happens to their land.” would negatively impact property values submitted consistent with code require- approval of the City Commission, for commission, we want that neighbor- City Attorney Tammi Bach said in their community. ments, the proposal will be scheduled any changes to the city’s Future Land hood (to go into conservation),’ it ties she believes it would be a mistake to Oglethorpe Development LLC is the for public hearings with the Planning and Use Map that would change a designa- the hands of that commission.” require a referendum vote on FLUM designer for the project, referred to as Zoning Board and the Board of County tion of Conservation. Commissioner Commissioner Phil Chapman said changes and suggested putting the Park by the Sea. The McMahon Family Commissioners. Mike Lednovich suggested a unani- that waiting for an election to make requirement of a unanimous City Joint Trust owns the parcel. According to Saver, those meet- mous vote of the City Commission be a FLUM change is unfair to property Commission vote to change the FLUM Kailey Saver, a senior planner in ings will be announced in advance on required instead of a supermajority. owners, and that the City Commission for land designated Conservation in the the county’s Planning & Economic the county’s website and in the News- Mayor Johnny Miller expressed has the knowledge and experience with city’s Comprehensive Plan instead. Opportunity Department and a member Leader. In addition, a sign will be posted concerns about those ideas, citing city codes to make that decision. The commission concurred and of the DRC, explained the pre-applica- on the property and the county will noti- some mapping errors that have been “If five people up here say it should then unanimously voted to require a tion conference as a preliminary meeting fy all property owners within 300 feet of identified that are requiring changes to be or shouldn’t be changed, to tie it to discuss standards the development the proposed development by mail. the FLUM and zoning map, and what up and wait for a referendum, I think, LAND Continued on 4A will have to follow and the application [email protected] CREW SHOOTS COMMERCIAL DOWNTOWN ROBERT FIEGE/NEWS-LEADER A crew with a production company out of Jacksonville was shooting a commercial for “Credit Sesame” in downtown Fernandina Beach on Wednesday, according to an email from Public Information Officer Mary Hamburg. Ashley Powers, a producer with 4th Dimension Studios, said Wednesday that the commercial with downtown Fernandina Beach in it should air in approximately three weeks to a month. Powers confirmed in an email sent Monday to city officials that the crew proposed to shoot at the corner of Centre and South 2nd streets from 7:30-10:30 a.m. and next to Amelia Island Coffee at 207 Centre St. from noon until 2 p.m.