City Commission Candidates – What is your vision for the Amelia River Waterfront?

October 8, 2015 1:00 a.m.

Editor’s Note: This is the last in our series of four questions that the Fernandina Observer posed to candidates running for the Fernandina Beach City Commission. In the November 3 election Incumbent Commissioner Pat Gass is opposed by Jim B. Higginbotham, Jennifer Schriver, and Roy G. Smith, in Group 4. Clinch Kavanaugh faces Len Kreger in Group 5.

The Fernandina Observer does not endorse candidates.

City candidates Crop-horz

 

Group 5

What is your vision for the Amelia River Front and how would you go about implementing it?

Len Kreger Cropped
Candidate Len Kreger, Group 5

My first step would be to review and refine existing plans and establish a final plan. This would be a done in public allowing all stakeholders to participate. Professional cost estimates would be obtained and  at which point the plan would be put on a referendum for citizen approval. The planning would be complete in time for a November 2016 Referendum.

This would finally get the appropriate voter support, and if approved would lock the plan in. If approved an aggressive construction schedule would be set and implemented.
During the planning process the city should look closely at North Front Street relative to enforcement of the municipal code relative to litter and public safety issues. There are also major infrastructure issues which must be addressed in the River Front area. See my comments in question 2.

One item which I feel important to include in the plan is a Maritime Education Center. This is a destination facility which I have been advocating recently and has significant support.

Finally, I would also like to see an appropriate amount of attention to the requirements of the Comprehensive Plan to establish overlay zones at Density activity Centers of Main Beach, Seaside Park and Sadler Road.

I am available to discuss these or any other City issue at 904 432 8389 or at [email protected].

Candidate Clinch Kavanaugh, Group 5
Candidate Clinch Kavanaugh, Group 5

What is your vision for the Amelia River front and how would you go about implementing it?

One of the problems the City has had with “the visioning” of the Amelia River waterfront is that we tend to ice the cake before we bake it. The issues of ownership of the water lots, engineering issues, riparian rights and the unintended consequences of the new wetland issues under the proposed wetlands ordinance demonstrate a huge lack of understanding of the underlying issues that must be resolved before the “visioning” of the water front can begin. The engineering and infrastructure costs are going to be significant to say the least.

It is my belief that the water level of the Amelia River is rising at the same time that a good portion of the waterfront is subsiding, I am neither an engineer or scientist but I understand that these issues must be confronted and resolved before we can begin with “visioning of the waterfront “.

I was on the original CRA committee, the purpose of which was to generate funding for the necessary engineering studies for the redevelopment of the CRA. It was our hope that once the engineering studies were completed we could then look for funding mechanisms for the necessary infrastructure in order to attract quality developers.

One thing that we could immediately do is purchase the Vuturo property to the north of the marina and extend the marina docks into deep water. By doing this, hopefully we will finally have a marina that will stop hemorrhaging money. This was a solution that was proposed in 1996 by the ATM group in their engineering study. It was the correct answer than and it’s the correct answer now.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to your questions.

Group 4

Roy Smith Campaign Picture Enlarged
Candidate Roy G. Smith, Group 4

What is your vision for the Amelia River front and how would you go about implementing it?

My short term goal is to get the waterfront cleaned up, Many code violations exist that can be corrected if the city enforces the codes. A longer term vision is relocating the marina south side docks to the north of the of the existing marina. The city is now looking at purchasing the Vuturo property and it’s riparian rights north of the marina. If the purchase can be made at a reasonable price it makes sense to do so. Every two years the city spends approximately $300,000.00 to dredge the marina due to siltation from the river because it was constructed in a mud flat.
The money used for dredging could be spent to purchase the property and also be applied to relocation expenses. Additional expenses could be financed with a low interest long term loan with affordable payments. The dock relocation would allow the Marina Enterprise to rent all slips which would increase profitability.

I would also like to create public/private partnerships to develop the waterfront property between the marina and the port property. The development might be shops on the first floor with housing above. It would be imperative that sight lines be provided to the river.

Lastly, waterfront parks from the marina to the south have been discussed for a long time. It is time to get started on their construction. My hope is the parks are passive and contain nice landscaping and we do not place too much parking along the riverfront. We have beautiful views of the riverfront and we do not need to block them.

 

Incumbent candidate Pat Gass, Group 4
Incumbent candidate Pat Gass, Group 4

What is your vision for the Amelia River front and how would you go about implementing it?

Seeing our beautiful riverfront utilized to its fullest extent is very close to the top of my list of priorities, behind resolving the pension issues. I would like to have a working waterfront that stretches from the Port of Fernandina to Parking Lot A (across from the Marina Restaurant). One where seafood of all sorts can be sold directly to consumers and where visitors can observe the industry that made our community thrive. I see an improved marina, moved north to better coexist within the Amelia River. I picture preserving the original Standard Marine Hardware building’s outer walls and then building a parking garage as far up as the code allows. In that building’s first floor, I see a bike shop, a police substation, a small locker room for cyclist, lockers to rent, etc. to accommodate the pedestrian ferry from St. Mary’s as well as bikers enjoying the East Coast trails. We could be a major meeting destination in the approx 1900 mile trip from Bangor, Maine to Key West, Fla. I see our Amelia River front being far more than merely townhouses and more quaint shops. For funding and implementation, I would like to see our city work with the Ocean, Highway and Port Authority to explore their charter and learn what it is they can do for the people of this county. I believe they are an untapped resource with a genuine interest and stake in this community.

Jim Higginbotham
Candidate Jim B. Higginbotham, Group 4

What is your vision for the Amelia River front and how would you go about implementing it?

Negotiate the property purchase of 501 N. Front Street.

Open up Alachua Street from 2nd Street to Front Street.

Relocate the boat ramp to the North of Centre Street.

Front Street NO condo’s West of railroad tracks.

From 2nd Street located at Ash, keep for existing parking lot.

Keep Ash Street from 3rd Street to Front Street open for truck route.

Move all of City Hall to Old Post Office at N. 4th Street. Sell original
City Hall, with funds to be used in the move to New City Hall.

Purchase all properties South on Front Street at Ash to Rayonier Properties.
Would like to see an amphitheater in that area.

Candidate Jennifer Schriver, Group 5
Candidate Jennifer Schriver, Group 5

What is your vision for the Amelia River front and how would you go about implementing it?

My vision is the people’s vision. Elected officials represent the people not their own interests. It is not my opinion or ideas that dictate the future of the waterfront, but rather, the ideas, desires and needs of the community. Shady spaces, a place to sit and a view are what the people have said that they wanted, and I believe that is the plan that a Commissioner needs to support.

An interesting and effective approach may be to rezone A-D space from industrial to recreational zoning, and then balance the recreational needs of the community within a less manicured and structured design, creating a more natural island presence. Perhaps planting Live Oaks and provide benches made from reclaimed area Oaks from which residents and tourists could sit, chat and watch the sunset.

There is also the question of how to fund this project. A 2012 projection for infrastructure only is estimated at $6 million. There is a balance of the library loan that may be assigned to fund this project, but only after the citizens have spoken and shared what they envision for this area, and then choose if this is the best way to fund the project. It will be up to the people to decide what they want and if and how they want to pay for it.