Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
August 20, 2018 – 2:00 p.m.
The Planning Advisory Board (PAB) of the city of Fernandina Beach will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, 204 Ash Street, to discuss two cases previously scheduled for the PAB Regular Meeting on September 9, 2018:
- PAB 2018-22: Land Development Code (LDC) Amendment – Central Business District Development Standards and Permissable Uses. This case will consider allowing the opportunity to add accessory dwelling units to properties in the core urban area of the city and address associated parking requirements.
- PAB 2018-21: Land Development Code (LDC) Amendment – Amelia River Waterfront CRA Development Standards.This case will consider increasing the height limit for properties abutting the Amelia River waterfront in the CRA from 30 feet to 40 feet.
These cases were originally advertised for a July 27 PAB meeting, then rescheduled to September. However, since the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) plans to hold First Readings on ordinances incorporating proposed changes on September 18, 2018, the PAB set the Special Meeting to allow for additional time to consider the changes proposed by the city.
Specific language, reports and back up materials are available on the city’s website.
Let us remember that for the CRA waterfront building height is not measure from the finished grade but from the Base Flood Elevation. Unfortunately the PBA information packet doesn’t give what the BFE is for the eligible properties. I was thinking it was in the 8 – 11 foot range which would mean the top of the buildings could be 48′ – 51′ in height; but I may be way off on the BFE range. For some reason the staff report doesn’t give any reasoning as to why this maximum should be raised. And what exactly does the phrase “water enhanced” that is being added mean? The fact that the property has waterfront views, does that mean it is enhanced?
8.01.02 Amelia River Waterfront Community Redevelopment Area
D. Properties located within the CRA abutting the Amelia River Waterfront are subject to
the following standards:
2. Building height shall be measured from the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) to the top of the
roof, rather than from the finished grade, as established in 4.02.03(C). The maximum
height of all structures shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in height above the BFE.
Permissible roof forms shall be in compliance with the adopted CRA Design Guidelines
Dave – I believe Base Flood Elevation is 11′ (9′ plus 2′ of “freeboard”) and is about 6′ above grade along the waterfront (it varies but is about 6′ at the Wade Vituro building). So, the top of a building could be about 36′ above grade (the 30′ building height plus the 6′ between grade and BFE).
Planning Manager Kelly Gibson provided this definition from the Comprehensive Plan: Water-enhanced Uses – Activities that benefit economically from being located on or near the water, but that are neither dependent on direct access to water nor provides goods or services directly related to water-dependent uses. Water-enhanced uses are specifically excluded from definitions of both water-dependent and water-related uses. POLICY REFERENCES: 5.05.01 (pg. 5-7)
Thanks Suanne for the follow- up but still cryptic to me. What type of uses could then be added to the allowable uses if they weren’t water related or water- dependent? Restaurants? Mixed-use?