Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
February 7, 2018 2:05 p.m.
How do you get more people to attend Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) meetings? Place items on the agenda dealing with beach access. Commission Chambers were packed for the FBCC’s February 6, 2018 Regular Meeting as the public came to voice their objections or support for limiting or expanding the beach parking area at Sliders/Seaside Park. After hearing from a dozen speakers over the course of almost an hour, commissioners passed on First Reading Ordinance 2018-02 on a 3-2 vote. This ordinance would legally restrict the parking area to the actual 300-foot space used for that purpose, as opposed to the 600 feet provided in existing code. Vice Mayor Len Kreger joined Commissioners Phil Chapman and Chip Ross in supporting the ordinance; Mayor John Miller and Commissioner Roy Smith voted in opposition.
The Ordinance will return for a Public Hearing on Second Reading next month.
Parking on the beach has been permitted at the Sadler Road public access since the City Commission approved an “on-beach” parking area south of the north right-of-way line of Sadler Road to a point 600 feet south in the late 1980’s. Over the years, the location of the southern limit of this parking area appears to have migrated northward, effectively limiting the beach parking area to 300 feet.
The conflict between language in the existing ordinance and current practice came to light recently when the city replaced the south boundary marker following Hurricane Irma—not at its most recent location (300 feet) but at the 600-foot limit stated in city code. The extended parking area created consternation among both residential property owners along that portion of the beach and environmentalists, who object to vehicles on the beach.
The clear majority of speakers opposed the idea of formalizing the 300-foot reduction. Those who remembered the days when beach driving was legal along the length of the island viewed this move as yet another attempt to reduce their access to the beach. Some speakers cited age and infirmity as reasons why more space should be allowed for beach parking.
But affected property owners pointed to the damage caused by vehicles: deep ruts, leaking fluids, and impact to dune creation. Environmentalists questioned the impact of vehicles on turtle nesting and beach renourishment efforts.
Lowell Hall, long time beach driving proponent, argued that if the city officially cut back the space from 600 to 300 feet, they would never get approval from the state to reclaim the lost 300 feet at a future date. He suggested at one point that the city leave the marker at 300 feet but keep the ordinance at 600 feet. City Attorney Tammi Bach rejected that idea on legal grounds.
While Hall seemed to suggest that the parking boundary marker had been located further to the south in previous years, residential property owner Roger Jackson said that during the 20 years he has owned his property, the marker had always been at the 300-foot limit. Speakers on both sides of the argument seemed unclear on when/whether the southern marker had been located over time.
Concerns about safety were also raised. Realtor Taylor Edwards recalled a time when a child had been run over in an island beach parking area.
Commissioner discussion
Vice Mayor Len Kreger favored the change in the ordinance, which would just align the city code with the existing condition. He expressed concerns about public safety and indicated that there would be additional discussion shortly when the FBCC takes up the Beach Master Plan and the issue of paid parking at the beach.
Commissioner Chip Ross invited Fernandina Beach Fire Chief Ty Silcox to address the safety issues. Silcox would not weigh in on the 300 ft. vs. 600 ft. debate. But he did voice concerns about beach safety that have been voiced by his department. He suggested that ordinances dealing with the beach need review, and that the city commit to enforcing existing ordinances. He expressed a desire to be included in discussions that involve the beach and public access. He also suggested that at the Sadler Road access, an area should be marked off for emergency vehicle access.
Commissioner Phil Chapman also expressed concerns over safety at the Sadler Road access, citing access and visibility problems for rescue personnel.
Lowell Hall proposed a solution, based upon discussions with George Stewart, the owner of Sliders. He suggested moving the northern boundary of the on beach parking area to the north end of Sliders property and the southern end to the southern boundary of the Ocean Club of Amelia, also owned by Stewart. Such a move would provide about 540 feet of beach parking.
While the commission did not act on this suggestion, Mayor John Miller agreed with Hall that should the city officially truncate the allowed beach parking area, the state would never permit the city to reclaim it in the future.
Hall said that had the agenda item been advertised, City Hall would have been flooded with opponents to the proposed change.
The public will get another chance to speak up at the Public Hearing, which will probably occur at the March 20, 2018 Commission meeting.
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.
WHERE WAS THE SIGN..?? WHO MOVED THE SIGN…?? My wife and I owned and operated “Hall’s Beach store and lived above. We moved there in 1980 and spent a lot of time on the beach at Sadler. I was president of the “Citizens for the Preservation Public Beaches” and was involved in establishing the Sadler Road on beach parking area. I was on the beach when the signs were placed. In 1989 the beach parking signs for Sadler road beach parking were originally located as follows; The northern boundary was on the north side of Sadler beach access road–The southern boundary was approx 450 feet south at the public beach walkover, just north of the first house on the beach (Burns residence) the sign was intentionally placed there so cars would not be parked in front of homes. When we placed the signs we didn’t pull a measurement we put the sign were we thought it should be and not in front of the houses. How did the sign drift north?…….Maybe when storms knocked it down it was put back up where it laid……or when the beach was nourished there a few years ago the dredgers moved it and put it back in the wrong place. Whatever? What maters is we need all the beach access parking we can get on or off the beach and for now our only choice is on the beach. For now the solution is put the southern boundary sign back where it was originally (not in front of houses) and the norther boundary on sliders northern property line (the property owner is in agreement). this distance is within the 600′ that the ordinance allows. If anyone has a better solution other than reduction or elimination let me know. If you still doubt the location of the original southern sign, ask my wife Sharon, she will tell you. …………………”Citizen for the Preservation of Public Beaches”