HDC removes an obstacle to downtown miniature golf course

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
August 2, 2018 – 12:30 p.m.

The building on the northeast corner of Second and Alachua Streets in downtown Fernandina Beach, once home to a succession of restaurants including Snug Harbor and Golden Grouper, has most recently been used as a retail store.  But following the exit of its last tenant  (Trailer Park Collectibles), the structure fell into serious disrepair.  Squirrels, rats and feral cats could be seen entering and exiting the building on a regular basis.

Provided with an opportunity to purchase the 0.4-acre property, which lies half in the Central Business District (CBD) and half in the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), local restaurateur and businessman Tim Poynter saw an opportunity to convert the underutilized and blighted parcel into an attraction for young families:  a miniature golf course.  But he encountered a problem.  Although the city’s Land Development Code allowed outdoor amusements in the zoning district, the minimal land needed for such activity is 2 acres.

So Poynter requested a variance from the city.  In order to be approved by the city’s Historic District Council (HDC), which oversees the CRA, the variance request needed to meet 6 criteria.  City staff, however, found that the application failed to meet two of the six criteria:  Number 3 – Literal Interpretation and Number 5 – General Harmony.

After studying the application and listening to the applicant’s arguments as to why the request did meet all 6 criteria, the HDC agreed with the applicant that a literal interpretation of the pertinent code sections make it nearly impossible to locate outdoor amusements within the City of Fernandina Beach.  They also agreed that granting the variance would be in harmony with the general intent and purpose of the code because Outdoor Amusements are allowed in the C-3 zoning district, and the FLUM designation of Central Business district allows for commercial retail and restaurants.  The HDC so stated and approved the variance on a 5-0 vote at their August 1, 2018 Special Meeting.

Now that the variance has been approved, Poynter will move on to the other issues at hand: demolishing the existing, non-contributing structure; designing a miniature golf course; and designing a small building that will serve as a snack shack for the operation.  These plans also require HDC approval before more action can be taken.

Attorney Jon Lasserre represented Poynter in presenting his case to the HDC.  He argued that by the strict interpretation of the provisions of the Land Development Code, the “allowable use” provision of the code for outdoor amusements in this zoning district was only theoretical, because there is no 2-acre parcel available downtown, other than possibly on land owned by Rayonier Advanced Material or WestRock.  An entire city block downtown is less than 2 acres.

In speaking on behalf of his project, Poynter argued that constructing a miniature golf  course on a piece of land that could otherwise be used for a 45-foot tall residential-commercial building would add green space to the downtown area, in addition to providing a destination for people with children.  His plan includes planting trees, gardens and landscaping, as well as a small snack shop.

Poynter explained that his vision is for the course to look like a park garden, with extensive landscaping, including the planting of trees.  He suggested to HDC members that his course would look similar to the course recently constructed at the Omni Resort at the south end of Amelia Island.

Two audience members spoke in favor of granting the variance.  Arlene Filkoff, Executive Director of Fernandina Beach Main Street, said that this project could kick off long anticipated redevelopment in the CRA, improving the look of the intersection and hopefully encouraging redevelopment of other CRA parcels to the west and north.  An audience member who lives outside the city also spoke to endorse the goal to provide more downtown activities for children and young families.

To see complete application package, click here.