By Mike Lednovich
There will be no vote Tuesday by the city commission to amend the lease of Amelia River Golf Course to allow for installation of a solar field and hangars on a 130-acre heavily wooded parcel at the airport.
City Attorney Tammi Bach issued the following statement late this afternoon:
“Commissioners: After consulting with Tom Miller of Amelia River Golf, LLC, Charlie George has determined that more information is needed before a lease amendment is considered. Therefore, the Amelia River Lease amendment will be discussed by the City Commission as a discussion item on May 16.”
Miller in partnership with Florida Public Utilities is seeking an amendment to the Amelia River Golf Course lease in order to build the solar array on 36 acres of the riverfront parcel. Miller also said several hangars would also be constructed on the land.
It’s hard to imagine a worse idea than destroying 36 (!) acres of mature trees to build a solar farm.
Why not lease enough of the currently cleared land around the airport? I realize that FAA may have a say in using the land around the landing strips, BUT that’s a lot of cleared land that could host solar farms and hangers. I like the solar farm idea, I HATE cutting/clearing any land on the Island. This clearing may violate the City Commissioner ruling to maintain 39% canopy coverage in the city. What about the vacated space. under FPU’s distribution lines?
Just put solar panels over all the existing parking lots at the Airport!
Close the damn airport and use it to build a solar farm
I like this idea! They could also cover the top tracer driving range at the golf course that is costing taxpayers money, and turn it into something like this that benefits the entire community! Not a single tree cut and cost savings all in one!
By saying there will be no commission vote at the next meeting is telling people not to come to the meeting to voice their displeasure on this subject. I expected better from you Mr Lednovich! Our voices will be heard!!!
Make your voice heard by attending the meeting AND send an email to the commissioners: [email protected]
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I did not get the impression that Mr. L was suggesting to anybody to not come to the meeting. I appreciated his letting us know the schedule.
When I first saw this I thought it was a joke article from Dave Scott’s News Wrecker. It is so wrong in so many ways and not to mention a thinly veiled scheme for tax incentives from the government by all the parties involved. The county just celebrated a 30 million or so grant for land conservation in the county. This is an insulting proposition to the residence of the island and county and It should never be considered.
Thank you for pointing out that citizens voted in November to tax themselves for land conservation. One would think that would be a clear sign that we do not want to destroy conservation land that is covered with mature trees. The Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Referendum passed with more than 68% of the vote. The citizens have already spoken loudly and clearly that destruction of conservation land is a non-starter.