Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
January 9. 2017 1:00 a.m.
The City of Fernandina Beach will hold the first of two special meetings to take public input on Centre Street-related issues on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Commission Chambers.
The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) will use the meetings as a two-way communications path. Commissioners are interested in concerns and priorities of city residents for improving safety and the economic vitality of the downtown business area to include Centre Street, Front Street, the city marina, a waterfront park, the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) and railroad crossings. They are also hoping to dispel rumors, half-truths and myths circulating on social media regarding city plans for the area.
While both the January 10th meeting and the second meeting scheduled for January 24th at the same time and place will be broadcast live, commissioners and city staff are seeking a wide variety of live audience input from across the city.
Brief presentations will be made to assist the audience in understanding the underlying problems and issues associated with the topic.
Those unable to attend either of the special meetings, where public comment will be limited to 3 minutes per person, may provide input directly to commissioners via email or telephone as noted below:
Mayor Robin Lentz (904) 206-0122 [email protected]
Vice Mayor Len Kreger (904) 432-8389 [email protected]
Commissioner John Miller (904) 556-3299 [email protected]
Commissioner Tim Poynter (904) 415-6533 [email protected]
Commissioner Roy Smith (904) 556-0951 [email protected]
I would not like to see the last block of Center Street closed off as is being discussed. If railroad safety is really the concern (how may crossing incidents have occurred over the years?), here is my suggestion.
Extend the existing small section of sidewalk & railing that now parallels the Marina Restaurant building all the way past the Salty Pelican to Alachua Street. Continue the sidewalk eastward to 2nd Street and Alachua. This will at least give some pedestrian access from the public parking there to the harbor area.
Next, construct similar a sidewalk/railing along the east side of First Street to separate the Visitors Center from the railroad tracks. Take this all the way to Ash Street. Again, this gives some degree of pedestrian safety along that area as well.
Finally, install a more comprehensive set of railroad crossing gates on Center Street and possibly Ash Street that block not only automobile traffic but pedestrians as well.
The cost of opening Alachua Street to First Street seems unnecessary if it requires that Center Street be closed off. The riverfront is a natural magnet for people and will hopefully emerge as a destination for visitors and residents alike. Even a “pretty wall” is a barrier we should not consider.
I plan to attend the Commission meeting tonight and promise to keep an open mind, but unless I have grossly misunderstood the proposal to put a fence at the foot of Centre Street prior to reaching the railroad tracks that will prevent pedestrian (and vehicular) traffic from crossing over to the waterfront, well — I think it’s plain crazy. This is Centre Street, for heavens sake, the main thoroughfare from the beach to the river, except with this fence I, and everyone else, including tourists, boaters, etc., won’t be able to get to the river without walking either one block to the north or one block to the south. What if I (we) want to check out the sunset after dinner at a downtown restaurant? What if I (we) want to have a look at the boats in the marina, or actually get on one of the boats at the marina, or shop or eat at the businesses on the waterfront? What happens during Shrimp Festival? Do we take the fence down so attendees can directly access the food vendors and music, or do they have to walk all the way around? Please, Commissioners, proceed with caution. This is a very big deal!