Nassau County Insider
County Manager’s Office
Sabrina Robertson
May 31, 2018 6:23 p.m.
Based upon passage of House Bill 631 (beach bill), the Board of County Commissioners established a Fact Finding Committee to receive testimony and documentary evidence as to the customary and historic use of the dry sand areas of the beach, in the unincorporated areas of Amelia Island. Four meetings have been held and several concerned citizens have submitted emails and photos depicting how the dry sand areas of the beach have been used for a variety of activities including sunbathing, camping, and playing in the sand.
In order to protect the public beaches in unincorporated Nassau County, the Board intends to adopt an Ordinance declaring “customary use” of the dry sand area before HB 631 goes into affect on July 1st. The County is seeking the public’s help in obtaining historical information to support adoption of the Ordinance. For additional information about HB 631 and the Board’s desire to adopt a Customary Use Ordinance, please watch the Special Meeting held on May 2, 2018.
The County has created two customary beach use affidavits. Affidavit 1 should be used by anyone who is a regular beach walker and has observed various uses on the unincorporated dry sand beach areas. Affidavit 2 is for residents who have photographs and/or documents that illustrate use of the dray sand areas of the beach in unincorporated County portions of the beach. By signing an affidavit, you are acknowledging that the affidavit may be used by the County in the formulation of the customary public use Ordinance.
Please submit your affidavits and documents via email to [email protected] or mail them to the County Manager’s Office at 96135 Nassau Place, Suite 1, Yulee, FL 3209 prior to June 4, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.
The next Beach Fact Finding Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 5th at 3:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the Commissioner Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097.
If you have any questions, please call Susan Gilbert at (904) 530-6100.
Does “customary use” of the dry sand area of the beach include driving on the beach beyond those areas currently designated for beach parking (Sadler Road, Peters Point, Scott Rd.)? Once upon a time, driving on the beach was a “customary use”. Does the current effort by the City and County to draft ordinances protecting “customary use” open the door to reintroducing beach driving?