Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
On March 27, 2014 the City of Fernandina Beach Technical Review Committee (TRC) met with Miranda Architects, agents for St Michael’s Catholic Church, to discuss a revised site plan for the expansion of the existing historic sanctuary located at 202 North 4th Street. The expansion will increasing seating by 180 seats bringing the church’s seating capacity to 489.
A key factor in moving forward with church expansion is the requirement that the church provide additional parking to offset the increased seating capacity offered in the expansion.
The proposal presented calls for valet parking in order to maximum parking spaces in a church owned, soon to be expanded, parking lot located on North 5th Street behind the parish office. The existing lot offers parking for 16 vehicles. After expansion, 32 additional spaces will be added and that number meets the requirement for the new church addition.
According to Jose Miranda, the church continues to seek other options for parking whether it be remote lots or shuttle services in order to reduce the need for valet parking. Valet parking is a solution allowed by City code.
After hearing no objections from various TRC members, Marshall McCrary announced the proposal is code compliant. The approval requires a demonstration that the proposed lot will accommodate 48 vehicles.
Approximately 10 church members who have expressed dissatisfaction with the church expansion were in attendance, along with a few adjacent property owners. They spoke of issues such as lighting, traffic flow, safety, and liability concerns for the parish and diocese. Some concerns raised were parish concerns and not pertinent to decision making responsibilities for the TRC, reminded Chairman Marshall McCray.
The bright spot of the meeting is a magnolia tree located in the northeast corner of the lot might be saved if a possible church property acquisition can provide additional parking spaces.
TRC is a City administrative committee formed to review compliance with rules for new development projects. Once approved permitting may proceed.
Neighborhood parking issues are a separate issue and not under the TRC purview.
For a previous Fernandina Observer article on the St Michael’s Catholic Church expansion, click here.
For a previous Fernandina Observer article on neighborhood parking issues click here.
March 27, 2014 6:30 p.m.
So St. Michaels Church is planning to pave over yet more of our downtown because parishioners can’t walk a few blocks to attend services once a week. This expanse of asphalt will be covered with cars for about 2 hours a week and the remaining 6 days and 22 hours it will remain as a sterile monument to the church, unseen by most parishioners, but an eyesore for the community. The “bright spot” of the meeting was that an old magnolia tree “might be saved if. . . ” I’ve now lived here long enough to know that this means the tree has been marked for execution, but folks don’t want to argue about it right now.
Nancy: The parking lot is being developed because it is requirement for church expansion. It is not being built for the convenience of church members. To be fair to those attending the Catholic Church, many are happy to walk a few blocks to attend Mass and they do so right now.
Not being familar with the details of the parking lot construction this may already be in the plans, but if the lot is going to be used primarily only for church services and other parish events I would hope that they would consider the used of pervious pavers that would allow grass to grow, allow rain water to percolate through the ground and certainly would not be visually stark like an asphalt parking lot.
According to Jose Miranda, “Parking lot will be grass pavers to match existing pavers on lot already on site.”
Thanks for the info. I figured with Jose behind the drawing board he would go with minimal impact possible for parking.
Unbelievable! Can’t figure out how that valet parking is going to work. I wouldn’t want be first in the lot – then you have to wait until everyone’s out until they can get to your car. I’d rather forget the valet and walk another block. And the City will allow the building to be built before the City makes sure that the valet lot will work. Just doesn’t make sense.
My understanding is the City will require a test of the valet parking.
If you review the minutes of the meeting you will see that the TRC is allowing the building to be built first and the test of the valet parking will be done after the building is completed. When questioned the TRC said that if the valet parking is not sufficient the the church could NOT use the new 180 seats. Does that sound reasonable? Whose going to check on the use of the seating? Code Enforcement? Give me a break.
How does one test the viability of a 48 car parking lot prior to building the lot?
And if you park the cars in this proposed lot, how long will it take to fill up the lot. If it can be done at a rate of 2 minutes per car, for example, that would require 96 minutes to park car 1 through car 48…so what time does someone arrive at the lot to attend the 10 AM Mass and be present for the full Mass. Finally how can all 48 drivers get their cars back if they do not arrive back at the lot after Mass in exactly the reverse order in which they arrived to park their car?