City discusses traffic circulation, parking and safety concerns in Northside Historic District

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter – News Analyst

After years of complaints from residents and churchgoers, the City of Fernandina Beach is exploring ways to alleviate parking and safety concerns on the north side of the downtown historic district.  The specific area of concern that is being assessed lies between Alachua and Calhoun Streets, extending east from 2nd to 8th Street.  The city recommendations only affect what the city controls and does not address private or church-owned parking.

At a workshop on February 18, 2013, Deputy City Manager Marshall McCrary outlined problems and potential solutions for the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) and an audience of close to 20 people, mainly consisting of district residents and St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church attendees.

The Problem

Deputy City Manager Marshall McCrary explains options for north side neighborhood to City Commissioners.
Deputy City Manager Marshall McCrary explains options for north side neighborhood to City Commissioners.

McCrary presented the findings and recommendations of an internal city working group consisting of himself and chiefs of departments concerned with public safety and streets.  He stressed that recommendations were intended to address existing problems and were unrelated to any church expansion plans.  He presented both still photos and video shot by the Fernandina Beach Police recently showing that during peak periods of parking demand, on-street parking is unorganized and haphazard, often encroaching travel lanes and driveways.  The underlying principle driving the group’s recommendations is that public safety relies upon predictable, orderly parking configurations and adequate travel lane widths.

McCrary stated that pavement widths of some streets, particularly Alachua, Broome and Calhoun, are not adequate to support parking on both sides of the street while maintaining 2-way traffic.  He reported that both Police and Fire Departments have confirmed the difficulty in safely maneuvering in this area during peak parking demand.

Considerations

The internal study team has considered eliminating parking on both sides of streets which are not wide enough to accommodate 2-way traffic and parking on both sides.  But the team also realized that eliminating parking, while improving circulation in the area under study, would displace the parking need to other residential areas.  They also considered improved pavement markings to clarify designated parking areas.

The study group agreed that any solutions to the existing problems needed to:

  • Ensure safe travel widths for emergency response vehicles
  • Not shift the parking problem from one downtown area to another
  • Ensure on-street parking is easy to use by
    • Minimizing opportunities for blocking driveways
    • Ensuring adequate visibility at driveways and intersections
    • Ensuring drivers know where they can and cannot park
    • Ensure traffic patterns are compatible with overall downtown circulation

Recommendations

McCrary provided four recommendations for FBCC comment and consideration:

  • Convert Alachua and Broome Streets to one-way streets (Alachua to the west and Broome to the east)
  • Provide for angled parking on one side only of Alachua and Broome Streets (north side)
  • Continue the existing one-way street configuration between Centre and Alachua Streets north to Broome Street
  • Provide for angled parking on one side only of the newly one-way segments of N. 2nd, N. 3rd, N. 4th, N. 5th and N. 6th Streets.

DSCN1767Discussion

Commissioner Pat Gass asked why the recommendations did not extend from Broome to Calhoun Streets.  McCrary said that could be done.  Eleven members of the public provided public comment, overwhelmingly in favor of taking action.  However, some speakers raised concerns over issues not addressed or inadequately addressed from their perspective.

Paul Schaefer speaks to Mayor Ed Boner and City Manager Joe Gerrity following the workshop.
Paul Schaefer speaks to Mayor Ed Boner and City Manager Joe Gerrity following the workshop.

People questioned the city’s determination of capacity using a figure of four people per vehicle.  Mr. Ken Schaefer said that as a result of a recent study conducted on two separate weekends in the St. Michael’s neighborhood, he determined that each vehicle carried an average of 2.1. resulting in much more vehicular traffic into the neighborhood that will only worsen with church expansion.  McCrary explained that code requirements for parking differ for new construction and invited concerned citizens to visit his office for more information.

Pam Huie questions liability for city or church.
Pam Huie raises liability issues.

Brian Downey cited damage to parked vehicles caused by a touring vehicle trying to maneuver Broome Street between parked cars on both sides of the street.  Pam Huie expressed concern regarding the ability of emergency vehicles to pass.  She asked,  “If someone dies because emergency access problems will lawsuits be filed against the city or St. Michael’s?”  Other speakers addressed their concern regarding issues of handicapped parking needs for St. Michael’s.

Neighbors who spoke stressed the fact that street parking was at capacity today and thanked the city for trying to improve the situation.  But one neighbor, Chuck Hall, said, “Angled parking in residential areas is wrong.”  He added that since St. Michael’s is responsible for the problems, “Let them fix the problem.”

Chuck Hall addresses FBCC.
Chuck Hall addresses FBCC.

Mayor Ed Boner reminded the audience that the meeting was merely a workshop to discuss the status of the ongoing problem assessment.  Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican said that there is “obviously a safety and parking problem in the area,” and Commissioner Charlie Corbett commended staff for a plan “to provide extra spaces before the church expands.”  Commissioner Gass again indicated her desire to see the one-way parking on numbered streets extend north to Calhoun Street.  Some discussion ensued following a suggestion that the restrictions only apply on weekends, but commissioners ultimately agreed that such a move would cause too much confusion for area residents and traffic.  Mayor Boner said, “People forget ordinary traffic laws when it’s Sunday.”

Commissioner Corbett and Vice Mayor Pelican concur on the need to address the parking and circulation problems.
Commissioner Corbett and Vice Mayor Pelican concur on the need to address the parking and circulation problems.

Some discussion surrounded the proposed city parking lot planned for the southeast corner of 2nd and Broome Streets on land that has been owned by the city for several years.  That lot could provide up to 26 parking spaces.  Discussion was also raised over potential problems with vehicular access to city lot on Alachua and 2nd Streets by making Alachua a one-way street.  In response to a question, McCrary acknowledged that the city’s plan to implement diagonal parking would not involve widening streets, moving curbs and utilities, but would work with existing street configurations.

Implementation

McCrary stressed that the workshop was to provide the FBCC with a status report on current thinking, but that the city is not making any changes at this time.   Should any of these changes be implemented in the future, the city would post a notice of impending circulation changes for at least 30 days in advance of the change.  They would also install some new signage and striping of parking spaces.  Initially, there would be a high level of monitoring and enforcement to ensure compliance.

Full disclosure:  The author is an affected resident of the area and has gone on record as a citizen with complaints about the existing safety, parking and traffic problems.

Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.

February 19, 2014 12:56 p.m.

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Lee Hamer
Lee Hamer (@guest_18344)
10 years ago

I am glad that action is being considered.
With some tweaking it can be very helpful to reaching a safe parking environment as well as a better traffic flow for the historic district.

Karen Bernhard
Karen Bernhard (@guest_18377)
10 years ago

Thanks to Suanne for a very concise report on the meeting of February 18. I also read the News Leader article and was reminded once again of why I prefer the Fernandina Observer. The reporting in the FO is what old-school journalism used to be about — a clear and unbiased statement of the facts. As a resident of the affected area, I applaud the city’s efforts to resolve a very difficult problem and urge my neighbors to get involved in this very important discussion. It affects us all.