HDC approves Phase 1 of Amelia riverfront park plan

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
June 20, 2016 1:00 a.m.

After more than a decade of discussion, revisiting, tweaking, study, public input and considering alternatives, the City of Fernandina Beach’s plan to transform what is today Parking Lot B at the foot of Centre Street into Phase 1 of a waterfront park appears to have cleared its final hurdle. With what some have called a historic vote, the city’s Historic District Council (HDC) on a 4-1 vote issued a Certificate of Appropriateness for the design, allowing the project to move one step closer to actualization.

Planning for the park began more than ten years ago in response to many concerns raised over the public’s limited access to the riverfront. Designers and citizens wanted a park to replace the parking lot to better accommodate pedestrian access to the river. The railroad had also expressed safety concerns over pedestrians ignoring rail crossings and walking over their tracks to get back and forth between parking areas and commercial activities on Centre Street.

According to Marshall McCrary, the city’s Community Development Director who acted as the city’s agent in presenting the case to the HDC at its June 16, 2016 meeting, the next step for the project is soliciting bids for construction. In an email, McCrary elaborated, “The City has some logistics to work out before proceeding.  I have requested the City Manager’s help in bringing together appropriate City staff to develop the Scope of Work needed for the bid solicitation and to formulate a plan for City/contractor coordination.  I don’t want to get a contractor on board until we have a clear idea of responsibilities and expectations.”

The approved design calls for relocating that portion of Front Street between Centre and Alachua Streets westward to allow for straight in parking along both sides of the street, with the east side parking up against railroad land. A simple, 4-foot, black metal fence would separate the parking from the railroad property.

McCrary stressed that proposed improvements to the parcel currently occupied by Parking Lot B were horizontal in nature. He said that lighting would be limited to uplighting and string lighting and that a bike rack and benches would be included. A landscaping plan that calls for sensitive selection of trees and plants that should thrive in that location has been developed. There are walkways between rows of trees to provide shade. Walkways intersect in the center of the parcel, where the plan calls for a fountain.

Two of the newer members of the HDC expressed concerns with the plan as presented. Robert Erickson expressed concerns that in moving to the new plan, the number of regular parking spaces and handicapped spaces would be reduced. He said that the plan calls for 37 instead of the current 45 spaces, and reduces handicapped spaces from 4 to 3. He also objected to the removal of picnic tables from this space. William Tilson, the newest HDC alternate member, expressed his concern that the new plan “does not do much but provide [future] maintenance issues [for the city].” He questioned the need for a fountain as well. Tilson, a University of Florida professor who authored the CRA Design guidelines for the city, has a long history with the city in providing advice and guidance on issues affecting the historic districts.

In presenting the application, McCrary reminded HDC members that planning for a riverfront park has been in process for many years, and that the portion being considered in the current application is only the first phase of a total design that stretches the length of the city-owned portion of the waterfront. He added that the HDC had approved the entire plan as far back as 2009. The design proposed is sensitive to the CRA Design Guidelines, adds more green space and replaces hard surface areas with pervious surfaces.

McCrary acknowledged the loss of parking spaces, but added that since planning on the park got underway, the city has added a new municipal parking lot at 2nd and Broome Streets. He also pointed to a drop off area in the plan. The number of handicapped spaces complies with code requirements. He expressed confidence that the plan today much better accommodates pedestrians who want to access the riverfront in safety. “For everything that we tweak in this plan,” McCrary said, “something else has to give.” He advised that if the HDC wanted the city to consider adding an additional handicapped parking space at this point, it would further reduce the number of other spaces available.

In response to a question from HDC Chair Michael Harrison, McCrary confirmed that the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has endorsed the plan in the application and that funding has been provided for the project in the current fiscal year. The engineering has also been completed. McCrary expressed doubt that the plan could be built by the end of the current fiscal year, but believed that it would be possible to have the project bid and awarded in that time. McCrary also confirmed that the plan fits within the overall plan for the Front Street improvements and waterfront park.

Tilson continued to express reservations. He expressed his belief that public spaces should be designed to be able to accommodate as many uses as possible. He expressed support for some of the elements included in an earlier plan offered by local architect Randy Rice. He felt that the greenspace in the current plan is loaded with too much “stuff.”

HDC Chair Michael Harrison asked if there was a design philosophy behind the plan. McCrary said that while he was not a designer, he was sure that was the case. He informed the HDC, “I’ll tell you this. This was the design authorized by the FBCC, and I do not have authority to modify it to any great extent, much less redesign it. The FBCC has directed city staff to move this item forward. So if we are going to look at wholesale redesign, we’re going to be set up for failure. Our request here tonight is for your review of the plan for compliance with design guidelines. If your recommendation is to redesign it, then that is your recommendation.”

HDC Chair Harrison commented, “I’m sure we’ll find that the plan is sufficient, but is it maximal?”

McCrary replied, “I doubt that we would ever find ‘maximal.’ I feel that given my 10 years of working with this project, the plan is significantly more than ‘sufficient.’ But I am just one voice.”

McCrary responded to other HDC questions. He said that tables were never envisioned for this part of the park plan, but that they may be included in other areas of the park. He also said that while a plan has been prepared for Parking Lot A, there has been no direction to proceed with that plan at this time. Member George Sheffield suggested that the city limit parking time to 3 hours in the park areas.

Sheffield said that as a businessman and historic district resident who has been involved in the waterfront park project for 15 years, he was awfully glad to see it finally moving forward. He applauded city staff and leaders. “I know the plan has morphed many, many times, but it looks wonderful.”

McCrary seconded Sheffield’s applause for the project, adding that staff deserves very little credit because so much of the work was done by members of the community. “If it hadn’t been for the persistence of a core of folks,” McCrary said, “we probably wouldn’t be here.”

Harrison opened the public hearing. The first speaker was local attorney Clinch Kavanaugh who began his criticisms by questioning whether proper notice of the hearing had been provided via signs and if the wording of the notice was sufficiently descriptive of the action being contemplated. After some discussion City Attorney Tammi Bach, with input from City Planner Jacob Platt, opined that legal notice requirements had been met. Kavanaugh went on to complain about the loss of parking space and the increase in downtown vehicular traffic over the last few years. He also called for restricting parking time to three hours in the waterfront lots. He suggested that people owning multimillion-dollar boats would be forced to walk several blocks to access them with the changes to parking. He urged the HDC to reject the current plan and to advise the FBCC to draft a new one that would not sacrifice parking spaces.

Kavanaugh also criticized the Marina Welcome Center building that sees infrequent visitors. He went on to say that the recent addition of a deck to that building was like “putting lipstick on a pig.” He reminded the HDC that the city spent close to $100K on a deck that no one uses, on a building with no clear purpose. “You’re getting ready to make the same mistake again,” he said, “because circumstances have changed.”

Harrison tried to clarify the role of the HDC, asking if the HDC was to be involved in the design or simply decide whether the design as presented was compliant with code and guidelines. HDC Member Jennifer King Cascone, the senior HDC member, expressed her belief that the HDC’s role was to determine if the application was compliant with codes and design guidelines. “That’s what we are here for,” she said.

Harrison added, “So we are not putting any rubber stamp on the number of parking spaces, what the parking hours are, whether there might be better uses for space. This is the application of the city. We are not making any value statement on this park.” Tilson weighed in saying that guidelines are not proscriptive; they always require interpretation and judgment. “I think we have an obligation,” he said,”to make informed opinions on what we see before us.”

Harrison recognized Eric Bartelt, a local citizen who has been involved with the park design for eleven years. Bartelt reminded Member Erickson that there are also handicapped parking spaces in Parking Lot A. Bartelt explained that there is a vision behind the design. He said that the multipurpose use of the proposed park is reinforced by the Welcome Center deck, reminding the HDC that it featured in the New Year’s Eve Shrimp Drop and as a space for performers. He said that the space is not big enough for a dedicated lawn space for performances, but the area suits small events well. Countering Tilson’s criticism of the fountain, Bartelt said that the fountain is not just “a thing” but the focal point of the park. “The park is meant to be a shaded space where people can sit around and look out to the water,” Bartelt said.”All of that has been considered [in the design process] over the last 10 years.”

Harrison closed the public hearing when no one else asked to speak. He said, “I don’t think we have the authority here to second guess the design. I think we either take it as presented and vote yes, that it is compliant, or no as noncompliant.”

Sheffield agreed with Harrison. He said, “When you look at communities like St. Marys, GA and Beaufort, SC, you see how pedestrian friendly they have made their waterfronts. This plan is a step in the right direction. I think it’s a great step for the people of Fernandina. We could probably all have different opinions about various elements. But believe me, it’s been quite a long process getting an agreeable [city] commission together. This is a monumental step for the city, to be quite frank with you. This is somewhat of a landmark event that is occurring in front of us, that we are breaking ground and moving forward.”

Erickson continued to object to the removal of tables and elimination of a handicapped parking space. “I’ll always fight for handicapped,” he said.

Sheffield moved approval of the application and received a second from Jennifer Cascone. The motion passed, with only Erickson voting in opposition.

McCrary introduced the HDC to the city’s newest planner, Sal Cumella, who will take over responsibility from Planner Jacob Platt for staffing the HDC.  Cumella previously worked for the city of Gainesville, where he had overall planning responsibility for their historic districts.  He holds a Masters Degree in historic preservation from the University of Florida.

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.