Nassau County Beach Committee concludes – no evening beach driving or camping

Cindy Jackson
Reporter
September 27, 2019

The Nassau County Beach Community Working Group was formed in December 2018 to take a closer look at issues at the County’s parks and recreation areas along the 13 miles of shoreline on Amelia Island.

Doug Podiak, Director of Facilities Maintenance; Taco Pope, Assistant County Manager; Mike Mullin, County Attorney/County Manager; Gil Langley, Chair, President and CEO of the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council.

That group has met no fewer than 15 times and each meeting has been open to the public. In addition to input received at those meetings, the Working Group has heard from over 1000 citizens and other interested parties, as documented by Kimley Horn, a Jacksonville-based consulting firm, hired to help facilitate the process.

At what many thought would be the last meeting of the working group, such was not to be the case. Instead, another meeting has been scheduled for October 9th from 9am – 12 noon at Commission Chambers. At that time, the group will vote on what will be their recommendations, to be delivered via a report to the Board of County Commissioners at which time, the debate will no doubt begin again.

Ex-Officio Beach Committee members Mac Morris and Lowell Hall.

The group has looked at such issues including:
• the customary use of the beach by the public
• hours for parking, camping and other activities
• driving on the beach
• camping on the beach
• littering
• unattended personal property
• dog leashes
• horseback riding
• permits for in-county vs out-of-county residents

Said Michael Mullin, County Attorney/County Manager, at the meeting on September 26th, “Anyone who thinks this is easy, is sadly mistaken.”

The process has been laborious and as described by chair, Gil Langley, certain conversations amounted to “mere wordsmithing.”

On September 26, the committee took a bold move, a move described by Taco Pope, Assistant County Manager, as “the nuclear option.” The committee voted unanimously, by a vote of 5-0, to ban beach driving and beach camping – no fire, no vehicles, no mattresses, no sleeping, etc. etc. — year-round, between the hours of 9pm and 6am – and such will be done to protect public health and safety.

That language will be massaged and put into appropriate legalese and another vote taken before the official report and suggested ordinance is presented to the commissioners.

Most agree that this process has been a result of activities taking place in and around Peters Point.

Members of the committee are:

Gil Langley, Chair, President and CEO of the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council
Mike Mullin, County Attorney/County Manager
Taco Pope, Assistant County Manager
Doug Podiak, Director of Facilities Maintenance
Butch Osborne, Director of Operations Management, Sheriff’s Office
Mac Morriss, Ex-Officio
Lowell Hall, Ex-Officio

Editor’s Note: Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Cindy received her BA in Political Science from Dickinson College. Upon graduation, Cindy began her career on Capitol Hill working as a legislative aide and director. She later became a part of the public relations and lobbying team of the American Iron and Steel Institute and served as director of the office of state legislative affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Cindy was involved in economic development with the state of Maryland, and served as executive director of Leadership Washington County. As a community volunteer, Cindy participates in numerous volunteer activities serving as a member of Sunrise Rotary, and as board member of Cummer Amelia Board of Directors.

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Allan R. Moore Jr
Allan R. Moore Jr (@guest_55880)
4 years ago

Please allow beach driving 24 hours by 7 days. This is a slippery slop to ban all beach access.
Respectfully,
Allan Moore

Penny Landregan
Penny Landregan (@guest_55881)
4 years ago

I’m very glad to see the County take a stand on this. This serves to help protect our natural beaches, turtle nesting and illegal drinking and drugs on our beaches. Good job Nassau County.

Elizabeth Ann Huben
Elizabeth Ann Huben(@betsie-huben)
4 years ago

Such bans will be nothing without enforcement. What is the plan for monitoring and enforcement of the ban?

Mac Morriss
Mac Morriss(@macmorrisshotmail-com)
4 years ago

Lowell Hall and Mac Morriss are non-voting members of the County Beach Committee. We are not allowed to vote. 7 Board members, 5 recorded votes.

My vote, based on the total ban of on beach camping, would have been NO. My on beach camping management plans were consistently fought throughout the process.

Those plans will be presented by me to the Board of County Commissioners when it is appropriate to do so.

Lisa Reese
Lisa Reese (@guest_55888)
4 years ago

What could possibly justify allowing beach driving 24 hours a day?!!!

Nancy Roberts
Nancy Roberts (@guest_55895)
4 years ago
Reply to  Lisa Reese

Fishing, camp fire, watching the moon rise, enjoying the company of friends with a view…ya know enjoying the rights and freedoms of an American and local citizen…

Janice Clarkson
Janice Clarkson (@guest_55902)
4 years ago

Thank you Nassau County Beach Community Working Group for taking a bold step banning beach driving at night and camping.

Vic Garvin
Vic Garvin (@guest_55911)
4 years ago

It’s a shame to pass ordinances that affect so many just to pacify a few. I have been camping and beach driving at night for over 30 years and have never had an issue or complaint. We used to camp and seine fish over the weekend,have bonfires,and see the beauty of the beach at night. As it usually is,it only takes a few to ruin it for the rest. Obviously,most of those have never been on the beach in the late night or early morning fishing and waking up to the sound of waves and the sun rising. How utterly sad

Tarah Dunlop
Tarah Dunlop (@guest_58917)
3 years ago

Hi, would you please clarify what Gil Langley’s official title and role are in relation to the TDC? The TDC is a council whose members are legally defined by statutes. Therefore, Mr. Langley cannot (legally) be a president or chair the TDC. Perhaps you meant the other contracted marketing company, the Amelia Island Visitor’s Bureau? Because that is a private corporation that contracts to do marketing and administrative work for the TDC and Gil is, in fact, the CEO if that corporation. I would just like to understand how the BOCC contracts define his role. Thank you.