Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
October 6, 2014 1:00 a.m.
On October 2, approximately twenty concerned citizens gathered at Tax Collector John Drew’s meeting room in Yulee, where the Ocean Highway and Port Authority held a workshop to review portions of the port master plan. Joining port commissioners Carroll Franklin, Richard Bruce and Danny Fullwood were Port Attorney Clyde Davis, Genesis Group Executive Vice President Brian Wheeler, who assisted in developing the master plan, Kelly Gibson senior planner for the city of Fernandina Beach and City Attorney Tammi Bach.
For the past two months the City of Fernandina Beach Planning and Advisory Board and its subcommittee have met to examine the port’s 240 page master plan and receive public input. As noted by Attorney Davis, “The port’s plan must be consistent with the local government’s comprehensive plan.”
The Community Development Department of the City of Fernandina Beach provided the port board a summary of comments obtained from numerous meetings and described as “recurring and overarching themes.” During the three hour meeting, comments were reviewed by the port commissioners.
The summary included a request for risk analysis for each proposed project, a request to remove projects that were unattainable due to physical or environmental constraints, a request to identify a realistic approach to what is achievable on port property within the next 10 years, a request for additional analysis of how rail and barge transportation may be utilized to offset truck traffic, and questions raised about the port’s ability to handle certain sized containers and its ability to service 106 foot beam vessels.
Port commissioners appeared willing to respond to items presented, provide additional information as requested, and to address the vast majority of concerns. Since the meeting was billed as a workshop, official approval of changes must wait until the port’s regular meeting.
Of particular interest is a wetlands area south of Franklin Street and west of North 3rd. According to Davis, past documents refer to the area as a conservation easement but there is no recorded document acknowledging the easement. Davis addressed the issue of wetlands saying, the port needs to clarify its plans and make sure the public knows “we do not intend to fill in wetland or marshes or areas below the mean high water mark.”
A well informed group of concerned citizens addressed the port commissioners, asked questions, and challenged members on various issues.
When discussion began on a risk analysis for each proposed project, Attorney Davis informed the attendees that security risks are not part of public records. Michael Harrison said he recalled at a previous PAB meeting board member Judith Lane was interested in the financial risk, not the security risk. Davis said there is a need for a financial analysis on any project undertaken by the port and the analysis is open to the public.
Fullwood said, “I don’t think we are going to do a risk analysis on everything in the plan until we decide if we are actually going to do that part of the plan.” Harrison suggested a risk analysis will eliminate and reduce the number of projects included in the master plan. Davis responded that market conditions will dictate what projects are undertaken, and a risk analysis “is not one of the statutory components called for under Florida statue 311.14.”
A major concern expressed about the port master plan is increased truck traffic. “The 750 truck trips a day [indicated in the master plan] is not possible,” says Port Commissioner Danny Fullwood. There is one gate, and the turn around time for truck traffic is 15 minutes and longer for warehouse visits.
When asked by Fernandina resident Julie Ferreira why state regulations require the master plan to indicate 750 trucks when 96 is more realistic, Genesis representative Wheeler said the Department of Transportation requires computer modeling for its projects. The computer modeling does not take into account gates, mixed containers or bulk containers that will take more time with loading and unloading, or an abundance of intersection failures that would slow down and reduce the number of truck trips.
Michael Harrison again spoke, and challenged the port board to reduce truck traffic and bring materials to the port by barge. According to Chair Caroll Franklin and Commissioner Richard Bruce, using barges to reduce the number of trucks, in particular log trucks, is not economically feasible. The cost of transporting pulp products by barge is double the cost of truck transportation.
Attorney Davis said the port is very interested in increasing cargo by encouraging the mills to bring pulp wood by barge. At this time it is not economically feasible. Davis said past practices moved large quantities of pulp wood to the Fernandina mills by train. Now due to cost, trucks are the preferred method of transportation. Should anyone come up with a plan that moves additional freight and tonnage through the Port of Fernandina that is economically feasible “you will find a willing partner with the Port of Fernandina,” says Davis.
Fernandina resident Mary Alice Isele voiced her concern over the impact of possible truck traffic increases on historic structures and asked if studies will take place. Wheeler said a study was principally done when the initial port development began. The Genesis Group did not revisit a study because the port is not going to expand beyond the current port ownership.
Isele is concerned about the impact of truck traffic on St Peter’s Episcopal Church. Kelley Gibson, senior planner responded that once the master plan is submitted for official review the state historic preservation office will review the document in full. They will be “very much in the know about this.”
The workshop initially included the City of Fernandina Beach Planning and Advisory Board. City Manager Joe Gerrity asked PAB members not to attend because the meeting was held outside of the city and the meeting room provided limited seating. Although the city offered to make the City commission chambers available, the Port Authority declined because of concern over time constraints. A 5 o’clock meeting was scheduled in the City Commission Chambers.
The Port Authority will hold its regular meeting Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at 6:00 PM in the County Commission Chambers, James Page Governmental Complex, Nassau Place, in Yulee.
Thanks very much for your report.