By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
February 27, 2020
Walker’s Landing was the location for a recent Town Hall Meeting dedicated to explaining the South Amelia Island Shore Stabilization Association’s plans for another beach re-nourishment project – an effort that is undertaken every 8-10 years. The total cost estimate for this PROJECT is over $21 million.
SAISSA president Drew Wallace provided the introduction starting with a statement regarding the purpose of the organization which is “to protect, preserve, restore and enhance the beach/dune system on the South end of Amelia Island.”
SAISSA came into being in 1993, after “a particularly strong, six-day storm left the natural dunes almost completely destroyed and threatened to undermine several buildings along the Amelia Island Plantation shoreline,” explains the organization’s website. While Wallace stated and restated the fact that it is SAISSA’s job to “to protect the market value of properties – your houses, your condos, your empty lots,” quite a few comments were received about beach access during the Q&A session that followed the official presentation. The presentation also featured Buddy Jacobs, SAISSA General Counsel, and Dr. Albert Browder with Olsen Associates. This Town Hall meeting lasted for more than two hours.
SAISSA’s purview contains about 3.6 miles of the total 13 miles of shoreline on Amelia Island. Its jurisdiction runs from Burney Park to the Amelia Island State Park which also happens to be an important partner in beach re-nourishment efforts.
The first project was undertaken in 1994, the second in 2002, the most recent in 2011 and the next one is slated to begin in 2021 at a cost of over $21 million, a large chunk of which is financed by a Municipal Service Benefit Unit (otherwise known as an MSBU) –at the County level. MSBUs are assessments of a special area and a formula is devised to ensure that there is a fair and equitable apportionment of costs. (The upcoming Concourse D’Elegance event also has an associated MSBU). These charges are included on residents’ tax bills as sent by Nassau County – based on property values provided by the Property Appraisers’ Office.
Each time a special assessment is conducted, be it the Concourse or a Beach Re-nourishment Project, an outside/independent economic benefits firm is hired to devise a formula that is fair and equitable to all parties.
For beach re-nourishment, costs are apportioned across residential and commercial properties. Properties that are oceanfront pay a higher rate than those located on the west side of A1A for instance. For the first time ever, the amount due from commercial properties is lower – from a 13.5% share of the total cost last time around to just 12.7% of project costs for 2021. The MSBU for residents living on the beach will increase by $48.
The project is slated to commence in May 2021. One question posed before the meeting officially adjourned concerned “mechanical intervention,” and whether such might improve/add to the effectiveness/longevity of such projects.
Back in 1994, the construction of a breakwater and a 1,670-foot terminal groin added some 65 acres to the Amelia State Park and “reduced erosion rates all along the south end of Amelia Island.”
Practically every SAISSA stakeholder noted that the further north any sort of beach re-nourishment project goes, the phenomena of “diminishing returns” comes into play, negating the economic effectiveness of moving re-nourishment efforts further north.
However, before SAISS, (as the Project Manager for the County), can move forward, it must receive signed petitions in favor of the project by more than 50% of interested parties. Those interested parties number some 2600 residents.
SAISSA President Drew Wallace noted that the last time around, the goal of 51% in agreement was received in no time at all. Ballots have already been sent to all interested parties. The deadline for submission is late March. For more information and additional detail, go to www.saissa.com
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.