Dale Martin, City Manager
City of Fernandina Beach
May 6, 2016 1:00 a.m.
A common frustration (even with me at times) is that government tends to move slowly. We have policies, procedures, and plans; codes, committees, and commissions. How do we generate the inertia to build momentum for projects? If only government would get out of the way, right?
Well, sometimes the private sector moves slowly, as well. During my tenure in Connecticut, my town had a half dozen or so abandoned and dilapidated mill buildings, nearly all of which were under private ownership (one was owned by the Town). A long-time resident once remarked to me, “You’ve been here for three years now. How come you haven’t done anything with the blighted mills?” My response was: “You’ve been here for thirty years. How come YOU haven’t done anything about the mills?”
We become so familiar with our structures and environment that the deterioration blends into our landscape- we simply stop noticing.
In Fernandina Beach, apparently some have noticed the condition of 8th Street.
Waiting around for the next best thing isn’t necessarily sound economic development planning, but that appears to have been the plan (intentional or otherwise) for 8th Street redevelopment: for how long have properties sat abandoned or underutilized? How much longer will it take for redevelopment and revitalization?
Community Development Department staff has coordinated efforts for approximately two years to address 8th Street redevelopment. These efforts have included outreach, study, citizen working groups, corridor stakeholders, surveys, engineers, architects, and realtors. The result of those efforts led to this goal: to create a vibrant and welcoming mixed-use corridor with a unified attractive visual character that serves as a gateway and connects to the history and character of Downtown Fernandina Beach. So how do we make progress toward that goal?
City staff is preparing large-scale map amendments for the area with an effort to replicate the pattern and character similar to Centre Street. The proposed uses will be mixed, commercial and residential, and will accommodate existing uses as well as new uses. In some areas, both 7th and 9th Streets are included in the planning area in a further effort to coordinate redevelopment and consistency. Some of the stated desired facets of the redevelopment were to allow residential uses, to relax (reduce) setbacks, or the distance between the buildings and the property lines, and to promote appropriate landscaping for properties facing 8th Street.
Outside agencies have also participated with these efforts. The City has requested that the Florida Department of Transportation be aware and perhaps assist with the proposed redevelopment as part of a pending paving project. Road improvements requested to be considered include crosswalks, sidewalks, and medians. State Senator Bean and Representative Adkins have provided additional support for the City’s efforts. Florida Public Utilities (and other providers) have been asked to consider reconfiguring their infrastructure as part of the paving project.
The Planning and Advisory Board will conduct a public hearing regarding the proposed amendments to the City’s land use and zoning regulations at 5:00 PM, Tuesday, May 24. The City Commission is then expected to consider the proposed amendments in late June, before, pending all necessary City approvals, the amendments are provided to appropriate State agencies for review. This will obviously take time, but City staff, boards, and commissions are providing sufficient tools and opportunities for redevelopment, responding to the concerns and visions of residents, owners, developers, and realtors presented over the past two years. Enough people have apparently grown weary of the unchanging landscape.
As a corollary to this redevelopment effort, all prospective business owners are strongly encouraged to contact City staff prior to purchasing or agreeing to terms regarding a business property. Community Development Department staff is both interested and available to assist new businesses during their operational transition. Area business owners and realtors familiar with commercial properties should encourage (and even participate) discussions with City staff to ensure consistent and efficient communication with prospective business owners. The City is attracting additional economic development and working together will facilitate and expand that economic growth.
For more information regarding the 8th Street efforts, please visit www.fbfl.us/8thStreet.