Confusion abounds as waterfront park/boat ramp muddles CRA/historic district guidelines vote

Editor's note: City Commission agenda item "Historic Downtown design guidelines and the Amelia Waterfront CRA design guidelines" was a grab bag discussion of numerous waterfront issues that confused even this Fernandina Observer writer. We've updated the original story with this recap of what exactly took place.

Hodgepodge perfectly describes what happened during discussion Tuesday on what began as design specifications for the waterfront and downtown but morphed into a sidebar about the marina boat ramp and then devolved into a debate over the proposed waterfront park concept.

When the smoke finally cleared 40 minutes later, the city commission voted 4-1 to have Marquis + Latimer & Halback work on the design guidelines for the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) and the Historic District Council.

Confusion? You bet.

Interim City Manager Charlie George began by explaining the consulting contract was to update the guidelines for building projects within the CRA and HDC.

"These are guidelines that are used to evaluate if a project fits within those districts of what the city wants," George explained. "Things like colors, patterns, types of materials, roof heights, sidewalks, (specs) these agencies use to determine if a project permit is compliant or not compliant."

George then began to address citizens' "angst" over reports of closing the city marina boat ramp and concerns with lack of parking for the waterfront park concept.

Mayor Bradley Bean decided to discuss all matters related to the waterfront. Bean invited speakers who had nothing to say about design specifications but wanted to talk more about the marina and waterfront.

The small group of public speakers - six in all - presented city commissioners with the 'pros' and 'cons' of the proposed waterfront park concept.

Three speakers opposed the park concept including Mike Sharpe, who is leading a petition drive to have approval of the park plan put to a possible voter referendum. Three others, including a former mayor, the leader of the local petanque club and the chair of the city advisory group that came up with the concept spoke in support.

Again, none of this had anything to do with design elements.

Marian Phillips, who sits on the city's Marina Advisory Board, has opposed every proposed concept for a formal, multi-use park brought before the commission.

"We have to protect our working waterfront," Phillips said. "A park is plants and trees. I have no problem with that. If you start changing that waterfront from the way its always been, I'm not for that."

Bean then deviated from the waterfront park and changed the topic to the boat ramp. After 15 minutes, city commissioners agreed the boat ramp was staying.

Now it was back to the issue of the waterfront park.

Mac Morris, the administrator of the Facebook group page Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach Network, spoke to the city commission's ability to change parking requirements to add more parking spaces to lots C and D. He addressed the issue of the existing petanque courts adjacent to the parking lots.

"Let's expand the petanque courts at Central Park," he told commissioners. "Put some (of the courts) in the sun so they have winter and summer courts. Like ShrimpFest, I think the international petanque tournament should apply for a permit and you can put temporary courts there (at parking lot C and D). To be permanent (at the waterfront), I don't know how that serves our community. It doesn't make it multi-functional any more."

Interim City Manager Charlie George said the current petanque courts are not permanent at the waterfront parcel.

"There are timbers staked in the ground and can be pulled up at any time for any event," George said. "The goal is to use this as a multi-use (area) like ShrimpFest or the Farmer's Market. You have the ability to do that. My thought has always been you have to balance the natural components of a waterfront that has landscaping, benches, recreational areas with the parking. You don't want to turn your waterfront into a parking area. It (the concept) does allow some flexibility to adjust for heavy use events."

Next up was Sharpe who stated opposition to the waterfront park was "widespread and growing."

He said there was no rush to approve the plan. "You don't need to go to war with your constituents over this. It's a losing position. Stop the funding for the plan until you can get something that a majority of us agree on and can live with."

Lisa Finkelstein, chair of the city's Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Board (CRAAB) and the director of Main Street, said she would like to start with a park concept from a "position of agreement."

She said when CRAAB began considering what should be included in the park concept they reviewed previous citizens priorities from past park efforts.

Finkelstein said people wanted views of the sunsets, the ability to walk along the river, a place for music and entertainment, a walking connection to downtown and shade trees.

"We prioritized these into the design. We worked 21 different elements into the design that was presented to you," she said. "I'd like to start with those positive things. The things that we feel that everybody was in agreement with."

Former Mayor Robin Lentz urged commissioners to "pull the trigger" on the waterfront park plans. During her tenure on the commission, waterfront park efforts were proposed and failed.

"We have bins of (past) plans for a waterfront park," she said referring to more than 20 years of efforts to develop a park. "To hear Mr. Sharpe say don't rush into this....pull the trigger guys, pull the trigger. From a parent's viewpoint, me and my crowd of friends support the park plans that were put forward."

Support by the local petanque club was voiced by John Abbott, a retired architect and officer of the local petanque club.

"I actually think it's a very good park plan. It's simple, straightforward and very affordable. One aspect I keep hearing about is that it's very flexible," Abbott said in speaking as an architect.

Abbott changed gears and talked about the petanque club and its involvement in the park concept.

"I see the concern from some community members about the amount of land we are occupying. I get it," Abbott said. "The club would be onboard to change that terrain so it was more in keeping to be open as part of that flex space to part of what is otherwise a great park plan. Our club is onboard with being a player in understanding how to make this park work. We know we're one element of it. And we're willing to work with you to revise the layout so it is not particular to petanque and is more open to public access."

More than 30 minutes has passed, forcing Bean to refocus everyone back to the agenda item - design specifications.

"With that I'll remind you guys what the item is," Bean declared. "We're talking about the design guidelines for the historic district."

Commissioners voted to approve and eventually those revised guidelines may come into play when a waterfront park construction plan is submitted as well as the plans for the renovation of the historic downtown.