A Southern California developer wants to build a luxury garage/condo complex on three acres of Fernandina Beach Airport property they would lease from the city.
Named The Paddock Club, the vice president of the Newport Beach, California company will ask city commissioners Tuesday for approval to go forward with plans to lease the property for the $11.5 million project.
"It is our intent to design/construct luxury garages, for sale, in a condo development. These types of facilities are becoming increasingly common throughout the United States and cater to individuals seeking a safe, convenient, temperature-controlled high-end hobby/storage space for Luxury Automobiles, RV’s, Boats, etc.," stated Paddock Club Vice President Chase Edwards, in a November letter to the city. "The proposed design of the facility will be upscale, progressive, and will not have the visual aesthetic of traditional retail storage. The facility will be gated for security and will contribute very little traffic to the surrounding premises."
The parcel, a little more than three acres, is located off the Jamestown Road Extension.
According to the application for lease submitted for city commission review, the project would include 44 garage/condo units, a clubhouse, a covered exterior event space and two covered wash areas. Each unit is designed at 1,250 square feet.
"We believe that our intended use of the property will provide a valuable product offering to the community and individuals seeking a private space nearby their airplane, home, office, or intended recreational destination to store, access, and enjoy their Adult Toys," Edwards said in the proposal.
Gary Vose, also of Newport Beach, is the owner/president of the Paddock Club.
According to his resume submitted with the application, Vose owns and operates numerous developments including in Colorado the Eagles Nest Golf Course community of 2,000 residential homes, Friendly Hills development of 871 single family homes and two condominiums totaling more than 300 units.
In Florida, Vose listed a 204-room Best Western Hotel and redevelopment of the Luhrs Boatyard in St. Augustine.
The project was reviewed by the City's Airport Advisory Committee last November and members supported recommending the city commission direct city staff to move forward with processing the application for approval.
Interim Airport Manager Nathan Coyle said in a notice to commissioners that approval would require the following conditions:
Any proposed non-aviation use requires FAA approval of the use and associated lease terms. The FAA will dictate any level of environmental review action(s) required for development of this property.
Any proposed lease of property must be at Fair Market Value, and an appraisal identifying the FMW stipulated in the lease must be submitted to the FAA for review.
Any proposed use of the property should not inhibit anticipated aeronautical demand for the parcel within the proposed term of use.
Non-aeronautical uses do not have the priority or protection of grant assurances that are afforded to aeronautical uses, and there is therefore no obligation that airport sponsors (City) accommodate a non-aviation use.
Coyle estimated the lease revenue would be "in the range of $42,601 to $49,700 per year."
The term “adult toys” is typically used in reference to sexual gratification. Perhaps there is a better term or do the developers actually mean sexual gratification?