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Historic District Council meeting dates and Agenda Click here May 2010Fernandina Historic District NewsMay, 2010 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
Sub-Committee is created for Downtown Density Issue
With the movement of City Hall now to create a higher density downtown, the burden of reviewing this task has now fallen to the Planning and Advisory Board. They have already had several discussions about this issue, and it has gotten fairly complicated.
At their most recent meeting, the PAB decided to create a sub-committee dedicated to just this one issue of higher density in the CRA district downtown. As you know, the CRA is smack within the Historic District. Actually, it sits along the waterfront, and adjoins the residential areas of the Historic District. And there, dear reader, is the problem.
The density right now, for residential construction is one living unit per 25 ft. wide lot in this area being studied. The City staff has stated that they think this ‘could’ be tripled to possibly 3 units per 25 ft. wide lot. There has been a lot of talk about the area being allowed to increase to double density, giving the interested developers a much better opportunity to create a viable and profitable development.
Since the real estate market has been hit so hard in this current recession, potential developers have turned away. The hope is that with higher density in the CRA, development could be encouraged, and the CRA would actually start funding itself for the much-needed infrastructure required for the new development. Confused? It gets better.
OK, so the City staff looked into the CRA density and now the process seems to be driving toward the maximum possible density: ‘triple’. This is where I part company with the City staff. They have stated that they think the newly added residents could be about 800 people. I see that as 800 cars. Really? Since this is only a 4-block area we are discussing, think about parking 800 cars in 4 blocks full of condos.
Now, consider those same 800 cars making 3.5 trips per day (statistical avg.). They will not likely be using Centre Street to go to Publix and school; they will drive along Alachua, Broome, and Calhoun. Right through the residential and school zones. That’s 2,800 trips per day for this area. That is the issue I have with this whole plan.
Right now, at times we have cars parked along both sides of the streets here, and the traffic can only go down the block as one car at a time. How is this going to work with 2,800 newly introduced vehicles? Poorly I think.
I can attest that the PAB and the sub-committee are doing a great job at watching this as closely as they are now. My hat is off to them as they press on to a recommendation for the Commission. I would ask them to reconsider the ‘triple’ density, and let’s look at the double density again. Our infrastructure and the streets are just not ready for such an impact here.
Restoration Foundation Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Amelia Island-Fernandina Restoration Foundation will be held in the second floor Federal Courtroom of the Historic Fernandina Post Office Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at 4 PM. Foundation Members as well as the general public are invited to attend the meeting. All current members are qualified to elect the Board of Directors for the coming year. Memberships may be purchased prior to the event. The following slate has been approved: Susan Siegmund , Jose Miranda, Adam Kaufman, Neil Blalock, Chuck Hall, Jim Shroads, Susan Mowery, George Sheffield, Mary AgnesWhite , Robert Hamer, Bruce Malcolm, Bill Tilson, A presentation will be made by consultants Hammond Beeby Rupert Ainge Architects reporting on their investigations into the condition of the Historic Post Office Building and potential future uses of the building by the City of Fernandina Beach. Museum Carnival Days! You are invited to attend the Amelia Island Museum’s ‘History Alive!’ fundraiser event this year. It’s called the Old Tyme Spring Carnival.
There will be a Magic Show, Food, Games, Prizes, a Fortune Teller, and best of all, there will be a fantastic Bluegrass Banjo player there (gee, I wonder WHO that could be? hehe).
It’s Saturday, May 15th, from noon until 4 PM. Tickets are available by calling 261-7378. I suspect the kids will have as much fun as the adults, eh? As you might know, the Museum uses these fundraisers as the vehicle to keep the doors open here. Without your support, there could be serious cutbacks in operating hours or staff levels there. Let’s support the Museum and keep ‘History Alive’.
I’ll be there doing my part by volunteering. I hope to see you, too?
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