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Inserted below are the photos from the public visit to Crane Island with members of Nassau

County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners.

The Entire Crane Island as seen from the Amelia Island Fernandina Beach bridge/causeway

This is an intracoastal island/peninsula (see bottom photos of alleged existing road through wetlands) near

Fernandina Beach just south of the causeway near the municipal airport.  

Crane Island is now the subject of plan amendments to change the land use from Conservation

(1 unit per 5 acres – approx 20 units)  to Residential Development at 2 units per acre – over 220 units).

 It has been proposed for development of a new town/village by the landowner Willis and Civitas,

a South Carolina Developer, who purchased the land at a 1 unit per 5 acres comp plan designation

and are now requesting the increase to 2 units per acre on the island (a tenfold increase from 20 units

to more than 220 units). 

Cra      Crane Island view from Intracoastal waterway…

The planning commission voted to recommend approval (5 votes, with 2 votes against).The Board of County

Commissioners will consider the plan amendments (FLUM and Text Amendment allowing them to transfer

units from the main barrier island of Amelia Island) in a few weeks.

The development plan also calls for the dredging of a marina basin to the intracoastal from the interior of the

island and through the surrounding marsh grasses.

 The area is difficult to approach, contains no bridge and the existing roads are submerged during storm

events. The water approach from the intracoastal where the marina will be located is currently shallow

and landings are difficult at best (during 10:30 am high tide).

The Department of Community Affairs will have the chance to file objections during its ORC review process.

 This island is undeveloped, unbridged and the islands' uplands should not be developed at the increased

density that is being requested. 

 Density and development potential should not be increased on this island due to native uplands, habitat,

 migratory bird flyways, trees, water quality, location of island in terms of sea level, hurricane evacuation

threat in even a Category 1 storm.

  Undeveloped, unbridged, intracoastal islands and peninsulas should be preserved as conservation lands

and the 1 unit per 5 acre Conservation (uplands) designation is much more appropriate for upland protection

in this category 1 coastal high hazard area. 

 below Developer explaining development plan to public

 Inside the Island's Interior

 Present existing Road onto Crane Island

 Present Existing “Road” onto Island through wetland marsh

 The Development Plan

                The Plan 

 Previous owners have speculated on increased development potential, but this is bad policy to

allow Florida's growth to be directed to these types of locations within the intracoastal.  In

hurricane, these lower lying areas are even more hazardous and development is even more

damaging to these isolated island habitats than building on the barrier island of Amelia Island

itself.

Im         mature pine (longleaf?) sprouting from Crane Island forest floor… 

  During the trip and while disembarking Eric Titcombe and Jeff Peterson observed Wood Stork and

Osprey flying over the island. Gopher Tortoise burrows, and many migrating warblers. These islands

act as fly-way stopover for many species of birds.

Shown below, a gopher tortoise hole near boat landing area (proposed dredged inner harbor/marina.

 2 units per acre is too high even for uplands located on this intracoastal island.

The island can be seen on the approach bridge to Fernandina Beach/north Amelia Island and provides

important natural scenic vista for visitors and tourists                                                                           

Cr          Crane Island and Intracoastal Waterway - photo from the Downunder Restaurant below the bridge

                    to Fernandina Beach/Amelia Island.   

                                                            Photos courtesy of Ralf Brookes 

            Environmental Protection Litigation is Practiced by:

            Ralf Brookes, Attorney

                please visit http://www.ralfbrookesattorney.com

                1217 E. Cape Coral Parkway, #107      

                 Cape Coral Florida 33904

                 (239) 910-5464 direct line

                 (239) 541-2774 fax ;

                 (239) 945-2008 assistant/office line

 practicing land use and environmental law throughout Florida

Cr