ScuttleButt: Boaters (and more) Lose After City Commission's Vote

Last night all five City Commissioners voted to approve funding for the Waterfront Park down at the marina.

Boaters lost - their parking and maneuverability will be squeezed. Their parking will be non-existent when "events" are held at the new park.  Note: somewhere buried in the City's own plan it is recommended that the City have one boat ramp for every 12,000 residents. There is now over 13,000 residents in the City with absolutely no plans to build another ramp.

Residents lost - the historic and cultural significance of a "working waterfront" will be diminished with the addition of a playground, splash pad, band shell, and continuance of Pentanque play. 

    Objective 5.05 of the City's Comprehensive Plan: Waterfront Planning:  The City shall protect shorelines and waterfront lands in order to ensure adequate and appropriate locations for water-dependent, water-related and water-enhanced uses.

    Policy 5.05.02: The City shall guide and direct the location of all future water-dependent adn water-related uses according to the following criteria:   (d) Protecting shoreline adn waterfront areas in order to provide locations for marine/estuarine related uses, such as commercial and recreational fishing, boating and other water-dependent uses and activities.

    Policy 5.05.09  The City shall protect recreational and commercial working waterfronts...

    Policy 5.05.13  The City shall evaluate land development regulations that incentivize maintaining water-dependent uses such as marinas, fish camps, and commercial fishing operations. 

    Objective 11.06 Design and Planning: The City shall encourage compatible design and planning  within the surrounding existing historic districts

And from the City's own Community Redevelopment Advisory Board's Vision Statement... Redevelopment efforts for Fernandina Beach's waterfront area should "Maintain the CHARACTER of Fernandina Beach as reflected in its working waterfront and historic district".

Visitors(and the rest of us lost) - Remember when they tore down the Keystone Hotel? What a travesty. It was an icon on Centre Street and today would have been complimentary to all of our historic structures.

 Fernandina Beach has always been known as quaint town with a historic waterfront. From the CRAB's own Annual Report -"the City of Fernandina Beach has a rich history for which the waterfront area has played a significant role. Much of the City's "historic charm" evolved from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which saw a boom in the shrimping industry and the area's popularity as a tourist destination for wealthy Americans from the northeast."

We still have a vibrant fishing and shrimping community here in Fernandina Beach. While out on the water you can see local shrimpers dragging their nets. Those shrimpers are "peddling" their shrimp, either from their homes or roadside stands.  There are a few bigger shrimp boats that dock north and south of the City Marina. There are bait shrimpers coming and going and Crabbers launching up at Dee Dee Bartels. There are well over 50 Charter Boat captains operating out of Amelia Island. 

What if the City had embraced that commercial fishing community and enhanced the waterfront to accommodate them? Imagine if you could go down to the docks and purchase fresh shrimp, crabs, and fish right off the boat?  Instead, these Commissioners put on their creative hats and will be funding a....Playground. Yes, another one.         

As one young mother (and member of the Parks and Rec Advisory Board) noted, "most all waterfront parks have a playground". Exactly. I hesitate to mention the danger of mixing young kids and a maneuvering boat trailer, but that historic area was (and is) why locals and visitors alike cherished it as a real-life working waterfront.  Playgrounds, splash pads, Band Shells and Pentanque courts do not belong at our historic waterfront. We all lost with this vote. 

What can you do? Get off your butt and tell them how you feel.

 jtuten@fbfl.org Joyce Tuten gminshew@fbfl.org Genice Minshew

jantun@fbfl.org James Antun

dayscue@fbfl.org Darron Ayscue

tpoynter@fbfl.org    Tim Poynter                                                                              

Boaters: It's On You To Step Up

 It appears that the City Commission will be moving forward with the Waterfront Park to be located at the City Marina. In addition to water guzzling grassy lawns and landscaping, there will be a "Pavillion" (note: not to be called a Band Shell) and a children's play area. What any of that has to do with a Working Waterfront is beyond me.  The architectural drawings look great with grassy lawns and beautiful trees, but you have to wonder what resources it's going to take to keep the area looking "Disney-like?"

City Commissioners are promising in social media posts and news articles "expanded" boat trailer parking with at least 12 spaces and maybe 15 depending how it all washes out. Even though the lot used to be wide open to boat trailers, and even though the area just across the railroad tracks used to be overflow for boat trailers, Commissioners boast that they've "expanded" boat trailer parking. Crazy huh? Crazy that they can look you in the eye and stretch that truth. 

The general public has bought it hook, line and sinker. Even most boaters, anglers and commercial fishermen THINK that their access to the boat ramp is safe. What they don't know is that Commissioners, Staff, the Tourism folks and Mainstreet folks are drooling at the thought of hosting events at the new park. I remind you that they close the parking lot for the annual Pentanque Tournament. They close the lot AND the ramp during the Shrimp Festival. 

What do you think is going to happen when the Farmers Market is moved to the Park? When Sounds on Centre is moved to the Park? When the Chili Cook-off is moved to the park?  When music events are held at the "pavilion"? Will Commissioners lean towards "public safety"  and close the parking lot or maintain boater access?

I've been aggravated, disgruntled, pissed, and even crest fallen about this issue. But almost at the same level, I've been more disappointed in the angling and boating community for their apathy towards their access to our public waters. When the vote for moving forward to fund the park was decided on there were 4 Captains that showed up at the meeting and spoke:  Capt Terry Lacosse (in his 70's).  Capt Scott Stewart (in his 70's). Myself (67), and Capt Allen Mills (in his mid 60's). These older Captains may still keep on fishing (as a livelihood) for years to come. but eventually some of the younger guys and the general boating public need to get involved and fight for access. Lack of access to the water will have a bigger effect on them, and you would think they may want their kids to have access to the water. 

Just my opinion, but boaters and anglers tend NOT to be activists. They want to get out on the water,
enjoy boating or fishing, and be left alone. But sometimes you gotta step up. YOUR access to the City Marina boat ramp is being threatened. Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp is dangerous with a strong west wind blowing, and damaging to your boat on any given day. Sawpit Creek boat ramp is falling apart with Park management seemingly ambivalent about it. Goffisnville park is a nightmare to use on an outgoing tide. ALL of those ramps have the bare minimum of dock space. You pay taxes. You deserve better. 

I don't know him. Never met him personally. But Commissioner David Sturges is the ONLY Commissioner that voted against the waterfront park. The City elections coming up will pit supposedly "conservative" incumbent candidates versus left leaning eco nuts. Unfortunately most of those incumbent candidates are pushing the waterfront park and squeezing your access to the water. It's going to be a tough pick for boaters.