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SAVE EGANS CREEK GREENWAY!
On Tuesday March 19th, The Fernandina Beach city commissioners will vote on whether to rezone this conservation land into low-density residential (See Map Below).
We are urging all citizens to attend.
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The time is now! We can still save this space but it requires the vote of one more city commissioner.
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Amelia Bluff consists of 6+ acres of Maritime Forest directly connected to the Egan's Creek Greenway, a popular trail for walkers, bikers, birders, photographers and anyone who just needs to escape for a moment.
The ONLY true maritime forest left in city limits is the Greenway.
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This particular platt of land also includes a relic sand dune that is now a 10-15 foot bluff (hence the name) dropping into the waterway of Egans Creek. The run-off from the construction as well as the fertilizers from the new community will fall DIRECTLY into the wetlands of the Greenway.
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LAND COLLAPSE
Another community directly south of Amelia Bluff is Shell Cove. New homeowners found their slice of paradise was rapidly collapsing, LITERALLY! We live on a barrier island. And that means we live on sand. Without the trees holding it together, it becomes very evident just how unstable these old dunes really are.
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A retention wall was built to try and save the sand from sinking into the wetlands. This will happen again on Amelia Bluff. What kind of message does that send to the future citizens of Fernandina Beach?
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CITY MAPPING ERROR:
According to the 2011 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) this land is designated as conservation. The developer was assured by our City’s Planning Director that the land designated on the FLUM as conservation was a “mapping error,” and could be "fixed". City officials became aware of the discrepancy in the FLUM in November 2018. Yet construction at the Amelia Bluff site continued through February 19, 2019 until a STOP WORK ORDER was put into effect.
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The trees were cut and roads, sewer and curbs are there now. But there are plenty of trees worth saving! Including this gorgeous Lob Lolly Pine (pictured above) that is inhabited by a Red Shouldered Hawk. Now aware of their mistake, the commissioners must choose to either ALLOW this development to continue or STOP work permanently and transition the partially cleared land into an accessible park extension of the greenway.
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BROKEN PROMISES:
In the past, the commissioners have promised to make up for it ("it" being sprawling development into our precious wetlands) by negotiating to save other parcels of land. They have made strides towards it lately but it's a very slow moving stride. Its is no surprise that the citizens of FB have concerns because in the past, they have NOT been true to their conservation promises.
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The Amelia Island Conservation Network and it's affiliates would like to see the City Of Fernandina Beach slow down, gather information and make an informed decision before we do irreversible damage to our beautiful island.
Follow the discussion and info sharing on their Facebook Page HERE
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WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?
​Write to each of the 5 commissioners and our city manager:
The next and final vote is Tuesday, March 19th at City Hall. You are not required to speak but every voice matters and a full house shows a unified voice.
Share and discuss with your neighbors, with your friends, thru email, thru Facebook, share anyway you can to raise awareness and hopefully we can hold the city accountable.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this and I am personally happy to answer any and all questions I can:
kayakamelia.jules@gmail.com
The Egan's Creek Greenway is very near (literally) and dear to my heart. I find peace there after busy days and go there for advice when I have a busy day ahead. I've been living on Amelia Island for 12 years and I cannot express the hurt I feel every time the wildlife is pushed out of their homes. The tree canopy here is what makes Amelia Island beautiful. And Oh Ya... they provide the oxygen we breathe... <3 Jules
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Store Hours
Kayak office 9am-5pm everyday
(closed Wed. in Dec,Jan,Feb)
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Kayak Amelia has guided ecotours (kayak, paddle board) and rentals (kayak, bike, paddle board ) in Talbot Island State Park. |
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