🏝 Amelia Island Net

An interesting and rare sight will greet you on a drive along Front Street. These cranes are replaced infrequently and funding was a result of efforts by two economic development advocates…..Sen. Rick Scott and State Sen. Aaron Bean, working on our behalf. Thanks as well should go to Laura DiBella, Economic Developement Director and Port Director.

Original funding press release…..

Small cruise ships, a rebuilt marina, luxury townhomes, remodeling of the Baptist Sunday School building, a downtown putt-putt, brewery, a new location for the distillery, apartments on Atlantic at a formerly blighted corner and a mystery project at the old “Boat House” are projects underway. All are slated for 2019/2020 completion and should be very positive additions.

Creative vision by the buyer and persistence by the broker resulted in the sale of a Historic District fixture, “The Boat House”.  While I have seen many of the redevelopment details, plans can change.  I will say the plans look exceptional and will bring an exciting addition to Downtown Fernandina. Across from City Hall, this is one of the last large sites with a view, plentiful nearby parking and almost directly across from the Hampton Inn and Suites on 2nd Street.

If you’re looking for a broker with experience and persistence, give me a call during or after hours.  With experience selling a variety of area commercial properties, I’m more than happy to assist or offer a second opinion.  Some past closed sales or listings include sites like the new Dollar General on SR 107, Reflections of Nature’s new site on Arbor Lane, 316 Centre Street (being redeveloped), 30 South 2nd Street and the former Pecan Roll at 122 South 8th Street.  I hope I’m competitive with service and rates, but let me know what you need.

In 2018, I added a commercial drone license to improve client service, offer more frequent updates and, more than you might imagine, inspections of more inaccessible locations. It is also becoming an enjoyable way to promote the diversity here on Amelia Island.

Periodically, I have a conversation with someone about development and offering incentives instead of taking away value from the landowner/investor.  In talking with a friend earlier today, we both agreed it would make so much sense to move density from one property to another.  I brought up one developed property and the loss of affordable potential after years of delay eliminated more and more of the profit.  If only “incentives”, not obstruction, had been a part of the conversation!

TDR stands for “Transfer of Development Rights”.  Consider a purchase of one property by one developer or by the city.  That property might have a certain number of units in density.  If you create a mechanism to bank that total density and offer it as either an incentive to that developer or another property owner, you could either sell those units of density, bargain with them to incentivize affordable housing or accomplish another goal.  The key is avoiding a cost to the taxpayer, while incentivizing a change.

What is ‘Transfer of Development Rights?’ A zoning tool enabling the transfer development potential from areas the community seeks to conserve to areas to areas it seeks to be developed

A mechanism that permanently protects undeveloped land without the expenditure of public funds

Source:  New Hampshire Transfer of Development Summary 12/10/18. http://www.snhpc.org New Hampshire Southern Planning Commission

 

Consider the cost of land and limited tax dollars.  Doesn’t it make sense to consider alternatives to do the same thing?

If you don’t know me, I’m a former Commissioner and Mayor here in Fernandina.  I’ve known Bradley’s family for most of my life and they have a long history here in local business and in political life, but that has nothing to do with my endorsement.  My reasoning is below, but I see Bradley frequently.  Usually he’s in the local YMCA at the same time.  I met him long before he decided to run for office and immediately liked his demeanor.  He impresses me as fair and honest.  He impressed me as genuine, sincere, respectful and exactly the kind of personality I would want to see in local government.

Age is a factor.  The commission average age is over 60 and Mayor Miller is the only current member under 60.  I feel we are under-represented in some age brackets and it would be healthy to offer a voice to those voters in the interest of diversity. Current Commissioners

History is a factor for me.  Bradley is a native and at least third generation island resident.  He cares about his family, ranging across all age brackets, but he also has ties with graduation as “Valedictorian” of Fernandina Beach High School and many local friendships.

Yes, his father is a politician.  You’d need to be blind not to see the name and associate it with Aaron Bean, our State Senator.  I see this as an advantage for Nassau, given the obvious tie and invaluable insights offered to a son.

Eduction is a factor.  His industrial engineering degree from the University of Florida will offer insight into issues like the marina, road maintenance needs, beach re-nourishment, drainage and more.  Many issues are land use issues, but many issues in front of a commission have more to do with being reasonable and being able to plan for keeping the city running smoothly.  Maintaining this or anticipating the cost is important.  Any background with land use, construction, engineering or business, lends itself to the position.

Employment is a factor.  Bradley works full-time for a local mill.  Whether people recognize this or not, we are still a working community in significant proportion.  Rayonier, WestRock, Lignotech and the Port of Fernandina employees are significant.  If you count retirees and current employees, there is a need to find a voice for jobs and economic diversity.  Our biggest issue on the island is in keeping this diversity alive.  Our healthy economy is more resistant because we are not singularly dependent upon tourism, unlike many small coastal Florida cities.

Involvement is a factor for me.  I won’t name his opponent, but promising to be “full-time” is definitely not a good thing.  Understanding the position is meant to be representative, not supervisory, is important.  Often commissioners become hyper involved in meetings with staff or in a role stepping on or over the boundary defined in the charter.  Bean understands this.   I believe the position of staff attorney came after a commissioner in years past spent “MANY” hours camped at a local attorney’s office billing the “research all my questions” time to the taxpayer.  No, running as a commissioner is not the same as City Manager.  The commission as a whole can give direction to a manager.  Individual commissioners or even a Mayor cannot.

The elected position as a city commissioner is meant to offer representation.  Voters should see people in office reflecting the local demographics and ages.  We’ve had poorly prepared commissioners and commissioners promising to be “full-time”.  We have commissioners professing to have experience or be more entitled to a position.  As a former commissioner, I believe we need people willing to learn and able to reflect the voter’s views.  Some run with negativity, insulting their opponents and some simply ask for your vote.   We never want someone attempting to be a “full time commissioner”.  This usually means they’re interfering in the day-to-day management of the city.  We have a government with 5 commissioners and a Mayor with mostly ceremonial power.  He or she is not entitled to any more voice than other commissioners.

So, that said, I hope you consider diversity, education, understanding the limits of the position and long history here on the island when you vote.  My vote is going to Bean and I hope you’ll join me.

Best regards,

Ed Boner

My newest effort to update the photographic game was the purchase of a drone.  I’m early in the learning process and, so far, I am pleased to see very different views of my hometown.  I think seeing the impact of tourism (Hampton and Train Depot, the marina, Port of Fernandina, working waterfront and WestRock, all in one shot, brings home the level of diversity in Fernandina.

This is a very enhanced picture, but this deer seems to make a nightly visit to our front lawn, eating every single red flowering plant down to the root.

I don’t think I need to fit in a prom dress or own another golden retriever, but this is an entertaining read on my way to or from my favorite local coffee shop.  Outside Cafe Karibo, travel, love, pets and great achievements….

How many of you dreamed of living in a beach town with great dining, great beaches, great neighbors and raise children in a place like Fernandina?  I have a lot on my bucket list, but a surprising number of those things are here in Fernandina.

Our hearts go out to our neighbors in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and any other states impacted by Florence.  The storm is showing signs of a possible turn to the south and hurricanes are notoriously unpredictable.  I tend to go to two sites for updates.  I use NOAA and Mike’s Weather Page for collected links to “MANY” sources of information.  “Mike’s” is the easiest place I’ve been able to find for a collection of spaghetti models, if you love watching the least likely and most likely predicted storm paths.

I would urge everyone to take this as as a warning and purchase basic supplies.  Be sure your vehicle is filled, have food for time in a car and supplies in the event of an extended stay out of the area.  I’m going to share a link and image for a 5 day forecast, as well as an image of the current path projected for Florence.  The 5 day image shows the potential storm areas and areas of formation.  This is a busy season and potentially difficult year for Florida.  With luck, we won’t see a landfall in Florida this year, but Irma and Matthew should have been warning enough for locals.  Storms are unpredictable and preparing for evacuation is important each year.

Thinking of our coastline and past storms, it can be easy to become complacent.  I’m told the Carnegie family chose to build on Cumberland Island based on the lower probability of a hurricane strike.  That said, our two most recent storms were really near misses, even though we lost significant property and a significant period of time without a fully functional marina.