Questions legality of Fish Island settlement

Questions legality of Fish Island settlement



Publication Date: 07/13/09

Editor: The St. Augustine City Commission has a strong case to deny the proposed settlement of the Fish Island development lawsuit. The dock does not meet the requirements of a marina for which the proposed development is zoned. The St. Augustine City Code states: "Marina means an establishment with a waterfront location for the refueling of watercraft, providing minor repair services for such craft, and providing storage of watercraft. A marina may include, as accessory uses, a restaurant, a snack bar, lounge, motel, boatel, launching facilities and other customary accessory facilities."

As an environmentalist, I would much rather have the required "refueling" pump because that requirement mandates much stricter federal regulations, oversight, and permitting. And for those reasons, I believe that the city's "prohibition of a refueling pump" is not what it seems. I am sure that the developer does not want the refueling pump, but without it, he does not meet the definition of a marina; hence, the proposed settlement is not legal according to city codes.

St. Augustine, still a small town with beautiful, healthy waterways and good fishing, needs our protection. We don't want to become South Florida, and we can't allow developers' threats to decide our future.

The commission meets at 5 p.m. today in the Alcazar Room of City Hall, 75 King St.

I urge all concerned citizens to attend.

Thank you,

Becky Greenberg

St. Augustine

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