By Sheldon Gardner
Posted Aug 7, 2018 at 8:30 PMUpdated Aug 7, 2018 at 8:30 PM
  
St. Augustine’s Planning and Zoning Board unanimously rejected the proposed Fish Island development on Tuesday.
If the developer appeals the decision within 30 days, the next step will be the City Commission. 
Attorney Ellen Avery-Smith, attorney for the developer, said after the hearing that a decision hadn’t been made on whether to appeal.
The hearing lasted hours. About 40 people spoke against the development, voicing concerns that mirrored the first hearing in July. Concerns included tree cutting, wildlife impacts, additional traffic State Road 312, impacts to wetlands and the Matanzas River, and and simply allowing a rare waterfront property to be developed.
Some people sat outside of the meeting room just to get a chance to speak on the Fish Island development.





1/2HIDE CAPTION
People fill The Alcazar Room at St. Augustine City Hall on Tuesday for the second Planning and Zoning Board hearing about the proposed Fish Island development. The development would bring up to 170 homes to land off the Matanzas River southeast of the State Road 312 bridge. Tuesday’s hearing drew a large crowd, with some forced to wait outside to get their turn to speak on the issue. [SHELDON GARDNER/THE RECORD]


D.R. Horton applied to rezone about 70 acres that overlook the Matanzas River southeast of the State Road 312 Bridge into the Fish Island Planned Unit Development.
The plans call for adding fill to raise the development to reduce flooding concerns and cutting much of the trees on uplands to build up to 170 homes in the $300,000-$400,000 price range.
Some who spoke on Tuesday pointed out the loss of trees nearby on the north side of S.R. 312 at Antigua, a property under development.
“The animals, they’re running for their lives,” said St. Augustine resident Susan Hill. “They’re getting killed on 312, and for what reason? Making development richer? ... I don’t want to see that same type of decimation on the south side.”
She added that allowing development of the Fish Island property would be foolish in light of what the city knows about sea level rise.
Former St. Augustine Beach mayor Gary Snodgrass also spoke. He urged the city to preserve the property. He touted St. Augustine Beach’s move to buy land for Ocean Hammock Park.
“It would be obscene [and] immoral to develop this unique, priceless property. ... I challenge the city of St. Augustine to ... be wise stewards by securing and preserving Fish Island for generations to come,” Snodgrass said.
Board member Sue Agresta, addressing factors that board needed to consider, said the justification for the project hadn’t been proven. 
Avery-Smith had said more than 400 homes could be developed on the property under existing land use and zoning.
“To me that’s a threat, not a justification,” Agresta said.
Board members pointed out that any developer would still need to come before the planning board for approval for such development even under existing regulations, including conservation zones.
Agresta listed a slew of concerns about the development and said it wouldn’t benefit the city.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the minutia. ... The big picture is that this PUD is a ripoff of our city,” Agresta said.
if board supported the item, she said, she “would consider it a dereliction of duty.”
Other board members had similar concerns.
“This is one of the last remaining pristine areas in St. Augustine,” Board Chair Sarah Ryan said.


  • 1 hour ago
Watch video, which will be posted here when ready:  http://staugustinefl.swagit.com/play/08072018-817 
More on D.R. HORTON here: 
Riverkeeper: Fish Island would change rare land for ‘McMansions’ (SAR) 
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/riverkeeper-fish-island-would-change.html 
DONALD R. HORTON, INC. “EXPERT” WITNESS, RYAN CARTER, LIED ABOUT PROTECTED BALD EAGLE NEST ON FISH ISLAND 
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/donald-r-horton-inc-expert-witness-ryan.html 
SEC FRAUD COMPLAINT AGAINST D.R. HORTON, INC. ON FALSE TESTIMONY ABOUT FISH ISLAND BALD EAGLE NEST 
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/i-filed-sec-securities-fraud-complaint.html 
Who owns D.R. Horton, a/k/a “America’s builder,” which wants to destroy FISH ISLAND? -- Ownership Summary 
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/who-owns-dr-horton-aka-americas-builder.html 
2018 Q3 Earnings Presentation of D.R. Horton (DHI), which wants to destroy Fish Island 
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/2018-q3-earnings-presentation-of-dr.html 
Housing monopolist wants to destroy Fish Island -- D.R. HORTON (DHI) 2018 Q3 Earnings conference call transcript (Seeking Alpha) 
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/housing-monopolist-wants-to-destroy.html 
Why D.R. Horton Stock Popped 11% Today (The Motley Fool, July 26, 2018) 
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/why-dr-horton-stock-popped-11-today.html « less

      • 1 hour ago
      D.R. HORTON PAID $660,000+ iN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY FINES (Violation Tracker) 
      http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/fish-island-developer-dr-horton-nyse.html 
      D.R. HORTON PAID $95,000 EPA FINE FOR FLORIDA WETLAND POLLUTION 
      http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/in-osceola-county-florida-dr-horton.html 
      D.R. HORTON Avoids Fine After Bulldozing Fort Worth Trees. (NBCDFW.COM, March 26, 2018) 
      http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/developer-avoids-fine-after-bulldozing.html 
      OSHA fines D.R. Horton, subcontractor $107K for FL safety violations (Construction Dive, August 26, 2016) 
      http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/osha-fines-dr-horton-subcontractor-107k.html 
      D.R. HORTON executive admits they ‘went too far’ in clearing trees for a project. (Fort Worth, TX Star-Telegram 
      http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/dr-horton-executive-admits-they-went.html « less

          • 1 hour ago
          D.R. HORTON reserves $400 million/year for claims of defective construction -- NEW HOME HEARTBREAK -- When Dream Homes Turn Into Nightmares (ABC News) 
          http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/dr-horton-reserves-400-millionyear-for.html 
          D.R. HORTON negligent in Jax condo case, jury awards $9.6 million after epic 38-day trial (By Anne Schindler, First Coast News) 
          http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/dr-horton-negligent-in-jax-condo-case.html

              • 1 hour ago
              Homebuilder Exposes Workers to Dangerous Falls at Job Site: OSHA D.R. Horton Inc. and Garcia Carpentry LLC received repeat and serious citations. (OHS online) 
              http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/08/homebuilder-exposes-workers-to.html 
              Who is Ryan Carter? D.R. HORTON “expert” witness, testified Fish Island bald eagle nest was “abandoned.” That’s false. 
              http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/who-is-ryan-carter-dr-horton-expert.html 
              WHO IS DONALD R. HORTON, INC.? TEXAS BILLIONAIRE THREATENS TO DESTROY FISH ISLAND 
              http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/who-is-donald-r-horton-inc-texax.html 
              ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC v. RYAN CARTER (Florida Fifth District Court of Appeals, 2009) 
              http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/environmental-services-inc-v-ryan.html 
              St. Augustine homeowner gets D.R. Horton to pay to fix leaking roof. (News4 JAX) 
              http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/st-augustine-homeowner-gets-dr-horton.html « less

                  • 1 hour ago
                  Beyond cavil, the facts establish D.R. HORTON’s mendacity and its maladroit, blinkered approach to environmental, safety, health and consumer law compliance, 
                  There is NO “public benefit” from the proposed Fish Island PUD.  
                  Three cheers for PZB and the people who attended and testified. Decisions are made by people who show up. 
                  Keep showing up, St. Augustine.  
                  Landowner Pierre Thompson, et al. can now sell the land for a park. It needs to be a key element of the St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore, first proposed by Mayor Walter Fraser in 1939. 
                  www.staugustgreen.com 
                  http://www.staugustine.com/opinions/2015-01-24/guest-column-7-eleven-rebuff-just-beginning-st-augustine « less

                      • updated 58 minutes ago
                      Speak out. Attend government meetings. Ask questions. Demand answers. Request documents. Expect democracy. Support and encourage honest people to become our next Sheriff, State’s Attorney, City and County Commissioners and state legislators. Say “enough” to corruption. Help foil the devious developer-driven demolition derby of our town and county. Help drive the money-changers out of the temple of our democratic republic. 
                      It’s up to everyone to say “enough.” And let’s finally preserve and protect this glorious, magical, beautiful, special place forever — for your grandchildren and their grandchildren. Let’s enact the St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore, www.staugustgreen.com, first proposed in 1939 by Mayor Walter Fraser and Senator Claude Pepper, et al. Yes we can! « less

                          • updated 2 hours ago
                          DR Horton is ruining this county, thanks to some of the commissioners. For those who attended, and especially those who spoke up, good job!