A new plan for Fish Island

A new plan for Fish Island

Revised dock concept coming to City Commission

KATI BEXLEY
kati.bexley@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 10/12/07


Following a full day of mediation Thursday, St. Augustine city staff agreed to allow the Fish Island developer to bring a new plan for a large dock and boat slips to the City Commission.

Attorney Bill Birchfield of Jacksonville oversaw the mediation that lasted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The development's new plan will go before the City Commission on Oct. 22, said City Attorney Ron Brown. Attorney Richard Maguire of Rogers Towers represented the Fish Island development.

In June, the St. Augustine City Commission unanimously backed the Planning and Zoning Board's denial of the Fish Island dock that opponents said would destroy one of the last unspoiled vistas in the area.

Fish Island Development Inc. sought the dock and marina as part of its planned upscale development. The dock, which would be parallel to the shoreline, was to be more than 1,200 feet long and about 10 feet wide in order to accommodate golf carts.

The marina was to hold 100 50-foot yachts.

Although specific details of the new plan were not available Thursday, Brown said the new plan will move the dock closer to the State Road 312 bridge in order to reduce the impact on the public's vista.

Also, the developer will trim the width of dock to 8 feet, and the public would be allowed to use the marina's pump-out station and rest rooms.

This is identical to what the Antigua development just north of the Fish Island project included in its plan, which Planning and Zoning unanimously passed on Oct. 3.

City Commissioner Don Crichlow sat in on the proceeding.

He did not say if he would vote for the plan but indicated the rest of the commission should review the proposal.

If the commission denies the new proposal, the mediation will reconvene. And, if there is no resolution, Birchfield will then decide if the city is imposing an unreasonable burden on the developer, Brown said.

Fish Island attorney Maguire did not return phone calls Thursday evening.

Opponents have said they were concerned about safety, erosion, destruction of the environment and loss of the Fish Island vista to the public.


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