Guana Tolomato Matanzas
National Estuarine Research Reserve
Department of Environmental Protection
Management Advisory Group
Meeting Summary
January 12, 2005
(snip)
The next issue concerned beach access. Mr. [Kenneth] Berk [Reserve Manager] said that he attended a meeting with St. Johns County Commissioner Bruce Maguire, a representative of Ponte Vedra Municipal Services District, the Director of St. Johns County Recreation and Parks Department and county staff. An idea was proposed to re-route coastal highway A1A in to the conservation area west of the three GTM Guana River beach access parking lots, cutting out broad sections of the conservation areas around the parking areas and increasing paved areas, adding dozens of dune walkovers and urban facilities for beach access. Mr. Berk said he explained at that meeting the GTMNERR management objectives and that based on lot usage there was more than adequate parking for the public at the 3 existing GTM Guana River beach parking lots. Mr. Berk explained that there is a defined process to make any changes to the Management Plan through this MAG and by revision of the GTM management plan which is done every 5 years. However, a newspaper article was published that stated St. Johns County is proposing expanding parking at GTMNERR Guana River. Mr. Berk spoke with both County Administrator, Ben Adams and Assistant County Administrator, Scott Clem about the inappropriate comments made by County Staff and was assured that the St. Johns County Board of Commission had not directed any support for this A1A idea. Ken Berk issued a one page fact sheet covering why the A1A re-routing was not advisable.
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