By Kate Kimmel
Fernandina Beach city commissioners unanimously approved the first readings of an annexation agreement and a future land use map change for an 18-acre property near the Bailey Road and Amelia Island Parkway roundabout.
The land, currently under Nassau County jurisdiction, consists of two parcels owned by Amelia Island Holdings: a largely wooded, vacant tract fronting Amelia Island Parkway and Bailey Road, and a second parcel containing an existing stormwater detention pond.
Commissioners said annexing the property would allow the city to collect additional tax revenue while ensuring that any future development is subject to the city’s stricter land development standards. The city also assigned a future land use designation of general commercial to both parcels.
City officials acknowledged speculation that the property could be developed into a retirement or nursing facility. Commissioners noted that annexation could also increase demand for city services, including fire rescue and emergency dispatch.
Several commissioners emphasized that development under city jurisdiction would preserve the parkway’s natural character. City code requires a 15-foot vegetative buffer along Amelia Island Parkway and limits impervious surface coverage to 60%, compared with 70% allowed under county regulations.
“If it’s going to be developed either way, it makes sense for it to be developed under stricter standards,” Commissioner Joyce Tuten said, noting the city’s vegetation and environmental protections.
During the discussion, commissioners raised concerns about zoning buffers, the designation of the detention pond, potential impacts to Spanish Way residents’ waterfront views, and the loss of conservation land.
Tuten questioned why the detention pond was not designated as a conservation zone and asked whether nearby residents would be notified. City staff said the pond will need to be modified to handle additional stormwater, which would not be permitted under a conservation designation, and confirmed that adjacent property owners will be notified ahead of the second public hearing.
Tuten also said that while the city values preserving wooded properties, property owners retain the right to develop land within the city’s code.
“If we want to conserve more land, that takes funding and community support,” she said, adding that the issue should be part of upcoming visioning discussions.
Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue asked whether the general commercial designation would allow for mixed-use development. Planning staff said the designation closely mirrors the county’s existing commercial classification, as required by intergovernmental agreements, and noted that a previous request to rezone the property residential had been denied.
Ayscue said recent changes under the state’s Live Local Act — which limits local governments’ ability to restrict certain residential developments — have altered the development landscape. He said allowing flexibility for residential uses could be preferable to high-intensity commercial uses such as a nursing facility, which can significantly strain fire rescue services.
Both Ayscue and Tuten said conservation incentives should be a priority in the new year. They suggested exploring tax incentives for landowners willing to place portions of their property into permanent conservation easements.
“That’s something I’d really like us to talk about during our visioning session,” Tuten said.
No final vote was taken. The annexation and land use changes will return for a second public hearing, expected to take place after the new year.
