Developer outlines plan for golf maintenance complex; staff flags flood, stormwater and utility requirements

Jerry Finley, the engineer for a proposed golf maintenance complex, presented the project Tuesday during a Nassau County Development Review Committee pre‑application meeting, describing a long‑running site plan that dates back to about 2008 and a proposal for a maintenance building, storage structures and storage bins.

The Development Review Committee (DRC) provided preliminary technical comments: building and planning staff noted flood hazard mapping and PUD development standards; stormwater and roadway staff said paved parking and documentation tying the site into the master stormwater system will be required; health staff requested a letter of water availability for a proposed private lift station connection to JEA; and fire staff said a hydrant may be required depending on distances. The meeting provided guidance only; the applicant must submit full engineering plans and calculations for formal review.

The project engineer, Jerry Finley of Finley Engineering Solutions, told the committee the project ‘‘has a long history’’ and was ‘‘submitted for site plan approval 2008 or so’’ but never fully built. Finley said the owner has been operating from a temporary maintenance facility and now plans to ‘‘clean things up and make it real’’ by building a golf maintenance building, storage buildings and storage bins.

Elizabeth Bach, planner with the county planning department, said the property is zoned Planned Unit Development and is subject to the Amelia Island PUD development standards for setbacks and dimensional requirements. Bach said the site currently has a future land‑use designation of medium‑density residential and is subject to that category’s intensity regulations. Bach reminded the applicant that ‘‘jurisdictional wetlands are required to be protected by a 25‑foot upland buffer’’ and cited the county Land Development Code and related screening and parking standards.

Caleb Hurst of Development Services said Roadway and Drainage Standards section 9.9.1 requires paved parking lot surfaces; he also asked the applicant to supply documentation that the master stormwater system accounts for the site’s impervious area if the site will tie into existing stormwater infrastructure. Hurst noted that if the site cannot rely on prior stormwater calculations the applicant will need to meet the roadway and drainage standards (Article 10) for stormwater design and submit full calculations at formal plan review.

Ronnie from the health department said the office is a state agency and uses its own application and fee process. Ronnie asked for a letter of water availability if the applicant intends to connect a private lift station to the JEA water system. Amanda Balon of the Fire Department said the applicant may need to add a hydrant near the buildings depending on distance and access and that those details would be reviewed in full plan review.

The DRC reiterated procedural next steps: the applicant must submit a full site engineering plan application, include standard general and stormwater paving notes available online, provide engineering calculations and pay construction inspection fees. DRC approval is required prior to commencement of construction. No permits or approvals were granted at the meeting.

The committee and applicant agreed to follow up once the formal engineering plan application and supporting documents are submitted to Development Services.