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Residents and advisory‑board members urge caution, amenities and habitat protections as commission considers golf‑course changes
Summary
During public comment at the March 4 workshop, residents and the chair of the Golf Advisory Board thanked staff for improved course conditions, urged protection of habitat and open space, and suggested opportunities to add courts, event space and memberships if parts of the site are repurposed.
Fernandina Beach — Public comment at the March 4 workshop reflected a range of views as the commission weighed options for the city’s 27‑hole golf course.
Sue Simpson, a resident who identified her address, praised golf‑course staff for recent improvements and asked commissioners to consider habitat and the economic benefits generated by golfers who visit town. "There are bobcats, deer, all kinds of things roaming on those 3 courses," she said, and added that the improved course brings visitors who spend in local businesses.
Sheila Cokie, a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, told commissioners the site offers opportunities for tennis, pickleball and pay‑for‑use court time, as well as rentable indoor spaces for events. "If we had limited time, we could book it and go," she said, urging that the city consider amenity expansion alongside golf.
John Pelican, chairman of the Golf Advisory Board, called the municipal course a "legacy course" and warned that moving a major rec center to the far south site would be remote for many residents; he cautioned that reconfiguring the course would require significant capital and could not be done lightly.
Pete Stevenson, another resident, emphasized the course’s size (about 300 acres) and pressed the commission to address the immediate water risk by restoring a second well: "If there's no water, that golf course is not going to survive in August and September." He described the course as a city asset and urged near‑term protective action.
What they asked for
Speakers urged three consistent themes: protect habitat and open space where possible; prioritize immediate infrastructure fixes (notably a backup well); and analyze amenity expansion or redevelopment only with full cost and access studies. Several commenters supported the staff recommendation to reduce operating losses but cautioned against permanently eliminating green space without a clear funding plan.
Next step
The commission adjourned the workshop and moved to a regular meeting; staff will incorporate public input into the analysis they were directed to prepare for the budget process.
