Planning board backs conservation land designation and matching conservation zoning for three parcels near Belvedere Avenue

The Fernandina Beach Planning Advisory Board on Dec. 10 voted to recommend that the City Commission assign a conservation future‑land‑use category and change zoning to CON for three contiguous parcels east of Belvedere Avenue and South Wolf Street, totaling approximately 0.39 acres.

Staff described the request as customary after the city accepted a deed of dedication for the properties in October and said the change would align the small lots with adjacent conservation land such as Eden Greenway. The planning staff said the request complies with the comprehensive plan and the land‑development code and recommended approval.

Jill McCarthy, a nearby property owner, asked whether a conservation designation is equivalent to wetlands and whether the land would remain developable. Staff replied that conservation zoning is intended to keep the property in a natural state and that, while wetlands may be present, conservation zoning would render the parcels non‑developable.

Margaret Kirkland, speaking on behalf of Conserv Nassau, urged approval and cited local vulnerability studies and conservation work on the island. Kim Wolford described outreach and fundraising efforts the group is pursuing to support conservation and stewardship.

Committee member (speaker 8) moved to recommend approval of the future‑land‑use map change (PAB 2025‑0016); the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote recorded in the meeting as 6 to 0. Later the board considered the related quasi‑judicial zoning case (PAB 2025‑0517) to assign the CON zoning district to the parcels; after public testimony the board again voted to recommend the zoning change.

The recommendations will be forwarded to the City Commission for public hearing and final action.