Post by Chuck McCue on Apr 16, 2023 10:03:21 GMT -5
"...prominent coverage to the CONB City Council at their biweekly meeting discusssing Atlantic Beach supplying water service to both the soon to be opened Publix and the proposed development at the old K-Mart site. In the article, the City Attorney is quoted doing some legal hair splitting, that might be more appreciated in an article for a legal journal than from the local citizenry, by attempting to explain the City of Neptune Beach's separate obligations to 572 Atlantic Blvd. (Publix) and the 500 Atlantic (old K-Mart). The 500 Atlantic project is also requesting sewer service from Atlantic Beach in addition to water. Sewer and water service for 500 Atlantic and just water service for 572 Atlantic (Publix, to replace the onsite water storage tank). Nowhere in this prolonged discussion was there mentioned of the supposed study of hydraulic system of NB's water distribution system in the immediate area and the perceived problem of water pressure at this shopping center. Further; from plans submitted last Fall to both CONB and COAB from the 500 Atlantic developer requesting sewer service from COAB, was there even a discussion of the need for COAB supplying sewer service to this shopping center. Many questions are raised by the lack of detail from the CONB Council in their discussion. What are the problems and causes of perceived low water preassure in the area of these two projects? What will be the immediate corrective action taken about these problems if they truly exist? Can the Publix at 572 Atlantic open on time with its green water tank supplying fire flow but plan on this tank assembly being replaced in a relatively short time by a CONB water distribution system capable of meeting fire flow? What of the status of fire flow at the current Publix at the Seminole Shoppes? Why can't CONB supply sewer service to the proposed 500 Atlantic development? Even if all costs of the water and sewer services from COAB to 500 Atlantic are borne by the developer and impact and tap fees are correctly charged by COAB, why would a municipal utility go outside of its designated utility area, as delineated by the State, to service another? What's in it for COAB?"
✒️Townsend
"As you've noted the amendment involves cooperation on the 500 Atlantic project's connection, but 500 Atlantic is not a signatory and is not even named in the amendment -- this is beyond strange and looks like it was intentionally concealed.
The city screwed up handling the permitting of the tank, handling the public reaction when the tank went up 20' behind a single-family neighborhood, issuing a fake stop work order that is now something like 'you can fill half the tank.' (beyond bizarre), and now this silly amendment that walks back everything they promised to people other than a bigger landscape buffer which the developer said they would do anyway. The amendment is designed to give neighbors false hope about that tank coming down when their amendment actually contains nothing in it that guarantees it to come down. Lots of talk of 'hard dates' was made in the previous months but there are no hard dates ion the amendment. It just says they'll try and if they fail they'll keep trying.
The amendment acknowledges the validity of the developer's permitted plans, gives him his escrow money early, agrees to cooperate with him on his the 500 Atlantic project's sewer (which has nothing to do with fire water at the project at hand), and puts NB taxpayers on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars to subsidize his new connection.
Maybe someone at the CONB will have the guts to call it out instead of blind deference to the city attorney?" ✒️Rogers
✒️Townsend
"As you've noted the amendment involves cooperation on the 500 Atlantic project's connection, but 500 Atlantic is not a signatory and is not even named in the amendment -- this is beyond strange and looks like it was intentionally concealed.
The city screwed up handling the permitting of the tank, handling the public reaction when the tank went up 20' behind a single-family neighborhood, issuing a fake stop work order that is now something like 'you can fill half the tank.' (beyond bizarre), and now this silly amendment that walks back everything they promised to people other than a bigger landscape buffer which the developer said they would do anyway. The amendment is designed to give neighbors false hope about that tank coming down when their amendment actually contains nothing in it that guarantees it to come down. Lots of talk of 'hard dates' was made in the previous months but there are no hard dates ion the amendment. It just says they'll try and if they fail they'll keep trying.
The amendment acknowledges the validity of the developer's permitted plans, gives him his escrow money early, agrees to cooperate with him on his the 500 Atlantic project's sewer (which has nothing to do with fire water at the project at hand), and puts NB taxpayers on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars to subsidize his new connection.
Maybe someone at the CONB will have the guts to call it out instead of blind deference to the city attorney?" ✒️Rogers