Appeal stops work on Tringali property

City officials have issued a stop-work order on the former Tringal property following a formal administrative appeal filed Wednesday by resident and original litigant Taina Christner.

It’s the latest development in the long-disputed Tringali property, as Christner, who was among the plaintiffs in the earlier lawsuit challenging the city’s development plan of the Tringali parcels, has now filed an appeal disputing the validity of building permits recently issued for the construction of multiple triplex units on the property. The appeal, submitted to the city of Fernandina Beach, raises concerns about potential violations of the city’s Land Development Code and procedural deficiencies in the permitting process.

In response, the city has halted construction on all four Tringali parcels while it reviews the appeal. A stop-work order was posted on-site Thursday, freezing development activity pending a resolution.

Work crews had been clear-cutting the lots after the city had issued building permits.

City officials confirmed the stop-work order and said the city will follow the proper administrative review process outlined in its development code.

The Tringali property, located near downtown Fernandina Beach, has been a flashpoint for debates over growth, zoning, and the city’s handling of public land. The initial lawsuit, brought by Christner and others, contested the city’s 2022 decision to develop the land by private developer.

A judge ruled the city had violated its Land Development Code and an appellate court denied an appeal by the developer to overturn that decision.

The developer had recently received permits to build four triplexes on the subdivided lots — plans that now hang in limbo as the administrative appeal moves forward.

The triplex plan was also called into question at Tuesday’s city commission meeting resulting in City Manager Sarah Campbell seeking a legal opinion on the validity of the building permits in light of the two prior court orders.

Christner’s appeal argues that the development does not conform to land use or density requirements and calls into question whether the public was adequately notified of the permitting decisions.

The city’s Planning Department is expected to conduct a preliminary review in the coming days, after which the appeal may be scheduled for a hearing before the Board of Adjustment or another designated body.

No date has yet been set for a hearing, and construction will remain on hold until the appeal is resolved.