Changes under consideration for Sadler Road

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

August 22, 2018 -- 4:00 p.m.

During their August 21, 2018 Regular Meeting, at the request of city Planning Manager Kelly Gibson, Fernandina Beach City Commissioners (FBCC) discussed a Nassau County proposal to “skinny” Sadler Road between Drury Road and South Fletcher Avenue in order to provide additional beach parking, a wider bicycle lane and landscaping. Reaction from the commissioners was mixed, as has been reaction from businesses and residents who attended public meetings where the plan was put forward earlier.

Sadler Road is a county road and one of the few spots where the county could help alleviate the need for additional parking at city beaches.  Currently, the road narrows from four lanes to two as it approaches the roundabout at South Fletcher Avenue from the west.  The proposal would convert that transitional portion of the road to two lanes, one in each direction.  The county would then re-mark the lanes to provide for parallel parking spots on both sides of Sadler, a wider bike lane and landscaping in the median between portions of the center turn lane, which would remain.

Kelly Gibson

Planning Manager Kelly Gibson reported on studies that the county has conducted that determined that level of service on Sadler Road would not be degraded by the change.  Joining Gibson was Kailey Saver, Nassau County Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator.  Both county and city Fire Rescue Departments have indicated that the change would not adversely impact their ability to respond to emergency calls in that area.

Gibson explained the various means that the county and city had used to obtain community input, including formal meetings and the Farmers Market.  She said that people supported the proposed crosswalks and larger bike lanes, but that the parallel parking was the “sticking point.”

Gibson sought input from the city commissioners that could be passed along to the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners for their consideration.

Sadler Road plan showing only portion nearest roundabout

Commissioner Roy Smith

Commissioner Roy Smith said he has never favored “road dieting.”  He expressed concerns that people slowing to parallel park could cause traffic to back up and that opening car doors on the driver’s side might cause accidents with bicyclists.  “The whole thing doesn’t make sense,” he said.  “I don’t like it.”

Vice Mayor Len Kreger

Vice Mayor Len Kreger said that he has received input from citizens on both sides of the issue. “Personally, I think it is a good idea,” he said.  “It is no different than Atlantic Avenue where you can parallel park on both sides of the street.  I think it’s typical of a beach town, and it helps slow down the traffic in an area where there is a lot of foot traffic.  I would support it, providing that all safety issues are complied with.”

Commissioner Phil Chapman

Commissioner Phil Chapman was not supportive.  He questioned a goal that was stated at public meetings to make Sadler Road a destination.  He expressed fears that children would open car doors parked along Sadler without looking for oncoming bicycle and automobile traffic.  He added, “Parallel parking is a lost art.”  He said that people tend to jam on their brakes when they see an available parking place and jam up traffic behind them.  He also expressed safety concerns with the pedestrian roundabout traffic that the increased parking would generate.  “To me, this whole project is just a disaster waiting to happen,” Chapman said.

Commissioner Chip Ross

Commissioner Chip Ross said, “Life is a series of trade-offs.”  He verified with Gibson that city and county safety personnel had signed off on the plan.  “I hear over and over again,” he said, “that we need more beach parking. This is more beach parking.  I don’t know where else you are going to put more beach parking.”  Ross said that the plan as presented is designed to both provide more parking and reduce traffic speed in the area, concerns that many residents have expressed.  Ross said that he was personally ambivalent about the plan, but that it does address unmet city needs.

Kailer Saver, Nassau County Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator

In response to a question from Ross, Gibson indicated that the county would pay for the project, which would involve striping and landscaping but no construction.  She said that project could be reversed if it proved to be unworkable.

Mayor John Miller spoke last.  He asked Saver whether the new parking spaces could be included in any plans for paid beach parking.  She replied that to date that had not been discussed.  City Attorney Tammi Bach said that such an arrangement could be made via an interlocal agreement if the county and the city would agree.  Miller said, “I give human beings a little more credit.  I don’t think they are just going to dive out into oncoming traffic.  These situations exist in other communities, and I think we might be going a little bit overboard in thinking people are going to be snapping open their car doors in front of bicycles and people are going to be flying down the road.”

Mayor John Miller

Smith interrupted, “That’s okay until the first accident happens.”

Miller resumed his analysis, adding that the city has a similar situation with no problems on Atlantic Avenue.   “I don’t see any problem in trying it out,” Miller said.  “As I understand it the county is willing to reverse it if it doesn’t work out.”

Miller asked Gibson and Saver if they had sufficient feedback to take to the county commission. When they acknowledged they had, he ended the discussion with no public input.