Nassau County issues stop work order on Sadler Road hotel development

By Susan Hardee Steger

June 6, 2018 3:30 p.m.

"Stop Work" issued on Sadler Road property.

Nassau County's Building Official has issued a stop work order on a hotel development underway on the south-side of Sadler Road on Amelia Island. The stop work order cites the following:

"Violation of tree protection plan that was accepted by Nassau County 9via site plan) SP17-013 Amelia Island Hotel, made effective October 31, 2017 in accordance with Article 37, Sections 37.02 of the Land Development Code."

"Removal and/or damage of protected trees without authorization; Article 37, Section 37.02(b)(2) and Section 37.02(I)(1) Land Development Code."

Update:

Taco Pope, director of the Department of Planning and Opportunities, sent a letter informing the Fernandina Investment, LLC in Columbia, South Carolina, developers of the hotel property, that violations included "unauthorized tree removal, depositing of soils and other materials within the defined tree protection zones and improperly located tree protection barricades."

The letter also identified 5 trees removed without authorization resulting "in a loss of 103.75 inches DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) credited toward the tree protection requirements of the site." The letter indicated several locations where "excavation has taken place within the reqjired tree protection zone utilizing a methodology, likely excavated with a backhoe, which ripped the root structures as opposed to utilizing a 'clean cut' methodology.

The "Stop Order" will remain until violations are rectified.