Riverstone Condos Court Test Thursday

In the long battle between Nassau County and the Riverstone group on the one hand and local​ citizens and conservation groups on the other, one more step is coming Thursday in what may be a long legal battle to resolve critical issuest over a choice piece of land at the end of Amelia Island.

Circuit Judge Marianne Aho will conduct a hearing at 4:30 p.m. available to watch on Zoom.  Both sides hope that the motion, called a summary judgment, will resolve the case. However, both sides may appeal the judgment, and the judge is not obliged to consider every element of a complex case. The Zoom link for the hearing, open to all citizens, is https://zoom.us/j/9618164987

The argument is over a pristine parcel of about 50 acres at the southern tip of the island. Residents and conservation organizations want the parcel to stay pristine. Riverstone wants to develop it, including 11 condominium towers at least 85 feet high. The parcel is adjacent to a state park, and county leaders have gone along with Riverstone.

Both sides will testify on Thursday. Opponents have argued that the proposed development is not consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan and that a long list of concessions were given to Riverstone without public hearings. They also argue that Riverstone and the county have not asked the circuit court to review whether their agreement protects the public interest.

Proponents have argued that the county improperly passed a height ordinance of 45 maximum feet. Soon after that, they sued​ for damages, and later, the county settled with them.

If this hearing does not fully resolve the issue, a follow-up hearing may be held sometime in August in the historic courthouse in Fernandina Beach.

Meanwhile, appeals are possible, however Judge Aho rules.