Sandpiper & Ocean Villas Condominiums withdraw annexation request

Submitted by

Sandpiper and Ocean Villas Condominium

Susan Hardee Steger

In a tersely worded e-mail,  Tom Gambino, board member of Sandpiper condominiums, informed Marshall McCrary, director of community development for the City of Fernandina Beach that the annexation application filed by Sandpiper and Ocean Villas Condominiums is being withdrawn.

"Even though the city leaders profess that they are interested in annexing the whole island their actions do not support their pontification," says Gambino.  "Based on the less than welcoming attitude we have received  from the City Commission our homeowners has lost confidence in our ability to receive an honest evaluation of our application for annexation."

This is the second time an annexation request by the homeowners of Sandpiper and adjacent properties have withdrawn their request.  In 2008, a previous attempt was withdrawn after former commissioner Eric Childers, a long time  supporter of beach driving, brought forth a resolution to change  language to allow beach parking from Peter's Point to the "current" city limits in order to protect the existing beach parking/driving boundaries.  That resolution passed by a 4 -1 vote at the commission level. After the vote the Sandpiper Association and other properties withdrew their request.

In previous correspondence to the city, Gambino indicated there are "three out of five votes necessary to annex into the city and eliminate the beach driving north of Peter's Point Park."

Estimates  indicated that should the annexation request be approved an additional $150,000 to $160,000 of additional property tax revenue per year would be received by the city.

September 11, 2012 5:25 p.m.