The URL can be used to link to this page

RiverBranch-plans-052110 Dedicated to permanently preserving natural areas and special places in North Florida CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF LAND CONSERVATION Office: 2029 No. Third St. Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 Tel. (904) 827-9870 info@northfloridalandtrust.org www.northfloridalandtrust.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 51181 Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240-1181 Executive Director, Bonnie E. Barnes BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Michael Langton ......................... Langton Associates Vice President......................................................Open Secretary VeronicaMaybury ..........US Trust/Bank ofAmerica Treasurer JimDenkler, CPA ..................Wilmoth &Associates Immediate Past President Melissa Gross-Arnold .....Lewis-Longman & Walker Members At Large Jane Akre ......................................................Journalist Cara Connolly.......................Environmental Services Philip E. Elson ....... Aerostar Environmental Services Alexa Graf .......................... England-Thims & Miller BrianHershorin ...................Purcell, Flanagan&Hay Berdell Knowles ................................................... JEA EdwardKuhl..............................Main StreetAmerica Richard L. Maguire ............................ Rogers Towers MatthewR. Ringler......................................Rayonier Marcy Silkebaken...................Community Volunteer Jim St. John.................................EverBank of Florida LindaD. Walker.............US Fish &Wildlife Service Harry M. (Reece) Wilson, IV ...Jimerson Law Group ADVISORY BOARD Mark Allen........................................................Retired Warren Anderson ...........Anderson, Howell, &Ravis Sarah Bailey............Past County Commissioner, SJC Aimee Boggs ........................................ Smith-Barney Cheryl Cummer................................................Retired William Dresser................................................Retired Dr. Ronald Evens .................................. Maps4Biotec Tom Fallin .......................... England-Thims & Miller Art Graham.....Past City Commissioner, Jacksonville N. JoelHarris .....................................FarahandFarah Ray Hetchka .........................................Kayak Amelia Marcia Ladendorf............University of North Florida AlysonShutts Lee .................Jacksonville University Walter Lee ............... Jacksonville Regional Chamber MarkMiddlebrook ........The MiddlebrookCompany Founder, Bill McQuilkin..................................Retired David Strickland.........................EverBank of Florida Allison Watson................................................... Artist Dr. Quinton White.................Jacksonville University JoanD. Willis ...................................................BB&T James T. Wolverton.............Livingston & Wolverton LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS Save a Forest Jean and Tom Dodson Ronald and Sally Evens Jay and Paula McGarvey Robert & Thelma Nied Save a Stand Cheryl Cummer Newman Family Foundation Sally Ann Freeman David Strickland Save a Tree Cynthia S. Akre Zimm Boulos William and Mary Lou Coate Martin & Sharon Connor Andrea Conover Myrtice Craig and Robert Broward William Dresser Bill and Kristen Ely Karl Estes Foundation Trust Lee and Mindy Hanna Ray and Jody Hetchka Charlene Johnson Bruce and Holly Kern Michael and Laura Langton William and Suzanne McQuilkin Betsy Mills Doug Milne Ted Pappas Barry Robertson Kent and Marie Smith Robert Spencer Richard Suddath William Tierney Pat Vail CORPORATE SPONSORS Aerostar Environmental Services BROOKSLACAYO England-Thims & Miller Environmental Services, Inc. EverBank Langton Associates Lewis, Longman & Walker Stop at Nothing, Inc. Swisher International BUSINESS PARTNERS Crazy Fish Restaurant Fazzini’s Coffee Kayak Amelia M Yoga The New Age Hippy Ponte Vedra Medspa Sandwichman Deli Whole Foods May 21, 2010 City of Atlantic Beach (by email and hand delivery) Attn: Jim Hansen, City Manager 800 Seminole Road Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 Dear Mr. Hansen, On Friday, May 21, 2010, North Florida Land Trust received a preliminary draft of exhibits for Tide View Preserve Boardwalk Extension into River Branch Preserve via email from David Thompson, Assistant City Manager. As we communicated in our March 22nd letter, The River Branch Preserve is governed by a Conservation Easement between North Florida Land Trust and the City of Atlantic Beach, recorded on April 30, 2009 (“Conservation Easement”). Per Section 5.1 of the Conservation Easement, North Florida Land Trust must be notified by the city at least 30 days prior to the date that the city intends to undertake one of the reserved activities under the Conservation Easement. Our review includes whether the design of the reserved activity is consistent with the Conservation Easement. A representative did attend the public input workshop held on March 25, and participated in discussions. Public workshops do not constitute legal notification to the North Florida Land Trust and does not give us time to review proposed plans and receive approval from our Board for this type of oversight. Mr. Thompson indicated that the preliminary designs will be presented at Monday, May 26, 2010, at the City Council meeting and could be approved at that time. As the Conservation Easement stipulates, North Florida Land Trust needs to review the plans before the approval process to ensure adherence to the Conservation Easement guidelines. We have no intention in delaying the city in seeking funding for this project, but we want to make sure that it is understood that the Conservation Easement and the law requires that we perform our due diligence to ensure adherence to the easement covenants and restrictions. This step is critical to the process to ensure our stewardship duties are met for the Conservation Easement. Therefore, we respectfully request that the City take no action at the upcoming meeting, and provide us the appropriate time to do a proper review. We will consider the provision of the plans by Mr. Thompson as official notice pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Conservation Easement. We will do everything possible to expedite our Board review and complete the review at our earliest convenience. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435- 7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENTATION BY THE STATE. NFLT REG. # CH11177 Dedicated to permanently preserving natural areas and special places in North Florida CELEBRATING OUR TENTH YEAR IN 2009 I trust we can confer soon and continue our work together to benefit Atlantic Beach and protect and promote the values of the River Branch Preserve. Sincerely, Bonnie Barnes Executive Director cc: via email David Thompson Mike Borno, Mayor Alan Jensen, City Attorney Paul Parsons, City Commissioner Carolyn Woods, City Commissioner John Fletcher, Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Daugherty, City Commissioner Hallie Stevens, The Nature Conservancy Office: 2029 No. Third St. • Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 • 904.827.9870 • 904.247.5433 Mailing: P.O. Box 51181 • Jacksonville Beach, Fl 32240-1181 info@northfloridalandtrust.org • www.northfloridalandtrust.org A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435- 7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENTATION BY THE STATE. NFLT REG. # CH11177