More details concerning events platform

On January 15th, Historic City News reported that questions have been raised about a new structure that was built in addition to the reconstruction of the bridge.

Mark Knight, Director of the Planning and Building Department with the City of St. Augustine, was asked by Historic City News “who ordered the pier built” to which Knight replied, “The city did not order or pay to build the pier, to my knowledge.”

New information has come to light from the Florida Department of Transportation that refutes that claim. Notably, an e-mail from now City Manager John Regan who, at the time, was Chief Operations Officer for the City, in which, on Wednesday, September 17, 2003, Regan tells Kim Holland with engineering firm Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc., “Sorry to take so long to get back with you. The City would like you to include the events platform.”

Knight said that he did not recall plans for a new events platform; however, he indicated that the 1924 bridge plans “show a boat landing in that general location.” In a e-mail sent January 19, 2011, a Florida DOT employee says, “An events platform of similar design had existed prior to the widening of Avenida Menendez. Instead of being located off of the park it was located half way between the fort and the bridge.”

Regan was responding to Holland’s insistence for a decision on the platform. “Unless a decision can be made,” Holland wrote, “we will not be able to include this amenity in this project due to the time necessary to complete the design and permitting.”

Questions raised concerning the “permitting” process that was followed in this case, including an opportunity for public input, are the impetus for our inquiries.

Knight wrote, “I recall having been sent a set of plans for comment — but the city position would have been to have a new bridge at that time.” We asked Knight, “Wouldn’t a conservation zone permit be required to build any structure into that area?”

Knight responded, “In general, conservation zone development approval is required for structures in jurisdictional wetlands and waters; however, I am not aware of any FDOT project having to obtain such approval.”

We wanted to clarify whether FDOT was not required to obtain approval, or, if they simply did not seek approval — to which Knight replied, “In my office, we cannot recall conservation zone development approval being sought and granted.”

Jose Polo, P.E., with URS Construction Services, Inc., provided a copy of a “noticed general environmental resource permit” issued to the City, from the Department of Resource Management of the St. Johns River Water Management District. Normally, a copy of their approval is sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, however, a separate approval and permit is required. Historic City News has asked and has yet to receive verification that Army Corps approval was ever received.

From the Water Management permit, “Item 3: This general permit does not eliminate the necessity to obtain any required federal, state local and special district authorizations prior to the start of any construction, alteration, operation, maintenance, removal or abandonment authorized by this permit.”

So, what do we know today that we didn’t know two weeks ago?

It appears that despite Knight’s original communication, the City did request that the events platform be built; however, it is not likely that the City paid for it to be constructed.

Reasonable doubt persists that a required U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit and a required conservation zone development approval were properly obtained. We will continue to update this story as more information is received.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer