Candidate Q&A: Michael Lednovich

Website: https://www.vote4lednovich.com/

Email: vote4lednovich@gmail.com

Phone: 904-502-0650

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mike Lednovich opted not to answer the News-Leader’s list of questions, but submitted this essay.

CANDIDATE STATEMENT

I’m Fernandina Beach Mayor Mike Lednovich and for the last four years I’ve fought to preserve our city’s unique “Quality of Life.”

There have been, and continue to be, numerous challenges to preserve what makes Fernandina Beach such a special city. We face a bevy of aggressive developers who want to build more homes and townhouses.

There are more than 1.2 million tourists yearly that use city facilities/services and pay nothing to support their upkeep. And there is the exploding growth in Nassau County to contend with.

Previous city commissions routinely approved rezoning commercial property into residential use. That’s how we lost 500 trees on 14th Street and Lime and got a 250-unit apartment complex.

I’ve voted 100 percent of the time against this rezoning practice and will continue to do so. Here are some examples:

• I opposed deep-pocket developers from Tennessee who wanted to rezone commercial land for residential use to build 330 units on Amelia Island Parkway near Bailey Road. Eventually, they gave up.
• I voted no on rezoning land on Lime Street where developers sought to build 12 townhouses.

In all, my steadfast opposition to rezoning has prevented roughly 500 more houses or townhouses from being built in the city.

When elected in 2018, I pledged to protect our environment, tree canopy, wetlands and wildlife. My track record includes:

• Votes that purchased and placed 35 acres of property into conservation.
• Leading the charge to Strengthen the city’s Tree Ordinance with increased penalties for the illegal removal of trees.
• Introduced and passed an ordinance to ban smoking on city beaches/parks.
• Passed an ordinance blocking unscrupulous tree removal companies from going door-to-door to convince homeowners to take down healthy trees.
• Voting against destroying 6 acres of pristine City land to build Simmons Road Park.
• Opposed rezoning 6.4 acres of Amelia Bluff land from Conservation to Low-Density Residential.

Currently, under my direction, the City Attorney is working on a dune protection ordinance and a Protected Canopy Tree Road ordinance that would ensure future generations can enjoy the same Quality of Life we have today.

There also have been numerous schemes that would have negatively impacted our “quality of life.” I’ve opposed all of these efforts:

• I battled the Port of Fernandina’s attempted expansion into the City’s Historic District and signed an inter-local agreement prohibiting such expansion without City Approval.
• I led the defeat of a plan to convert the City leased Amelia River Golf Course into a luxury automobile racetrack.
• I voted against relocating youth sports fields, tennis courts and pickleball courts from Central Park.
• I voted against plans to build commercial businesses and an amphitheater along the riverfront south of the boat ramp.

We’ve also made tremendous strides in improving City infrastructure and roads. Some examples are:

• Votes for the repair of the city marina and fuel docks as well as obtaining FEMA reimbursement for the repairs.
• Votes that resulted in the construction of a new seawall/boardwalk to prevent flooding on the south end of the marina property.
• I supported plans and funding for the reopening of Alachua Street to Front Street along with new sidewalks, railroad crossings and an underground stormwater catch basin.
• Votes to fund new beach walkovers.

The next four years are critical because we must protect the City from storm surge and flooding by completing the riverfront seawall. We also must address flood prevention issues at the Escambia Slough, which is part of the drainage system for downtown Fernandina Beach, and Atlantic Avenue at Egans Creek.

As Mayor and Commissioner, I’ve been proactive in addressing pressing problems such as the customer service issues at the Building Department, downtown music concerns and protecting trees and dunes at construction sites by holding workshops with public input.

There are many challenges ahead of us such as completing the riverfront flood protection; repairing/maintaining city buildings, parks and sports fields; identifying new revenue streams to relieve the burden of taxpayers and implementing solutions for additional parking and increased traffic.

I’ve enjoyed meeting so many of you during my first term: thanks for your suggestions and encouragement. I humbly request your vote for Mike Lednovich’s Quality of Life efforts as City Commissioner, Seat 4 to continue to ensure our city remains a very special place.