2/15/23 @ 1:30 p.m. - The water and sewer conversion project at Amerian Beach is underway. Work has now progressed to the intersection of Lewis Street and Gregg Street. The work in this area will require the adjacent drive-on beach access to be closed temporarily beginning at 2:00 p.m. today. It is anticipated that this closure will last through Friday, February 17, 2023.

A notice of temporary road closure for Gregg Street was sent out earlier this week. As a reminder, American Beach residents will be allowed to pass as needed, however the general public is encouraged to avoid the area. The temporary road closure for Gregg Street is anticipated to last through March 10, 2023.
We appreciate your patience as we work to establish water and sewer services for the American Beach community. If you have any questions, please contact the County Manager’s Office at (904) 530-6010.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

2/8/23 @ 9:30 a.m. - Construction has commenced for the American Beach Water & Sewer Conversion Project. Beginning on Monday, February 13th, the contractor will be working to install the new gravity sewer which will require daytime closures to Gregg Street. Residents of the area will be allowed to pass as needed. The contractors will also work with the postal company, garbage companies, etc. to allow them to pass, if and when needed. The daytime closures are expected to continue through March 10th.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

1/25/23 @ 4:40 p.m. - The Board of County Commissioners has received an Award of Excellence for Culture and Historic Preservation for the American Beach Community Master Plan. Since 2018, the County has worked hard to design a plan to enhance the community while maintaining its unique history and culture. The scope of work included extensive community engagement including public meetings with property owners, public workshops, and interviews with stakeholders. The needs and priorities identified through the outreach efforts were then used to develop the final master plan which includes protection of the beach and dunes, as well as the history of the community. The plan also includes enhancements for the community such as water/sewer lines, street lighting, paved streets and sidewalks, and preservation of historic structures such as the Evans Rendezvous. 

Seeing all the efforts put forth, the Northeast Florida Regional Council selected the County for this prestigious award. The Board was then recognized at their Awards Luncheon held on January 5, 2023. The Northeast Florida Regional Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Beth Payne, stated, “The Northeast Florida Regional Council is happy to recognize Nassau County’s outstanding efforts to preserve a piece of Northeast Florida history. American Beach is one of our area’s hidden gems and it is the Council’s pleasure to recognize the work done by the County, it’s staff and volunteers to continually engage the residents of American Beach and work together to safeguard the cultural history, as well as the future of the American Beach community."

Interim Planning Director/Economic Resources Coordinator, Holly Coyle, stated, “The American Beach Master Plan captures the essence of American Beach by protecting the sense of place, honoring the rich cultural heritage of the community, and authentically telling the story of American Beach through the built and natural environment. Through an extensive public engagement process, the community identified its needs and priorities and created a list of recommendations to achieve their final vision. Among those recommendations were the installation of public water and sanitary sewer; the paving and resurfacing of roadways; re-evaluation of The Crossroads; and the expansion of the A. L. Lewis Museum.  We are honored to have been selected for this award and look forward to bringing this initiative to fruition.”

To view the Northeast Florida Regional Council's Press Release regarding the 2023 Awards, please click here. 

If you have any questions related to the American Beach Community Master Plan, please visit https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/990/American-Beach-Neighborhood-Planning or contact the Planning Department at (904) 530-6300.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Office

1/24/23 @ 2:30 p.m. 

At the Board of County Commissioners meeting held yesterday evening, the Board approved Resolution No. 2023-004 proclaiming the 31st of January 2023 as "American Beach Day". 

American Beach was originally founded on January 31, 1935 by the Pension Bureau of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company for the purpose of developing an oceanfront resort for its employees and shareholders. The once bustling community now serves as a historic jewel that attracts visitors near and far. 

The Board of County Commissioners applauds everyone who has contributed in preservation of this landmark and unique community. in recognition of American Beach Day, residents are urged to visit the AL Lewis Museum to learn more about American Beach's rich culture and history. Additional information can be found on the Museum's website. 


-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

1/18/23 @ 10:00 a.m. 

During the most recent Florida Planning & Zoning Association’s Awards Banquet, the Board of County Commissioners won a total of 3 awards for several Nassau County projects and initiatives, further demonstrating the County’s commitment to building a resilient, sustainable, and people-centric future that prioritizes quality of life and quality of place.
 
The First Coast Chapter of the Florida Planning & Zoning Association (FPZA) is a fourteen-member board of directors that annually nominates specific awards throughout the Northeast Florida region. Board member, Sarah King, stated, “Every year, an award chairman and a four-person committee are selected to review and verify that all the nominated projects meet the specific award criteria. With several projects being reviewed, the committee is responsible for selecting and nominating the award winners for each category to the full board of directors for final approval. This process is vetted to the entire board and not every submittal is guaranteed the award. FPZA is proud to present three outstanding Nassau County projects at our annual awards ceremony.”
 
The first award was an Outstanding Public Participation Award for the American Beach Cultural Heritage Experience Enhancement Initiative which was designed to capture the essence, protect the sense of plan, honor the rich cultural heritage of the community, and authentically tell the story of American Beach through the built and natural environment.
 
The project began with a survey of existing conditions of the street network, utilities, tree canopy, parks and beaches. This effort was followed by hundreds of hours of community engagement including telephone interviews, online surveys, public workshops, and meetings at American Beach for the purpose of obtaining input from the residents on future enhancement projects that reflect the community’s values. The result was the creation of a long-term visioning plan that provides for public infrastructure enhancements, installation of public water and sewer, paving of roadways, street lighting, installation of historical markers, expansion of the A.L. Lewis Museum, park improvements and resource protection.  
 
The second award was an Outstanding Public Impact Award for the Westside Regional Park. This park is located off US 1 between Callahan and Hilliard and will serve as a centrally accessible park amenity that retains the visceral beauty of the natural environment. The site’s varying ecosystems include pine flatwoods, a freshwater marsh, and hardwood hydric forests which function together as a diverse yet cohesive setting. Spreading over 110 acres, Westside Regional Park will feature a variety of recreational opportunities for residents to enjoy including, but not limited to, outdoor event/green space, community playground, restrooms, multi-use trails, outdoor fitness stations, a fishing pond and multi-purpose fields. The conceptual plan for this park was derived from community input collected through a series of citizen surveys and public outreach events. The Westside Regional Park is currently in the final stages of engineering for Phase One with construction anticipated to begin in the fall of 2023. Upon completion, the Westside Regional Park will be a world-class destination unlike anything Nassau County has ever seen.
 
The third and final award from the Florida Planning & Zoning Association was an Environmental/Natural Resources Award for the County’s Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on January 25, 2021. The purpose of the CLAM was to preserve and conserve the County’s natural, historic, and working lands resources by identifying, ranking and accessing conservation lands for acquisition and management. An essential tool of the CLAM Program is to create, analyze and manipulate geographic information, known as data layers. These data layers are maps of resources which can be displayed as they overlap and interact, and where different statistical and analytical processes can be applied to better understand a landscape filled with multiple interacting resources.  Nineteen different data layers were selected for consideration, representing different potential conservation resources.  The different data layers all relate to one of the four most common considerations for acquiring conservation land: Water Issues, Habitat and Species Protections, Working Lands, and Outdoor Recreation/Quality of Life.  This map is used to analyze properties being considered for acquisition. By having a CLAM Program in place, the County will increase its ability to further preserve our natural environment and enhance quality of life for our residents. 

County Manager, Taco Pope, stated, “I am extremely proud of all the hard work and effort put into these initiatives and for being selected for these three prestigious awards. As Nassau County continues to grow, it is imperative that we have plans in place to accommodate current and future residents while protecting the County’s unique history, culture and natural environment. I feel fortunate to be a part of these initiatives which will benefit the community for many years to come.” 

​

8/11/22 @ 9:00 a.m. - On Saturday, August 6, 2022, the County hosted a community meeting at American Beach to share updates on several initiatives impacting the American Beach Community. Below is a list of topics discussed. Each contains a link to the PowerPoint presentation for each discussion.

Topics discussed: 

• American Beach Community Master Plan update
• American Beach Water & Sewer District project update
• Evan's Rendezvous Structural Assessment Report update
• Burney Park/Beach Harmonization project update

We have also uploaded the video from the meeting which can be found at the link below. You can utilize the attached PowerPoint presentations to view and follow along with the video. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

3/3/22 @ 2:15 p.m. -

Representatives are on site at the American Beach Community Center, 1600 Julia Street, Fernandina Beach, to meet with residents of the American Beach Water and Sewer District to answer questions and assist with the completion of the American Beach Water and Sewer District Assessment Assistance Applications.  The Assessment Assistance Program is to aid individuals who are facing financial hardship with the annual water and sewer assessment.
 
Representatives will remain at the American Beach Community Center this week through March 4th and next week, March 7th through March 10th, 9:00am - 5:00pm.  County staff will be available on Friday, March 11th from 8:00am - 5:00pm at the James Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Suite 1, Yulee.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer
 
 

1/21/22 @ 3:45 p.m. - At the Wednesday, January 19, 2022 meeting, the Board approved Resolution No. 2022-05, proclaiming January 31, 2022 as American Beach Day. This year, the community is celebrating 87 years!

Great job to the American Beach residents and all those who contribute to the preservation and longevity of this unique community.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/8/21 @ 10:25 a.m. - The American Beach Water & Sewer Advisory Board's regular scheduled meeting for Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. HAS BEEN CANCELLED. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on October 14, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer