Jaxport and city fail to honor public access to river

The city's idea and Jaxports balance is obviously very different to that of thousands of signatures collected along with Mayport residents who oppose the cruise terminal development in the village, I like to point out some of the more obvious flaws in their arguement. The current development scheme in land use has the scales of balance heavily weighed in favor of Jaxport cruise industry and the government fantasies about the financial benefits they suggest will spin off to the community. There is NO balance in losing massive public open space in the working waterfront, which is currenty was used extensively by thousands of locals, tourist and visitors. Remember the Jazz festival? There is NO balance in limiting and restricting access to the docks for fishermen,divers,craber's,boaties and their families. There is NO balance in a terminal,docks,fuel dumps etc which will not improve the attractiveness and value of the area for the public. There is No balance in distroying proven profitable and sustainable tourist and recreational businesss for unsubstantiated economic benefits. There is no balance in overriding the mayport vision planing scheme, which was formed after extensive community input. There is no balance when the Government is not concerned about the effect on amenity and lifestyle for local residents e.g more traffic,air,water and noise pollution. There is no balance in exposing our prized river and beaches to the risk of a exxon style oil spill.The fast moving tidal currents of the st. johns would see oil spread switly from any marine accident.If it happen there, it can happen here. There is no balance in the safety risk for returning fishermen and small craft that have to hold their position in the river when commercial or cruise ships cause the closure of the river to navigation. There is no balance in creating a conflict between the activities of fishermen sport,divers,and boaties with cruise ships entering the narrow channel. There is No balance in using flawed methodology in navigational study.The Tides are known to run six knots not 1.3 knots and safety figures should not be averaged. There is no balance between the paltry 32 million per year jaxport predicts will come from a cruise terminal and the closure of the fishing industry,a downturn in recreational,commercial and tourist fishing/boating visitors and the subsequent loss of hundreds of millions of dollars that these activities bring to Mayport. The risk associated with air pollution and with oil spills and large vessel pollution is unacceptable and libility for mayport tourism as a whole.A community association stated We fish, we dive, we walk, we picnic, we enjoy the waterfront a Cruise terminal development takes away the ability to enjoy the beauty and amenity of this unique historial area under the guise of much needed tourism infrastructure.that doesnt add add up! What about a boardwalk along the waterfront with shops restaurants etc. A marine science center with a hospital to care for injured sea manmals like the manatee etc.a historial building to house the many artifacts of the landing of jean ribault.In addition some of the wood carvings by Capt ray singleton.The Jazz festival was a hit back in 81 and is always welcome back in the village. Now that adds up! Why doesn't the government ask the mayport community what infrastructure it wants and needs.We can assure them it is not a cruise terminal in a residential area. edit reply