Sierra Club

by KEVIN TURNER

kevin.turner@mynassausun.com

Circuit Court Judge Brian Davis March 4 shot down an effort by Nassau County and the Amelia Island Plantation to stop three county residents from suing the county for approving development on Crane Island without state approval.

The county, Crane Island landowners and the Amelia Island Co. had argued that Sierra Club of Nassau County members Eric Titcomb, Julie Ferreira and Bob Weintraub did not have legal standing to sue the county because the county commission’s decision to allow development on the island didn't harm them any more than any other county resident.

Davis’ decision allows the trio to proceed with their lawsuit.

The three argue the county illegally overturned the island’s conservation designation, mandated by the state Department of Community Affairs in the 1990s. Then county attorney Mike Mullin said DCA approval wasn’t needed to change the island’s allowed development density.