Fernandina Beach eyes $1.5M columbarium as cemetery space runs out

Fernandina Beach - City Commissioners are advancing plans to build a columbarium at Bosque Bello Cemetery as traditional burial space dwindles to what staff estimates is a five-year supply.

“Our cemetery is currently running out of traditional graves,” said City Parks Director Scott Mikelson, echoing staff findings presented to the City Commission. “Estimated at about 600 graves remaining … These graves will sell in about five years based on historical data.”

The Parks Department staff framed the columbarium — a structure designed to house cremated remains — as both a response to changing burial preferences and a practical solution to space constraints.

He also emphasized the long-term financial implications.

The city spent $16,000 on an initial conceptual design in 2020, but a 2021 presentation failed to move forward.

After revisiting the idea in 2025, commissioners directed staff to refine the concept.

The updated proposal significantly reduces the project’s footprint and cost.

The proposed site avoids major disruptions to the cemetery landscape.

Designers emphasized aligning the columbarium with the cemetery’s historic layout.

The design includes a series of columbarium “gardens” connected by ADA-accessible pathways and limited landscaping to preserve the cemetery’s character.

“We are exploring granite because it is the longest-lasting material,” said designer Nate Campbell.

“We suggest that five feet is the most economical, but also just the most comfortable in terms of how you interact with the space,” he said.

“That’s really what gets the city in trouble, is maintenance,” said Commissioner Genece Minshew.

“We’re really talking about yearly maintenance for the overall structure,” Marquis said.

“It has really minimal impact on everything around it,” Minshew said. “It is a long piece of land with trees far enough away that it really is very well suited."

“It’s a great site,” Commissioner Joyce Tuten said. “It’s kind of amazing how there’s that big run of lawn that there’s not a grave there right now.”

Tuten also favored keeping the structures lower in height.

The project is expected to generate significant revenue. Using an estimated $2,000 per niche, Phase 1 could produce about $800,000 in revenue and roughly $455,654 in net proceeds after costs.

A full build-out of approximately 1,200 niches could generate $2.4 million, with net revenue exceeding $1.5 million.

City staff are now seeking commission consensus on materials and approval to proceed with construction drawings — a necessary step before including the project in the fiscal year 2027 budget.

“If we can get that completed, we will be prepared to budget in fiscal year ’27 for the construction of the columbarium,” Mikelson said.