By: Kate Kimmel
With only about 600 graves remaining and demand expected to exhaust available plots within five years, city officials are moving forward with a plan to expand Bosque Bello Cemetery capacity through the addition of a columbarium.
Parks and Recreation Director Scott Mickelson presented the proposal to commissioners Tuesday night, noting the cemetery already contains more than 7,000 documented memorials and has limited space for traditional burials. The columbarium, a structure designed for the placement of cremated remains, is intended to meet future demand while preserving the cemetery’s existing character.
Plans for an expansion were first introduced to commissioners in March 2021 but did not advance to construction drawings due to concerns about cost, materials, and maintenance. In May 2025, the City Commission reached a consensus to revisit the project and re-engage Marquis Latimer + Halback Inc. for updated design services.
Over the past year, city staff and the design team have developed a revised master plan that reduces the project’s footprint, simplifies materials, and lowers overall costs. The city is preparing to include the project in its fiscal year 2027 budget, with funding expected to come from impact fees.
Under the current proposal, the columbarium area would be integrated into the existing cemetery landscape with a focus on minimal visual disruption. The structures would stand about five feet tall, preserving the long views across the property, and would be constructed of salt-and-pepper granite selected for its durability and subdued appearance. Each niche would be engraved, creating a uniform but individualized memorial space.
Concrete walkways with brick borders would guide visitors through the area. The design relies largely on the existing canopy of mature oak trees, with only limited additional landscaping planned to avoid altering the site’s established character.
“We were exploring granite because it is the longest-lasting material, and when working with urns and niches we find that to be really important,” said design team member Nathan Campbell. “But we also did want to tie back, using the brick, to the unique character of Fernandina.”
The plan also includes bronze memorial plaques and benches, offering a place to recognize loved ones who may not be buried in the cemetery.
Phase one would include 400 niches, with full buildout bringing the total to 1,200. Unlike earlier proposals, the updated design does not require straightening Nassau Street or making other significant changes to surrounding infrastructure.
Designers said maintenance needs were also a key factor in the redesign. Jeremy Marquis said the selected granite would likely require cleaning about once a year, while brick elements would need periodic pressure washing, ideally annually but at least every few years.
The cost for conceptual design, construction drawings and phase one is estimated at $344,300. The remaining buildout is projected at $758,626 and would be budgeted across fiscal years 2029 through 2031.
Mickelson said the project is expected to generate revenue over time. At an estimated $2,000 per niche, a figure based on regional averages, phase one is projected to net about $455,654, with full buildout revenues estimated at approximately $1.5 million.
Commissioner Genece Minshew, who toured the site with Mickelson, said the plan is both practical and compatible with the surrounding area.
“He’s right, it has very minimal impact on everything around it,” she said. “It’s a long piece of land with trees far enough away that it is very well suited. This plan is very practical and more in line with what we are looking to accomplish than the previous one.”
The addition of the columbarium is expected to extend the time before the city must rely on its perpetual care fund, a trust established by a 1974 city ordinance. Under that ordinance, 35% of revenue from the sale of cemetery lots is deposited into the fund, which cannot be used until all plots in Bosque Bello Cemetery are sold.
The proposal did not require a formal vote, but commissioners reached a consensus to move forward with the plan. Mickelson said the next steps include working with the city manager and city attorney to begin pre-sales of niches.
kkimmel@nassaunewsline.net
