Mathews supervisors reverse decision to assist restaurant

Sept. 08--A decision to allow a historic Mathews restaurant to be rebuilt was reversed Thursday after county officials learned their earlier vote would have adversely affected flood insurance policies countywide.

The Board of Supervisors called the special meeting regarding building permits that would have allowed renovations to begin at the Islander Restaurant, on Gwynn's Island. Doing so would have been in violation of the county's floodplain laws and the federal National Flood Insurance Program.

Such violation, state officials say, would have placed the county on probation or possible suspension from the NFIP, resulting in an additional $50 per year on premiums for all county policyholders. Additionally, county policyholders could have become ineligible for other types of federal disaster aid.

Thursday's vote was 3-0 by Supervisors Edwina Casey, Amy Dubois and Marion "Pepper" Love. Chairman Charles Ingram and Vice Chairman C.G. Morrow were not at the meeting.

The vote came after a week of pushback from state officials and lawmakers, including letters from Clyde Cristman, director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and Del. M. Keith Hodges, R-Urbanna, urging the board to reconsider its decision.

"The approval was made and things went up the line, to FEMA ... DCR," Love said. "It came back to us that we were not right. It affected Mathews folks in an adverse way. It was never intended to do that. I'm feeling that I made a mistake."

The Islander Restaurant and Motel and Narrows Marina at Grimstead was a popular destination since opening in 1969. It closed in 2003, when it was damaged by Hurricane Isabel.

Assessments on the property have fallen since, from about $299,300 in 2002, to $58,2000 in 2011, to its current $3,000, according to meeting documents. The property is owned by the Islander LLC, controlled by Preston and Debbie Jenkins, brother and sister who are relatives of the original owner.

Neither could be reached for comment.

The supervisors voted in August to issue the permits, citing international building codes and Virginia Rehab codes from 2012. They also cited the need to promote economic welfare and that the property is a contributing structure for the Gwynn's Island Historic District.

Renovation of the property would have cost more than 50 percent of structure's value, which would have required it to be in compliance with current floodplain and state building code, Cristman said in his letter.

Cristman, who looks forward to working with everyone to reach proper compliance, said the facility should not be rebuilt on the same level and the same flood plain, especially with coastal flooding happening more and more.

"And the next hurricane comes up the bay and they are back in the same place again," Cristman said.

There is support among the community to see the Islander restored.

"I still think there are ways to help these people," Ingram said. "It's one of the prime properties we have in the county. It's the best property in the county. You see the Piankatank River and a beautiful sunset."

Mathews County has more than 1,400 National Flood Insurance policies with active insurance coverage upwards of $360 million, according to data provided by Del. Hodges.

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Vernon Sparks can be reached by phone at 757-247-4832 or on Twitter at @lvernonsparks.

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