Item 9AAGENDA ITEM # 9A
MAY 26, 2009
May 18, 2009
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Mayor
and Members of the Commission
FROM: Jim Hanso
CiTy Manager
SUBJECT: City Manag is Report
Calculated Average Grade as required in City Code Section 24-17; The City Charter limits
height of construction in Atlantic Beach to 35 feet. On lots where there is a significant change in
elevation, the calculation for the starting point for building construction is described in City
Code Section 24-17 providing definitions for "Calculated Grade Average" and "Developed
Calculated Grade Average". The City Code defines the method for determination of building
height not to exceed. 35 feet to be an average of 100 different points to be set as a grid over the
lot. This is appropriate before a building is constructed on the site when the land is still in its
natural elevation. The Code also defines how to determine the average elevation of sites where a
structure previously existed by using the elevations of the rest of the lot not under the old
foundation.
Questions have recently been raised about how to calculate the beginning point for a structure
when the original graded lot has been altered to a point where it is virtually impossible to prepare
the average grade as described in the Code and it is necessary to come up with a method of
determining the proposed building height to meet the intent of the City Code. Staff proposes to
do this by utilizing the best known grade elevations located outside portions of the original
structure and requiring that the height of any proposed structure not exceeds those of structures
on surrounding adjacent properties and in any case not to exceed 35 feet above the existing
grade.
Staff proposes to utilize this method for determining height in one specific instance where
construction would be unreasonably delayed waiting for an amendment to the Code. Specific
wording to amend the Code will be discussed with the Community Development Board in the
near future with an anticipation of submitting some wording changes for the Commission to
consider on this issue in the future.