1917 Beach Avenue 08.15.2001 (Lot use)August 15, 2001
Barbara and Robert Pape
1203 Salt Creek Island Drive
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082
Re: 1917 Beach Avenue (RE Parcel 169689 -0000)
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Pape:
I write in reply to your July 19, 2001 letter to Commissioner Waters regarding proposed
changes to the City of Atlantic Beach zoning regulations and the effect such changes may
have upon the property you own at 1917 Beach Avenue. As you are aware, there has
been considerable public discussion related to these changes, and probably some degree
of confusion since the changes are rather broad and have different application depending
on the zoning designation and location of particular parcels.
Your lot, which is a fifty (50) foot wide lot in the 1900 block of Beach Avenue is treated
somewhat differently than most other lots throughout the City. The zoning regulations
consider these ocean front lots as double frontage lots, and allow both a primary
residence and a secondary residence, when the secondary residence is constructed in
combination with private garage. While your lot is zoned RS -2 (Single- family
Residential), this use of these particular lots has historically been allowed, and there are
no changes proposed which would prohibit both a primary residence and a "garage
apartment" on your lot. There are, however, additional standards proposed related to
these lots, and changes in the terms used to describe these, but these changes would not
prohibit future construction of what would in effect be the primary residence on your
particular lot, since only the garage and garage apartment currently exist.
Further, there is no specific limitation on the size of the primary residence, provided that
it is separated from the existing garage apartment by at least twenty (20) feet and
complies with setbacks, height, and of course, any required DEP permits. (It is the
garage apartment that is limited in height to twenty -five (25) feet, and the proposed
regulations would limit the size of the future garage apartments to 75% of the primary
Page two
Mr. and Mrs. Pape
August 15, 2001
residence.) These garage apartments are also restricted from being used as vacation or
short term rentals.
I hope that this information addresses the concerns you have expressed, but should you
have any additional questions, please call or e -mail the City's Community Development
Director, Sonya Doerr. She will be glad to further assist you.
Sincerely,
Jim Hanson
City Manager
Cc: Mayor John Meserve
City Commissioners
Sonya Doerr, AICP, Community Development Director
SBD /F:AUSERS \Planning \General CorrespondenceAPape, Robert And Barbara (08- 15- 01).Doc