Item 8C~,.
AGENDA ITEM #8C
JUNE 28, 2004
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Revisions to the City Code to address clear sight distance at street
intersections and for sidewalks
SUBMITTED BY: Sonya Doerr, AICP
Community Development Director
DATE: June 18, 2004
BACKGROUND: Staff has identified several Sections within the City Code, which need
to be revised to better define how clear sight distance for vehicles, bicycles or pedestrians can
be maintained at street intersections and also along property boundaries that adjoin streets
and sidewalks. These include:
• Section 19-5 (b) to expand the "safety zone" to include areas that may be on
private property adjacent to sidewalks and street pavement;
• Chapter 21, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, and
• several sections within Chapter 24 to provide a better definition and a diagram for
Sight Triangle, revisions. to the parking standards, and revisions to the fence and
wall regulations.
Planning and Public Safety are preparing these proposed revisions, and attached is a
discussion draft of proposed revisions to Section 24-157, which establishes the regulations
for fence and walls.
A significant proposed revision is to require that the Director of Public Safety review certain
'~"" applications for fence and wall permits to verify that no conflicts to clear sight distance will
result. Staff does not feel that this extra review will be burdensome in that there are a
relatively small number of such permits submitted, and these reviews can generally be
'"" completed fairly quickly.
BUDGET: No budget issues.
RECOMMENDATION: Discussion and direction to Staff.
ATTACIIMENTS: First draft or proposed revisions to~Section 24-157.
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER;
June 28, 2004 regular meeting
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Insert Sight Distance Diagram
Figure
(b) Allowable height of Fences and walls. Fences and walls may be constructed in
~ accordance with the following except that additional setbacks or reduced height for Fences
and walls shall be required if such are needed to establish clear sight distance for the safety
of vehicles bicycles or pedestrians Fences and walls, proposed within any Sight Triangle,
as defined in Figure ------ shall also be subject to the provisions of preceding paragraph (a).
(1) Within Required Front Yards, the maximum height of any Fence or wall shall be four
(4) feet. Applications to construct a Fence or wall exceedin two 2) feet height
within the Required Front Yard of an~,property shall require review and approval by
the Director of Public Safety prior to issuance of a Fence Permit to verify that clear
sight distance shall be maintained at all Street intersections.
(2) Within Required Side or Rear Yards, the maximum height of any Fence or wall shall
be six (6) feet.
AGENDA ITEM #8C
JUNE 28, 2004
Sec. 24-157. "" -_°°'''°'~°'`~''~-°£Fences and Walls and materials used near property
boundaries adjoining Streets.
(,a) Obstructions and hazards to pedestrians bicyclists or vehicles. On any private or public
property in any Zoning~District no vegetation other than lawn grass and no Fence or
wall landscape or property border edging timbers posts or other tune of obstruction
shall be constructed placed or~ermitted to remain within the Sight Triangle, as defined
within below Figure ------ Upon finding by the Director of Public Safety that any such
hazard exists the obstruction shall be immediatelX removed by order of the Police
Department, and if required to be removed by the City charges for cost of such removal
may be accessed to the property owner or occ~ant.
Upon written request accompanied by a Site Plan, the Director of Public Safety, shall
have the authority waive the above restriction for those areas of the Sight Triangle, which
may be on private~roperty and won finding that no obstruction or hazard to pedestrians,
bicyclists or vehicles will be created.
AGENDA ITEM #8C
JUNE 28, 2004
~c) Special krovisions for Lots abutting Beach Avenue The maximum height of Fences or
~" walls within twent~(20) feet of the Beach Avenue right-of-way shall be four (4) feet.
Corner Lots abutting_Beach Avenue shall also be subject to the following provisions.
(d) Corner Lots and protection of clear sight distance On anv Corner Lot no Fence, wall or
Landscaping, exceeding four (4) feet in height, shall be allowed within ten (10) feet of
any Lot Line which abuts a Street, provided however, that clear vehicular, bicycle and
pedestrian sight distance shall be maintained forat any abutting Street. Further, on
Corner Lots anv application to construct a Fence or wall exceeding t_, wo (2) feet in height
shall require review and approval by the Director of Public Safety prior to issuance of a
Fence Permit to verify that such clear sight distance shall be maintained at the
intersection.
(e) Measurement of Fences and walls. The height of fences and walls shall be measured
from grade to the top of the Fence or wall. Where a Fence or wall is erected at the
junction of properties with varying elevations, the height of the Fence or wall shall be
measured from the side with the lowest elevation. The use of dirt, sand, rocks or similar
materials to elevate the height of a Fence or wall on a mound is prohibited.
(f) Retaining walls. In addition to the above provisions, the maximum height of retaining
walls on any part of a Lot is four (4) feet. A minimum of forty (40) feet shall separate
retaining walls designed to add cumulative height or increase site elevation.
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