03-30-17 Agenda Packet- BNRPACBeautification and Natural Resource Preservation Advisory Committee
6:30 p.m. March 30, 2017
Agenda
1. Approval of minutes.
2. Review and discussion on BPNRAC report to City Commission on March 27 (J. Leroux
& K. Hogencamp)
3. Discussion/review of BNRPAC governance and suggested additions or changes
4. Review of community input/suggestions
5. Review and complete group priority setting exercise with results from March 16th
meeting (L. Lanier)
6. Review of tasks completed per City Commission charge to BNRP; discussion and
planning for future meetings/completion
7. Other matters for discussion
8. Adjournment
ROW #1
STRENGTHEN TREE ORDINANCE
SUSTAINABLE TREE CANOPY
PROTECT OUR TREES
REVIEW OF TREE PERMITS
IMPROVED CODE ENFORCEMENT OF TREE ORDINANCE &
OTHER ENVIRONMENT RELATED CODES
CANOPY CONSERVATION
TREE CANOPY - ASSESSMENT, MAINTENANCE & PRESERVATION
ROW #2
CREATE BETTER ACCESS TO PARKS
PARKS & GREENSPACES – PROTECTION, BEAUTIFICATION,
& EXPANSION
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
BEAUTIFICATION THROUGH ART AND FLOWERS
PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PROGRAM
- HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE,
- ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE, ADJ. TO EX. O.S.
- NATURAL FEATURES
- PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS
ROW #2 – CONT’D
ENSURE CONTINUED CONSERVATION, IMPROVEMENT &
PROTECTION OF PARKS & PRESERVES
PURCHASE & DEVELOP JOHNSTON ISLAND
ACQUIRE PARK & CONSERVATION LAND
LOSS OF WILDLIFE HABITAT DUE TO DEVELOPMENT
(REGULATORY COMMITTEE)
ACQUISITION OF EXISTING UNDEVELOPED LANDS
(CITY COMMISSION)
ROW #3
ARBORIST TO ASSESS CONDITION OF LARGER/OLDER
TREES
PLANT TREES
RESTORE TREE CANOPY
TREE CITY U.S.A.
STREET TREE PROGRAM
TREE PLANTING PLAN
ROW # 4
APPLY FOR GRANTS
NEED TREE OVERSIGHT BODY (CODE ENFORCEMENT)
RESTORE THE TREE BOARD
ROW # 5
PROTECT & RESTORE MARSHLANDS
REVIEW MARSH MASTER PLAN
BEACH DUNES PRESERVATION
ROW # 6
HOWELL PARK – INDIGENOUS BOTANICAL PARK
MAYPORT CORRIDOR
FOCUS ON WEST ATLANTIC BEACH
BUDGET MORE BIKE PATHS
ROW # 7
TIDAL DRAINAGE DITCHES NEED ATTENTION
OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICES ADVISOR-
RESEARCH & RECOMMEND TO COMMISSION FOR
COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY
ROW # 8
EDUCATION & OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR TREES ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY
EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE TREE ORDINANCE
A. RESIDENTS
B. BUILDERS
C. TREE SERVICES
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY
ANNUAL ARBOR DAY (OR SIMILAR)
TO BRING AWARENESS & CELEBRATE TREE CANOPY
& NATURAL RESOURCES
TREES – CITIZEN HOMEOWNER EDUCATION
ROW # 9
REVIEW/REWRITE 50% LOT COVERAGE
EQUITABLE ENFORCEMENT
PROPERTY RIGHTS
ROW # 10
IMPROVED LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS OF NEW
CONSTRUCTION SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES &
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
ELIMINATE EYESORES & ENHANCE COMMERCIAL
LANDSCAPES
ROW # 11
MORE SECURITY IN TIDEVIEWS & DUTTON ISLAND
PRESERVE (ABPD & CITY)
ROW # 12
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY DEPTS.
& CITIZENS
ROW # 13
ENFORCE EXISTING RULES & LAWS
ROW # 14
CREATE A PANTHER POPULATION
MARITIME FOREST
The maritime forest in Atlantic Beach is core to our identity as a small coastal
village. Our tree canopy creates beauty, provides a home to birds and wildlife,
functions as an element of our water management system and enhances our
property values. It is in our best interest to be the curators of our tree canopy
through assessment, maintenance and preservation of this natural resource.
The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will ensure that our city
government:
- Provides environmentally sensitive education and outreach about the selection
and appropriate care of trees to private property owners, developers and
builders, and tree and landscape service owners. This education can take the
form of website information, training for businesses, new homeowner
information and public events such as Arbor Day celebrations.
- Strengthens and clarifies the language in all tree and landscape related building
codes and ordinances, ensuring appropriate administration and enforcement.
- Develops a long-term tree plan that includes a current canopy assessment,
projected future needs and a calendar and budget for tree planting in parks,
public spaces and along streets and right of ways.
- Restore our city’s status as a bona fide “Tree City USA.”
- Consider the re-establishment of a Tree Board
PARKS
Our parks provide open spaces for recreation, exercise, relaxation and encounters
with the natural world. As a thriving, inclusive community, we strive to provide a
variety of park spaces that are well maintained, accessible and secure.
The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will ensure that our city
government:
- Has a mandate and a long-range plan to protect, improve and beautify our park
spaces. (Example: enhance Howell Park to make it an indigenous botanical park)
- Improves access and amenities at parks including disability accommodations,
bike paths, parking, signage and other user friendly features
- Expand the city’s inventory of parks and conservation land (Example: Johnston
Island and other sites west of Mayport Road)
- Maintain a web-based, publicly accessible inventory of parks including their
history, rules of use and easements.
PUBLIC SPACES
Public spaces in Atlantic Beach include public rights of way, roadsides, city
buildings and other publicly held properties. As such, the city has an opportunity
to take the lead and set high community standards in the beautification and
excellent maintenance of public spaces.
The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will ensure that our city
government:
- Enhances our public spaces with art, carefully maintained landscape design and
plantings
- Reduces the number and appearances of degraded property and eyesores
- Develops a design theme for signage, bus shelters, lighting and other elements
of the built environment. (Linda added this…open for discussion)
COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Atlantic Beach is located at the northern end of a 37 mile long barrier island
identified on Google maps as San Pablo Island. As such, the Atlantic Ocean and
the Intracoastal Waterway have a great deal of influence on our micro climate,
drainage issues and the variety of flora and fauna that thrive here. The care and
health of both of our coasts must be paramount in every decision about the use
of our land water system and canopy.
The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will ensure that our city
government:
- Utilizes best practices and a science driven approach when making any decision
about development and its impact on our environment.
- Ensure the protection of our beach and dunes as critical defenses in hurricane,
erosion and flooding conditions.
- Understand and communicate the dynamics of our tidal drainage and flood plain
with the goal of preserving our flood management system.
- Review our city’s environmental codes and ensure enforcement with rules
regarding dumping, septic tanks and commercial pollution.
- Review the Marsh Master Plan for adherence to current research about sea level
change and wetlands preservation
OTHER ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED
50% lot coverage
Property rights
Grant opportunities for the city’s work in the above areas
Panthers
Historic preservation and archeology
Hi Kevin,
I saw the letter in the Beaches Leader looking for input for the committee.
I see the tree canopy maintenance, preservation, tree replacement and taking care of common areas
mentioned but see fences missing. I think it’s a huge issue about the appearance of Atlantic Beach.
People are looking for “privacy” on 50ft lots and install cheap ugly fences past the front of the house
that block breezes and are in short unsightly. Ugly sides of fences face to the street or adjacent property
owners.
Other parts of the country don’t allow the type of stockade fencing I’m referring to—its used in
commercial areas only.
Our code used to be that a fence wasn’t supposed to go past the front of a house. At some time it
changed. Drive by my house 352 Second St. and see the fence that extends at 6 feet high 13 feet past
my front door. Its legal. I’ve heavily shrubed it to hide it but the ugly side is looking at me in my
backyard. A new fence was installed further west on 2nd and is similar—one side is finished and the
other is rough frame. There are many other styles of fences where they basically look the same on both
sides. I think AB needs to mandate a fence that is either hidden by shrubs or equally finished and
appealing on both sides. Ideally a shadowbox like design would allow breezes and look nice on both
sides.
Thank you.
Jane Wytzka
352 Second St.