Conservation and Coastal Management Element.pdf2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
D. CONSERVATION AND COASTAL
MANAGEMENT ELEMENT
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-1 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
D. Conservation and
Coastal Management Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
All conservation related activities and the management of coastal resources within the
City of Atlantic Beach shall be in accordance with the following Goals, Objectives, and
Policies.
Goal D.1
The City shall protect, enhance and preserve beach and dune systems, as well as
other coastal resources of environmental value, through proper maintenance and
management practices, the avoidance of inappropriate use and development,
including publicly -financed improvements within the Coastal High Hazard Area,
and shall continue an ongoing program of re -vegetation and installation of
properly designed public access -ways in areas that are subject to erosion such
as the dune system.
Objective D.1.1
Coastal High Hazard Area
The City shall limit public expenditures that subsidize development within the
Coastal High Hazard Area except for the maintenance, restoration, or
enhancement of natural resources, and the provision for appropriate public
access to and use of natural resources.
Policy D.1.1.1 The Stormwater Master Plan, as revised and adopted in 2002, shall be
implemented based upon priority of need and in accordance with
annual capital improvement planning and budget review and adoption.
The plan shall be reviewed and updated by 2015.
Policy D.1.1.2 The City shall limit new public construction in the Coastal High Hazard
Area to improvements that do not increase residential density and to
that which customarily supports recreation and open -space use of the
beach and waterway related resources, and which achieves dune
stabilization and prevention of erosion through environmentally sound
practices.
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-2 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Objective D.1.2
Storm and Flood Hazards
The City shall continue best management practices that are intended to reduce
damage to and erosion of dune systems and dune vegetation and estuarine
environments that result from pedestrian traffic.
Policy D.1.2.1 The City shall rigorously enforce its floodplain management regulations
to conform with or exceed the requirements of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
Policy D.1.2.2 The City shall continue to partner in the Duval County Local Mitigation
Strategy and participate in the Duval County emergency preparedness
operations. The City shall review new Land Development Regulations
for consistency with the Local Mitigation Strategy prior to adoption.
Objective D.1.3
Protection of Dune Systems and Dune Vegetation
The City shall prevent damage and destruction of dunes and dune vegetation.
Policy D.1.3.1 The City shall rigorously enforce the Coastal Construction Code, and
the Florida Building Code as these regulate construction within Coastal
Areas.
Policy D.1.3.2 The City shall continue best management practices that are intended
to reduce damage and erosion of dune systems and dune vegetation,
which may result from construction activities and inappropriate
pedestrian traffic.
Objective D.1.4
Public Beach and Waterways Access
The City shall ensure adequate and convenient public access to the beach and
other public waterways through maintenance of all public waterway and beach
access -ways at the twenty-one street end locations existing as of the adoption
date of this Plan amendment.
Policy D.1.4.1 The City shall maintain all existing accesses including barrier -free
ramps and shall join with other beach communities, the MTPO, the City
of Jacksonville and others in seeking means of accommodating beach
visitors as a preferred alternative to the construction of parking facilities
at beach access -ways.
Policy D.1.4.2 The City shall maintain all beach parking existing as of the date of this
Plan amendment, and reduction in the number of public parking
spaces available at beach accesses shall not be permitted unless such
eliminated spaces are replaced in equal numbers and within similar
proximity to the beach.
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-3 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Policy 0.1.4.3
Policy D.1.4.4
Policy D.1.4.5
The City shall not permit, either through public or private action, public
access ways to the beach, the Intracoastal Waterway, or other
waterways, which are open to the public as of the date of adoption of
this Plan amendment, to be closed, vacated or restricted from public
use in any manner.
The City has determined that there are no appropriate locations for
marinas within the City of Atlantic Beach.
The City will cooperate and coordinate with the City of Jacksonville to
provide information as necessary related to any County marina
development or applicable plans.
Objective D.1.5
Environmental Conditions
The City shall limit new development of shoreline sites so as to conform to the
objective of reducing environmental degradation, as well as to encourage visual
and physical accessibility, open space conservation, wildlife preservation and
compatibility between adjacent uses.
Policy D.1.5.1 In accordance with Section 163.3202, Florida Statutes, the City shall
maintain within its Land Development Regulations establish the
following:
(a) Percentage of native vegetation to be protected, preserved or
replaced within Environmentally Sensitive Areas during and
following site development or construction activities.
(b) A buffer zone of natural vegetation around wetland and deepwater
habitats.
(c) Stormwater retention and detention standards, which maintain rates
and amounts equal to conditions existing prior to development.
Goal D.2
The City shall maximize, to the extent feasible, provisions and opportunities for
the protection of life and property from the effects of hurricanes and other natural
disasters.
D.2.1
Hurricane Evacuation
The City shall maintain a comprehensive hurricane evacuation management plan
and shall incorporate into that plan measures deemed necessary to maintain or
reduce the City's evacuation clearance times.
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-4 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Policy D.2.1.1 The City shall cooperate with and assist other communities in
identifying adequate public upland shelter spaces and shall not
approve new development that creates undue burdens on the number
of spaces available for threatened populations.
Policy D.2.1.2 The City hereby adopts and shall maintain a Level of Service standard
of a 12 -hour evacuation time for a Category 5 storm for out -of -county
hurricane evacuation.
Policy D.2.1.3 The City shall not approve Plan amendments that increase residential
density within Coastal High Hazard Areas in that such increases to
existing densities have the effect of concentrating populations in hazard
prone areas and may result in an increase of hurricane evacuation
times for the City and the County.
Policy D.2.1.4 The City shall coordinate hurricane preparedness activities with other
local governments and affected agencies within the region; review its
emergency preparedness plan each year; maintain a broad program of
activities to increase public awareness; meet the evacuation needs of
special populations, and through coordination with other local
governments, strive to achieve an evacuation time within the "quick"
response time frame for each storm category.
Policy D. 2.1.5 The City's evacuation plan shall be consistent with the Duval County
Hurricane Evacuation Traffic Management Plan as amended and shall
maximize efficiencies in traffic movement so as to reduce or maintain
evacuation clearance times within the City of Atlantic Beach.
Objective D.2.2
Redevelopment within the Coastal High Hazard Area
Redevelopment activities within the Coastal High Hazard Area shall be guided by
the redevelopment provisions as set forth within the Land Development
Regulations , which shall serve the purpose of reducing the vulnerability of
people, property and natural resources to damage from coastal storms.
Policy D.2.2.1 The City shall coordinate with Duval County in reviewing and revising
the City's Hurricane Plan and pertinent portions or regulatory codes as
necessary to achieve the following policies.
Policy D.2.2.2 Implement a temporary moratorium on construction immediately
following a hurricane occurrence until damage assessments and
redevelopment policies have been determined.
Policy D.2.2.3 Prior to re-entry of the population into evacuated areas, complete all
critical cleanup and repair activities required to assure public health
and safety.
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-5 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Policy D.2.2.4 Structures that are storm damaged over 50% of their most recent
appraised value may be reconstructed only when the entire structure
will then conform to all applicable regulations, including all Land
Development Regulations, and Florida Building and Coastal
Construction codes. Repairs made to structures damaged to a lesser
degree shall comply with all applicable Land Development Regulations
and Florida Building and Coastal Construction codes in effect at the
time of such work.
Policy D.2.2.5 The City establishes, for regulatory purposes, the Coastal High Hazard
Area as the area below the Category 1 storm surge line as established
by the Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricane (SLOSH)
computerized storm surge model as mapped in the Storm Tide Atlas
prepared by the Northeast Florida Regional Council as part of the
current Regional Hurricane Evacuation Study pursuant to Chapter 163,
Florida Statutes.
Objective D.2.3
Hazard Mitigation
The City shall seek appropriate means of reducing the potential for loss of life
and property through provisions within the Land Development Regulations,
including implementation of hazard mitigation policies from the Local Mitigation
Strategy.
Policy D.2.3.1 The City shall maintain provisions within its Land Development
Regulations, which require that all new residential development within
the Coastal High Hazard Area access impacts to hurricane evacuation
times and shelter provision.
Policy 0.2.3.2 The City shall not approve Plan amendments, which increase
residential density within the Coastal High Hazard Area, or where
demands upon existing shelter space shall be increased.
Goal D.3
The City shall protect, preserve and maintain natural environmental resources so
as to maintain or enhance air quality, water quality, vegetative communities,
wildlife habitats and the natural functions of soils, fisheries, wetlands and
estuarine marshes.
Objective D.3.1
The City shall cooperate with adjacent communities in regional air quality
management programs so as to provide a high standard of air quality.
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-6 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Policy D.3.1.1 The City shall implement policies of the Local Mitigation Strategy
appropriate to protect air quality and shall require mitigation prior to
permitting of projects that may adversely affect air quality.
Objective D.3.2
Conservation and Protection of Natural Coastal Resources
The City shall maintain or adopt provisions within its Land Development
Regulations for private and public development, which conserve and enhance
soils, native vegetation, living marine and water resources and wildlife habitats to
the maximum extent possible.
Policy D.3.2.1 The City shall require applicants for development permits to submit
appropriate environmental surveys and reports prior to the issuance of
development permits. All applications for development permits and
applications to rezone to Planned Unit Development and other zoning
related applications shall be required to identify environmental
features, including any Wetlands, CCCL, natural water bodies, open
space, buffers and vegetation preservation areas, and to sufficiently
address any adverse impacts to Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
Policy D.3.2.2 The City shall cooperate with the SJRWMD in implementation of water
conservation measures as set forth within the management plans and
rules of the SJRWMD and the City's Consumptive Use Permit issued
by the SJRWMD.
Policy D.3.2.3 The City shall protect potable water well cones of influence and
shall maintain maps of such cones of influence and shall continue to
implement the well -field protection regulations, as set forth within the
Land Development Regulations so as to prohibit incompatible land
uses. Such incompatible uses shall include all industrial uses,
but shall also include uses, which have the potential to
contaminate or degrade potable water supply wells, wetland functions
or natural systems associated with Environmentally Sensitive
Areas.
Policy D.3.2.4 The City shall appropriately restrict land use activities, which may
threaten water sources from stormwater runoff into recharge areas by
maintaining the Stormwater, Drainage, Storage and Treatment
Requirements as set forth within the Land Development Regulations.
Development permits shall be issued only in accordance with the City's
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permit, in
addition to the requirements of the Water Management District and the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection. NPDES requirements
shall include use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) prior to
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-7 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
discharge into natural or artificial drainage systems. All construction
projects of one acre or more shall require a NPDES permit.
Policy D.3.2.5 In accordance with Chapter 163.3202, Florida Statutes, the City shall
establish and maintain within its Land Development Regulations, all
necessary requirements and restrictions to ensure that land
development, land disturbing activities, and land uses are managed in
a manner which protects and conserves the natural functions of soils,
fisheries, wildlife habitats, rivers, flood plains, wetlands (including
estuarine marshes) and marine habitats including hatchling turtles.
Policy D.3.2.6 The City shall cooperate with adjacent local governments and
regulatory agencies to conserve and protect, as may be appropriate,
unique vegetative communities located within the City and within
adjacent jurisdictions.
Policy D.3.2.7 The City shall designate Environmentally Sensitive Areas requiring
protection as a means of implementing the Comprehensive Plan and
shall include in its Land Development Regulations, prepared in
accordance with S. 163.3202, F.S. means of ensuring protection of
such lands from degradation.
Policy D.3.2.8 Environmentally Sensitive Areas shall include lands, waters or areas
within the City of Atlantic Beach which meet any of the following
criteria:
(a) All Wetlands, including those determined to be jurisdictional, and
which are regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) and the St. Johns River Water Management
District (SJRWMD);
(b) Estuaries, or estuarine systems;
(d) Outstanding Florida Waters and Natural Water Bodies;
(d) Areas designated pursuant to the Federal Coastal Barrier Resource
Act (PL97-348), and those beach and dune areas seaward of the
Coastal Construction Control Line;
(e) Areas designated as Conservation by the Future Land Use Map;
(f) Essential Habitat to Listed Species as determined by approved
methodologies of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Policy D.3.2.9 The City shall ensure environmentally sound management of
hazardous wastes and reduction of potential problems resulting there
from, through a multi -faceted program incorporating public information,
enforcement of regulations and monitoring of waste handling activities.
The following components shall be included within the City's program:
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-8 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
(a) Support the enforcement of current State and Federal regulations
aimed at prohibiting discharge of wastewater containing hazardous
and industrial waste into septic tanks or through stormwater runoff
into aquifer recharge areas or surface water bodies.
(b) Public education programs encouraging residents and business
owners to avoid the dumping of used petroleum products, paint,
hazardous materials and pesticides onto the ground or water
bodies.
(c) City coordination and monitoring of hazardous wastes by collection
and transportation entities to ensure safe and responsible handling
practices.
Objective D.3.3
Regulatory Authority
The City shall continue to cooperate with other permitting and regulatory
agencies to improve estuarine environmental quality to achieve the estuarine
water quality standards established by FDEP.
Policy D.3.3.1 The City shall maintain, and amend as necessary, provisions within its
Land Development Regulations to achieve consistency with the rules
and regulatory authority of the SJRWMD.
Policy D.3.3.2 The City shall coordinate with other governmental agencies during the
review, permitting and development of sites which, if improperly
developed, could have adverse impacts upon estuarine water quality
and related resources, and through such coordination, the City shall
ensure adequate sites within the drainage basin for water -dependent
uses; prevent estuarine pollution which could adversely affect another
governmental jurisdiction and ensure public access and reduce
exposure to flood hazards.
Policy D.3.3.3 The City shall coordinate its permitting activities with existing resource
protection plans by notifying the administrators of such plans of any
pending development activity or public improvement in a timely manner
in order to ensure that such projects and activities can be reviewed
and comments returned to the City prior to permitting.
Objective D.3.4
Shoreline Development
The City shall give priority consideration to shoreline land uses and site
development improvements, which meet the following criteria:
(a) Prevent adverse environmental effects.
(b) Maintain or exceed the standards within this Plan for public access.
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-9 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
(c) Avoid shoreline hardening structures.
(d) Enhance estuarine water quality.
Objective D.3.5
Natural Resource Based Recreation and Public Access
The City shall provide opportunities for appropriate recreational uses and access
to public waterways, the beach and natural areas and shall restrict activities that
harm or diminish the public's right to use such publicly owned natural resources.
Policy D.3.5.1 The City shall prohibit the closure or abandonment of public right-of-
ways or public lands that would restrict access to any public water
bodies.
Policy D.3.5.2 The City shall enforce the requirements for public access to beach
areas as set forth in the Coastal Protection Act of 1985 in all permitting
activities and through the course of coastal redevelopment programs.
Policy D.3.5.3 The City shall prohibit the closure of existing beach and waterway
accesses and any presently unopened easements, except in the case
of risk to public safety as determined by the City's public safety
officials, or in the case of adverse environmental impact.
Policy D.3.5.4 The City shall adopt within its Land Development Regulations
provisions to provide for the appropriate recreational use of surface
waters within the City that under public control or City ownership
including dock construction, mooring and anchoring and resource
protection regulations to the extent that the City has regulatory control
over such resources.
Policy D.3.5.5 The beach, River Branch Preserve, Dutton Island Preserve and
Tideviews Preserve are the most significant natural resources within
the City, and provision for the public's use, enjoyment and access to
these natural resources shall be a priority of the City through the
provision of activities and facilities that are appropriate to character
and environment of each location.
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-10 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Goal D.4
The City shall promote and encourage energy conservation and efficiency in an
effort to reduce greenhouse gas omissions and protect the environment.
Objective D.4.1
Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation
The City shall encourage the development and use of renewable energy resources in
order to conserve and protect the value of land, buildings, and resources, and to
promote the good health of the City's residents.
Policy D.4.1.1
Policy D.4.1.2
Policy D.4.1.3
Policy D.4.1.4
The City shall maintain an energy efficient land use pattern and shall
continue to promote the use of transit and alternative methods of
transportation that decrease reliance on the automobile.
The City shall continue to encourage and develop the "walk -ability and
bike -ability" of the City as a means to promote the physical health of
the City's residents, access to recreational and natural resources, and
as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
No action of the City shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting solar
collectors, or other energy devices based on renewable resources from
being installed on a building and as further set forth within Section
163.04, Florida Statutes.
The City shall continue to promote and enforce energy efficient design
and construction standards as these become adopted as part of the
State Building Codes. The City shall also promote commercial and
residential standards that are promulgated from time to time by the
Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc.
Objective D.4.2
The City shall improve energy conservation and efficiency in City
buildings, facilities and equipment.
Policy D.4.2.1
Policy D.4.2.2
Policy D.4.2.3
The City shall develop and implement an energy management plan to
minimize electric, fuel and water resources in City buildings, fleet
vehicles and on public properties.
The City shall conduct periodic energy audits of public buildings and
facilities to identify methods to reduce energy consumption and
improve energy efficiency.
Public buildings and facilities shall be constructed, and adapted where
reasonably feasible to incorporate energy efficient designs and
appropriate "green" building standards. Green Building standards that
2010 EAR Based Amendment
D-11 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09
2010-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
should be observed are contained in the Green Commercial Buildings
Designation Standard, Version 1.0, published by the Florida Green
Building Coalition, Inc.
Policy D.4.2.4 The City shall continue to replace light-duty vehicles in need of
replacement with hybrids, alternative fuel vehicles, or the most fuel-
efficient and least -polluting vehicles available for specific functions
whenever coast and reliability are similar to traditional vehicles.
2010 EAR Based Amendment D-12 Coastal Conservation Element - GOPS
Adopted March 22, 2010 by Ordinance Number 31-10-09