Duval County SPP Atlantic Beach Parking Correction Memo Jul2020
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
Environmental Protection
Bob Martinez Center
2600 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400
Ron DeSantis Governor
Jeanette Nuñez
Lt. Governor
Noah Valenstein
Secretary
Memorandum
TO: City of Atlantic Beach
City of Jacksonville
FROM: Lainie Edwards, Deputy Director
Hanna Tillotson, Environmental Administrator
Andrew Briscoe, Project Manager
SUBJECT: Duval County Shore Protection Project – City of Atlantic Beach parking eligibility
DATE: July 2, 2020
The Department is charged in Chapter 161, Florida Statutes, with developing and
implementing a comprehensive, long-range statewide beach management plan. Until the
unsatisfied demand for restoring and repairing Florida’s beaches is met, the Department intends
to share in the costs of beach management projects with local sponsors. Cost sharing will only
be applied to the portion of the project necessary to benefit shoreline designated by the
Department as critically eroded. The Department shall cost share up to 50 percent of the total
costs of the non-federal share of the beach management project. The state cost share is
subject to adjustment for the level of public accessibility calculated for beach management
projects, pursuant to Chapter 62B-36.007, Florida Administrative Code (see Rule text below).
The Duval County Shore Protection Project has received state cost share from the
Department under multiple grant agreements through the Beach Management Funding
Assistance Program. The state cost share was calculated pursuant to Rule and is equal to
46.89% of the non-federal share of the project.
The public access sites of 18th and 19th Streets in the City of Atlantic Beach are
considered a secondary beach access site (as defined in Chapter 62B-36.002(14)(b), F.A.C.),
therefore the shoreline length of the access site is eligible and each unit within one-quarter mile
of that access site is eligible at the rate of 52.8 linear feet per unit for up to one-quarter mile in
either shore parallel direction. One automobile parking space is equivalent to one unit, and
eligible shorelines cannot overlap.
The public beach access and parking calculations conducted by Olsen Associates, Inc.,
dated June 2014, illustrates the eligible access along 18th and 19th Streets in the City of Atlantic
Beach. The access sites include 17.75 units at 19th Street and 50.25 units at 18th Street, which
creates an overlap of 250’ of eligible shoreline. This length equates to approximately 4.5 units,
or parking spaces, that could be removed from either access site and would not reduce the
state cost share.
In order to maintain the current state cost share of 46.89% for the Duval County Shore
Protection Project, public parking spaces must be maintained along 18th and 19th Streets in
Atlantic Beach, with the allowance of 4.5 units (parking spaces) to be removed without any
change to the eligible shoreline length.
The information regarding eligibility calculations provided in this memo corrects previous
statements by the Beach Management Funding Assistance Program (email dated 4-29-2020 to
John Reich), so we apologize for the confusion and issues that this has caused. The eligibility
calculation for grant agreement 15DU1 is not the correct or current evaluation of eligible public
access units, however the state cost share is accurate. Olsen Associates, Inc. has provided the
documentation to verify the correct eligibility along this shoreline, as discussed above. The
Department is currently amending the active grant agreement for the Duval County Shore
Protection Project, 19DU1, to reflect the eligible access along 18th and 19th Streets in the City of
Atlantic Beach.
Chapter 62B-36.007, F.A.C.:
Project shoreline lengths eligible for cost sharing are quantified at the rate of 100 units of
eligibility per mile (5,280 feet) or 52.8 feet per unit. A unit is defined as one automobile parking
space, one rental unit in a Public Lodging Establishment, one mass transit stop, or 4 bicycle
parking spots. Eligible shoreline lengths are calculated using the following criteria:
(a) Primary beach access sites (defined as a site with at least 100 units and public
restrooms) shall be granted eligibility for the shoreline length of the access site. Additional
eligibility shall be granted at a rate of 52.8 linear feet per unit for one-half mile in each shore
parallel direction for the following units;
1. Automobile parking spaces located within one quarter mile of a primary access site may
be granted eligibility for that public access site at the rate of one unit, or 52.8 feet, per parking
space.
2. Bicycle parking located within one quarter mile of a primary access site may be granted
eligibility at the rate of one-quarter of a unit, or 13.2 feet, per designated bicycle parking spot.
Bicycle parking spots used for eligibility may not exceed 211.2 feet per public access site.
3. Mass transit, such as buses or trolleys, may be granted eligibility at the rate of one unit,
or 52.8 feet, per bus stop located within one quarter mile of the public access site. Bus stops
used for eligibility may not exceed 211.2 feet per public access. In order to qualify, mass transit
must be accessible to the general public and operational year round.
(b) Beachfront public lodging establishments shall be granted eligibility based upon 52.8
feet of shoreline eligibility per unit available to the public. Maximum eligibility may not exceed
the beach front width of the property.
(c) Secondary beach access (defined as a site that may have parking and amenities, but
does not qualify as a primary beach access) sites shall be granted eligibility for the shoreline
length of the access site. Additional eligibility shall be granted at a rate of 52.8 linear feet per
unit for up to one-quarter mile in either shore parallel direction, for the following units:
1. Public lodging establishments not located on the beach front but located within one
quarter mile of a secondary public access point may contribute to the eligibility for that public
access site at the rate of 52.8 feet of shoreline eligibility per rental unit available to the public.
Maximum eligibility may not exceed the street-side frontal width of the property.
2. Bicycle parking located within one quarter mile of a secondary access site may be granted
eligibility at the rate of 13.2 feet per designated bicycle parking spot. Bicycle parking spots used
for eligibility may not exceed 211.2 feet per public access site.
3. Mass transit, such as buses or trolleys, may be granted eligibility for that public access
site at the rate of one unit, or 52.8 feet, per bus stop located within one quarter mile of the
public access site. Bus stops used for eligibility may not exceed 211.2 feet per public access. In
order to qualify, mass transit must be accessible to the general public and operational year
round.
4. Automobile parking spaces located within one quarter mile of a secondary access site
may be granted eligibility for that public access site at the rate of one unit, or 52.8 feet, per
parking space.
(d) Eligible shoreline lengths cannot overlap.
(e) The sum of the eligible shoreline lengths, as defined above, is divided by the total
project length to determine the percentage of the total project that is eligible for cost sharing.