Walton County Commission to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Customary Use Ordinance
During the Board of County Commissioner’s Meeting on October 11th, the BCC was presented with a Proposed Customary Use Ordinance (LINK BELOW) as prepared by David Theriaque, the county’s contracted attorney for customary use.
In order to give the public an opportunity to comment on the draft ordinance, the WCBCC has scheduled a Public Workshop on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The meeting will be held at the South Walton Courthouse Annex located at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach, FL.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the draft ordinance which would define and regulate the public’s customary use of the beaches in Walton County.
Additionally, anyone who is unable to attend the meeting, or would like to give comment in lieu of attending, can email comments to the Walton County Attorney’s Office at beachissues@co.walton.fl.us. Any comments that are sent to this address will be distributed to the County Commission as well as entered into the official record of the meeting.
If the public should have any questions prior to the meeting, they may contact the Walton County Department of Public Information at 850-951-7101.
DRAFT DATED 10-6-16
ORDINANCE NO:
AN ORDINANCE OF WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROTECTING THE PUBLIC’S LONG-STANDING CUSTOMARY USE OF THE DRY SAND AREAS OF THE BEACHES; PROVIDING FOR A BUFFER AREA AROUND PRIVATE PERMANENT STRUCTURES; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING AUTHORITY, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the recreational use of the dry sand areas of all of the beaches in the County is a treasured asset of the County which is utilized by the public at large, including residents and visitors to the County; and
WHEREAS, the dry sand areas of all of the beaches in the County are a vital economic asset to the County and the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, the public at large, including residents and visitors to the County, have utilized the dry sand areas of all of the beaches in the County for recreational purposes since time immemorial; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Supreme Court in City of Daytona Beach v. Tona-Rama, Inc., 294 So. 2d 73, 75 (Fla. 1974), expressly recognized the doctrine of customary use in the state of Florida; and
WHEREAS, the research and analysis of Dr. James Miller, as well as the testimony of citizens of the County, confirm that the doctrine of customary use has applied to all of the beaches in Walton County since before 1970; and
WHEREAS, the County desires to ensure that the public’s long-standing customary use of the dry sand areas of all of the beaches in Walton County for recreational purposes is protected; and
WHEREAS, the County recognizes and acknowledges the rights of private property owners to enjoy and utilize their property; and
WHEREAS, the County desires to establish a twenty-five (25) foot buffer zone around any permanent structure owned by a private entity that is located on, or adjacent to, the dry sand areas of the beach; and
WHEREAS, the public at large, including the residents and visitors to the County, shall not utilize such twenty-five (25) foot buffer zone, except to utilize an existing or future beach access point for ingress and egress to the beach; and
DRAFT DATED 10-6-16
WHEREAS, such twenty-five (25) foot buffer zone is not intended to constitute an abandonment of the public’s right, based upon its long-standing customary use, to utilize the dry sand areas for recreational purposes in such buffer zone, but rather is provided voluntarily and solely as an accommodation to the private property rights of those individuals who own property on which a portion of the dry sand areas of the beach is located; and
WHEREAS, no entity shall interfere with the public’s ability to continue its long-standing customary use of the dry sand areas located outside of the twenty-five (25) foot buffer zone; and
WHEREAS, the owners of property that contains a portion of the dry sand areas of the beach may make any use of their property which is consistent with such public use and not calculated to interfere with the exercise of the right of the public to enjoy the dry sand area as a recreational adjunct of the wet sand or foreshore area.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE WALTON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT CHAPTER 23 OF THE WALTON COUNTY CODE OF
ORDINANCES IS HEREBY CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: AUTHORITY.
The authority for the enactment of this Ordinance is Chapter 125, Florida Statutes.
SECTION 2: REGULATION OF DRY SAND AREAS.
The public’s long-standing customary use of the dry sand areas of all of the beaches in the County for recreational purposes is hereby protected. Except as stated in Paragraph 3, no individual, group, or entity shall impede or interfere with the right of the public at large, including the residents and visitors of the County, to utilize the dry sand areas of the beach that are owned by private entities for recreational purposes.
The dry sand area of the beach is defined as the zone of unconsolidated material that extends landward from the mean high water line to the place where there is marked change in material or physiographic form, or to the line of permanent vegetation, usually the effective limit of storm waves, whichever is more seaward.
The public at large, including the residents and visitors of the County, voluntarily agrees to not utilize a twenty-five (25) foot buffer zone around any permanent commercial or residential structure owned by a private entity that is located on, or adjacent to, the dry sand areas of the beach, except as is necessary to utilize an existing or future beach access point for ingress and egress to the beach.
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DRAFT DATED 10-6-16
The following recreational activities are permitted for members of the public on the dry sand areas of the beach that are owned by private entities: walking; jogging; sitting on the sand, in a beach chair, or on a beach towel or blanket; using beach umbrellas; sunbathing; shell collecting; picnicking; fishing; throwing a Frisbee; building sand castles; and similar traditional recreational activities.
The following recreational activities are prohibited for members of the public on the dry sand areas of the beach that are owned by private entities: erection of camping tents, beach tents, and sun shelters.
SECTION 3: PENALTY PROVISION.
A violation of this Chapter shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00. Each occurrence of a violation, or, in the case of continuing violations, each day a violation occurs or continues, constitutes a separate offense. In addition to issuance of fines, the County shall have the power to sue for relief in civil court to enforce the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. SEVERABILITY.
If any portion of this Ordinance is determined by any Court to be invalid, the invalid portion shall be stricken, and such striking shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Ordinance. If any Court determines that this Ordinance, or any portion hereof, cannot be legally applied to any individual(s), group(s), entity(ies), property(ies), or circumstance(s), such determination shall not affect the applicability hereof to any other individual, group, entity, property, or circumstance.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the Walton County Board of County Commissioners, as provided by law.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED in regular session, by the Board of County Commissioners of Walton County, Florida, this _______ day of _____________ 2016.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA
Attest:
____________________________ ______________________________
Alex Alford, Clerk of Circuit Court Sara Comander, Chair
and County Comptroller
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