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Committee preserves and consolidates marine‑turtle and dune protections in draft beach chapter
Summary
Committee reviewed language transferring marine‑turtle protections and dune preservation rules into the proposed beach chapter, asked staff to retain key lighting and hole‑filling provisions and to cross‑reference the land development code where appropriate.
St. Pete Beach — The committee reviewed proposed transfers of marine‑turtle, dune‑preservation and wildlife‑protection language into the draft Chapter 95 and directed staff to preserve key protections while clarifying cross references and enforcement.
Key items examined: Committee members asked staff to keep the substantive marine‑turtle protections — including prohibitions on disturbance, restrictions on lighting and a fill‑in‑holes requirement — even as portions of the marine‑turtle lighting regulations might remain in the land development code for technical reasons related to SB 180.
Lighting and occlusion: Staff noted that guidance from state reviewers suggests a 30 percent occlusion standard for lighting mitigation in some circumstances, but the city has been enforcing a 45 percent occlusion threshold; staff said they would preserve existing 45 percent protections for sites that already complied pending any change tied to a future marine‑turtle lighting update.
Sand holes, sculptures and protective behavior: Members asked staff to make explicit that sand castles, child‑dug holes and other objects that could trap or block nesting turtles or pose a hazard to children must be filled before leaving the beach. The committee also asked staff to cross‑reference sea‑turtle season dates (staff indicated May 1 through Oct. 31 for nesting season) and to add bird‑nesting season where appropriate.
Dogs and service animals: The committee asked that the dog rules explicitly cross‑reference the service‑animal definition in state statute and that the ordinance clearly prohibit dogs from disturbing nests on both public and private sand where nesting occurs.
Next steps: Staff will retain marine‑turtle language, clarify cross‑references between Chapter 95 and the land development code, and return consolidated text for committee review and public hearings.
