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Hearing continued for damaged pole sign at Dunkin' on Beach Boulevard; city, owner to provide cost and photo evidence
Summary
The special magistrate continued a code-enforcement hearing concerning a damaged pole sign at 1325 Beach Boulevard — the Dunkin' location owned by RHC Associates — to June 25, 2025 so the city and the owner can provide additional evidence on damage dates and repair costs.
The special magistrate continued a code-enforcement hearing concerning a damaged pole sign at 1325 Beach Boulevard — the former Dunkin' location owned by RHC Associates — to June 25, 2025 so the city and the property owner can gather additional evidence about when the sign was damaged and the cost of repairing or replacing it.
Christian Capaldi, senior planner for the City of Jacksonville Beach, said pole signs were made legal nonconforming many years ago and cited city code provisions in Division 34-450 that govern nonconforming signs. Capaldi told the magistrate that if a nonconforming pole sign is damaged and the cost to repair or restore the sign is 50% or more of the cost of replacement, “it shall be removed or rebuilt in full conformity with this division,” i.e., as a monument sign. He also noted a building official may require immediate removal if a sign is unsafe.
Valter Amaral, who appeared on behalf of the current owner, said he had reached out to vendors for repair estimates but did not yet have a firm cost. Amaral supplied a sworn statement that Google Street View imagery from May 2024 appears to show the top portion missing, which would suggest the sign has been in a damaged state for more than 180 days. Amaral said one vendor told him the pole portion could not be repaired and would need to be replaced as a monument sign.
Kevin Patel, who said he is negotiating to become the new Dunkin' franchisee and potential operator of the site, described a multi-step franchise-approval process that would take months (roughly 60–90 days for brand approvals and additional time for engineering and manufacturing of a compliant monument sign) if the parties decide to replace the sign.
The magistrate directed the city and the owner to produce additional evidence — including hard-copy Google Street View printouts and any vendor cost estimates or structural assessments — and continued the matter to the June 25, 2025 special magistrate hearing. No fine was issued at this hearing.
