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Nassau County schedules Aug. 11 public hearing on beach driving changes and protected species management plan
Summary
County staff asked the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners July 16 to set a public hearing on Aug. 11 to consider proposed amendments to Chapter 23.5 that would limit beach driving during sea turtle nesting season and formalize a protected species management plan.
County staff briefed the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners July 16 on consultant recommendations to amend Chapter 23.5, the county’s regulations on beach activities, and asked the board to set a public hearing for Aug. 11 to consider the changes in a public forum.
Staff told the board that the county directed a working committee in roughly 2018–2020 to review beach ordinances, resulting in a comprehensive rewrite adopted in 2020 and amendments in 2021. An environmental consultant recently reviewed the county’s ordinances and on‑the‑ground conditions and recommended a set of changes to protect nesting sea turtles and clarify enforcement.
Among the recommendations staff highlighted is limiting beach driving during sea turtle nesting season by requiring vehicles off the beach at 7:30 p.m. (the current allowable time is 9 p.m.), with the 9 p.m. allowance to resume outside nesting season. Staff also described establishing a conservation zone that would extend 10 feet seaward from the permanent line of vegetation and said county staff and the consultant have already relocated barriers and signage in areas where driving is allowed.
The proposed ordinance would additionally clarify definitions and state that the expense of towing a vehicle from the beach, if needed, would be the owner’s responsibility. Staff also said they reviewed the underlying state law arising from Senate Bill 1577 and other statutory provisions relating to prohibited beach driving areas as part of the update.
Chair and commissioners agreed to set a public hearing for Aug. 11; staff said the protected species management plan would be presented at the same hearing. No ordinance was adopted on July 16; the hearing will allow public comment and formal consideration.
Speakers during this item included county staff and the county manager, who led the presentation. The board did not take a final vote on the ordinance at the July 16 meeting.
