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Council adopts ordinance exempting east side of A1A from sidewalk requirement to protect dunes
Summary
The Boca Raton City Council on Jan. 28 adopted Ordinance No. 57-23, a staff-initiated text amendment to city code that removes the mandatory sidewalk/widening requirement for development on the east side of State Road A1A north of Palmetto Park Road to protect dune vegetation; the measure passed 5–0.
The Boca Raton City Council on Jan. 28 approved Ordinance No. 57-23, a city-initiated amendment to chapter 23 that specifies the city will not require installation or widening of sidewalks for development on the east side of State Road A1A north of Palmetto Park Road.
The change, presented by Mariela Overdorf, a planning intern in the Development Services Department, is intended to protect beach dunes and dune vegetation from alteration tied to sidewalk construction. "This ordinance will ensure the protection of environmentally sensitive land dunes and dune vegetation, which exist on the east side of A1A," Overdorf said during the presentation. Staff noted the Planning & Zoning Board recommended the change 4–1.
Supporters framed the amendment as a clarification of existing comprehensive-plan intent to preserve the dune system; staff told the council the code change does not prevent a public agency or private owner from later installing sidewalks on the east side if they obtain required permits. Staff also said the Florida Department of Transportation’s current plans do not include continuous sidewalks on both sides of A1A.
Mayor Singer opened and then closed the public hearing after calling for comments; no members of the public addressed this item. A motion to adopt the ordinance carried unanimously and was recorded as 5–0.
The ordinance amends the city’s sidewalk policy in the code (chapter 23, article 4, division 4, section 23-162) and includes standard severability and codification language; the text states the effective date and appeals rights. The council did not attach additional conditions to the ordinance. Council members said they saw the amendment as preserving environmental quality while leaving future sidewalk decisions possible under permitting.
