DRIVING ON

VOLUSIA COUNTY BEACHES

BACKGROUND

Volusia County has 47 miles of beaches (which includes the Halifax area – 33.9 miles - and New Smyrna area – 13.1 miles). Of that, 6 miles is under state jurisdiction (in the Ormond-by-the-Sea area (while Volusia County still provides rescue in that area). Driving is allowed on 16 miles.

The Volusia Beach Advisory Board is reviewing the current policy of driving on Volusia County’s beaches. By the end of the year, the County Council is scheduled to receive a report from its beach advisers that may recommend eliminating beach driving, changing driving zones or leaving things be. In January, the County Council listed a goal to consider whether beach driving should be eliminated by 2010 thus charging the Advisory Board to review the issue. The Board has discussed 3 aspects of the issue: economics, environment and safety.

At its June meeting, the Beach Advisory Board heard that fender benders on the beach more than tripled between 2001 and 2002. With 63 accidents reported this year, Beach Patrol Director Kevin Sweat told the advisory panel that the count will surpass the 87 mark from 2002.

In 1995, beach driving was the crux of a lawsuit regarding the safety of seaturtles and their nesting habitat. The County is now pursuing an application to renew a federal permit that would allow beach driving for another 25 years. Officials at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are gauging whether driving on the beach is harmful to migratory birds and has not yet notified the county on its application.

Beach driving is the only way to provide public access to the beach. Under the county's charter, county officials would be obligated to provide off-beach parking if beach driving was eliminated,

A report prepared for the County Council in 2000 shows not that many out-of-town visitors park or drive on the beach and beach driving is not a money-maker for Volusia. Other reports also show that running the beach costs more money than the county makes in the tolls it charges motorists to get onto the sand.

POSITION

In reference to the Volusia Habitat Conservation Plan which was developed as a result

of the seaturtles/beachlighting lawsuit, the Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber supported the implementation of traffic free zones (with driving allowed on other parts of the beach).

The Chamber also felt there should be more beautification of beach approaches. Each

approach should reflect the ambiance of the local community or adjacent properties. Beautification of these approaches can be done collectively or on an individual basis

The Chamber reiterates its support for traffic-free zones (with driving allowed on

other parts of the beach) and to find more off-beach parking. There are several lots along A1A where off-beach parking could be interspersed between hotels and condominiums on the East Side of A1A.

The Chamber would like to see an update of the Beach Master Plan which would

encompass beach driving, beautification, approaches, off-beach parking, administration, as well as aspects of the beach.

9/2003