House Bill 3601

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3601

        By Representative Merchant






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to road designations;

  3         designating a portion of State Road A1A in the

  4         towns of Ocean Ridge and Manalapan in Palm

  5         Beach County as a state historic and scenic

  6         highway; providing definitions; prohibiting the

  7         expenditure of state funds for certain

  8         purposes; providing for the application of the

  9         act; directing the Division of Historical

10         Resources to provide for the erection of

11         suitable markers; providing an effective date.

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13         WHEREAS, State Road A1A in Palm Beach County is lined

14  by many early homes depicting architectural history in the

15  county, and

16         WHEREAS, State Road A1A was the main route of travel

17  and commerce for the early residents of lands now incorporated

18  within the towns of Ocean Ridge and Manalapan, and

19         WHEREAS, State Road A1A in the towns of Ocean Ridge and

20  Manalapan maintains its original character and appearance, in

21  contrast to other, more modern highways and roads in Palm

22  Beach County, and

23         WHEREAS, the residents of the towns of Ocean Ridge and

24  Manalapan desire to maintain the historic and esthetic beauty

25  of State Road A1A in their respective jurisdictions, NOW,

26  THEREFORE,

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28  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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30         Section 1.  As used in this act, the term "A1A," also

31  known as "North and South Ocean Boulevards," means those

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3601

    513-169A-98






  1  portions of A1A located between the northernmost boundary of

  2  the town of Manalapan and the southernmost boundary of Ocean

  3  Ridge in Palm Beach County.

  4         Section 2.  That portion of State Road A1A described in

  5  section 1 is hereby designated as a state historic and scenic

  6  highway.  No state funds shall be expended by any public body

  7  or agency for the following purposes:

  8         (1)  To cut or remove any tree having a diameter at its

  9  thickest part in excess of 4 inches within 35 feet of either

10  side of the paved surface of the highway, or to engage in any

11  activity which requires the removal without replacement of

12  such a tree.

13         (2)  To alter the physical dimensions or location of

14  the highway except for the addition of primary or secondary

15  roads intersecting the limits of A1A.

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17  Nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent the ordinary

18  maintenance and repair of A1A, provided the physical

19  dimensions and location of the highway are preserved, nor to

20  prevent any work that is necessary for the public health or

21  safety as determined by the agency having jurisdiction over

22  the portion of A1A involved, nor to prevent such action deemed

23  necessary to clear or maintain the highway subsequent to a

24  natural disaster such as a hurricane.  With respect to that

25  portion of A1A located within the jurisdiction of the town of

26  Manalapan, nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent

27  the removal of invasive plant species on the highway or

28  highway right-of-way.  The term "ordinary maintenance" means

29  those activities necessary to preserve the existing traffic

30  patterns and to accommodate the volume of traffic operating on

31  A1A on the effective date of this act.  However, the

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3601

    513-169A-98






  1  preservation of A1A and its landscaping take priority over

  2  considerations of traffic management, and the public safety

  3  shall not be construed to require alterations in A1A or its

  4  landscaping when alternative means of promoting safety,

  5  including more restrictive regulations, are available.

  6         Section 3.  The Division of Historical Resources of the

  7  Department of State shall provide for the erection of suitable

  8  markers on and along A1A, as described in section 1 of this

  9  act.

10         Section 4.  The provisions of this act shall not

11  supersede a more restrictive law, ordinance, or rule already

12  in effect or taking effect after the effective date of this

13  act.

14         Section 5.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

15  law.

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17            *****************************************

18                          HOUSE SUMMARY

19
      Designates a portion of State Road A1A in the towns of
20    Ocean Ridge and Manalapan in Palm Beach County as a state
      historic and scenic highway.  See bill for details.
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