Title:
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Chapter 258 (Urban Bear Management), Seminole County Code of Ordinances - Consider a proposed Ordinance amending Section 258.2, Seminole County Code of Ordinances, to require Bear Awareness residential signage. Countywide (Rebecca Hammock, Development Services Director).
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Division:
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Development Services - Planning and Development
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Authorized By:
Darren Gray, County Manager
Contact/Phone Number:
Rebecca Hammock/407-665-7396
Background:
Signage is an effective tool for alerting residents to bear activity, enhancing the well-being of humans and bears. In the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the public, the Board of County Commissioners requested an amendment to Chapter 258, Urban Bear Management of the Seminole County Code of Ordinances, requiring “Bear Awareness” signage in residential communities within the County’s Urban Bear Management Area (UBMA).
The signage requirements included in Chapter 258 advise new UBMA residents of bear activity in that location.
New subdivisions and multi-family apartment complexes within the UBMA will be required to install and maintain Bear Awareness Signage at the community's entrances and exits, which will notify residents of the potential for bear encounters.
The proposed Ordinance requires all new single-family residential subdivisions and multi-family apartment complexes to include two signs at each ingress/egress location. One sign will face vehicles entering the property, and one will face vehicles exiting the property. If applicable, a minimum of one sign is required in a common area within the development, if applicable to the community.
The location of the proposed signage must be shown on the final engineering or final site plan, as applicable. The plan must also include the verbiage and a typical detail of the signs, which will be reviewed and approved by staff.
As applicable, a homeowner’s property association, property owner, or management company is responsible for owning and maintaining the required Bear Awareness Signage.
Attached is an example of a Florida Fish & Wildlife (FWC) sign. The proposed Ordinance requires that the signage include language stating that the subject property/subdivision is subject to the regulations of Chapter 258, Urban Bear Management, of the Seminole County Code.
Requested Action:
Staff requests the Board adopt the proposed Ordinance amending Section 258.2 of Chapter 258, Urban Bear Management of the Seminole County Code of Ordinances to require Bear Awareness residential signage.