Section 62-330.488 - General Permit to Governmental Entities for Certain Public Use Facilities at Public Natural Areas(1) A general permit is granted to governmental entities to construct, operate, and maintain public use facilities on public natural areas. For purposes of this rule, "public natural areas" are predominantly undeveloped lands owned by the governmental entity and that are dedicated and managed for the preservation, restoration and maintenance of those lands. The public use facilities authorized by this permit are a parking lot or parking area and an at-grade access road, not to exceed a total size of 2 acres of impervious surface located entirely in uplands; at-grade access trails located entirely in uplands; restroom buildings and open-air shelters located entirely in uplands; pile-supported boardwalks having a maximum width of 6 feet; and pile-supported observation platforms, any of which shall not exceed 120 square feet in size.(2) The facilities and work must comply with the following:(a) No fill shall be placed in, on, or over wetlands or other surface waters, except pilings for pile-supported boardwalks and observation platforms. All structures located in, on, or over wetlands and other surface waters shall be sited and constructed to minimize wetland impacts and the removal of trees having a diameter at breast height of 4 inches or greater. To minimize shading of wetland vegetation, all pile-supported boardwalks and observation platforms located in, on, or over wetlands and other surface waters shall be elevated at least two feet above mean high water for tidal waters, at least two feet above seasonal high water for non-tidal waters, or four feet above ground surface, whichever is greater. The total area pile-supported structures over wetlands and other surface waters shall not exceed 10, 000 square feet.(b) All stormwater flow from the impervious surfaces shall sheet flow into uplands. Impervious surfaces shall be no more than one percent of the total acreage of the public natural area, not to exceed a total size of 2 acres of impervious surface. If pervious or semi-impervious surfaces or materials are used, the maximum area of roads, parking lots, parking areas and trails shall not exceed 2 acres, regardless of the total acreage of the public natural area. Water quality treatment shall be provided for the first inch of runoff from the impervious and semi-impervious surfaces.(c) Impervious surfaces subject to vehicular traffic shall be constructed a minimum of 75 feet from any wetland or other surface water. Buildings and shelters shall be constructed a minimum of 25 feet away from any wetland or other surface water.(d) Piling supported structures may not be located over coral, seagrasses or other submerged aquatic vegetation.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-330.488
Rulemaking Authority 373.026(7), 373.043, 373.118(1), 373.406(5), 373.4131, 373.414(9), 373.4145, 373.418, 403.805(1) FS. Law Implemented 373.118(1), 373.406(5), 373.4131, 373.414(9), 373.4145, 373.416, 373.418, 403.814(1) FS.