By Steve Plunkett
Town Attorney Keith Davis’ first attempt to update Briny Breezes’ rules on sea turtles, lights and fires on the beach did not go smoothly.
Mayor Ted Gross wondered why the town even needed such an ordinance if Palm Beach County already has one. But the county’s rules don’t apply to towns and cities, he was told.
At another point the proposed ordinance said “no artificial light” can illuminate the beach. But Gross said that sea turtles cannot see certain hues of light and that the phrasing needed work.
“I’m not trying to be mean to the turtles,” he said.
Attorney Trey Nazzaro, filling in for Davis, said the proposed update was mostly to correct the dates of sea turtle season and to make Briny’s ordinance match other towns’ regulations. The current ordinance, for example, strongly encourages residents to position or shield outdoor lights away from the beach.
“Now we’re going from ‘you’re strongly encouraged’ to ‘you shall obey’ these rules,” Nazzaro said.
Another sticking point was changing “No fires shall be permitted” on the beach to “No bonfires or other fires shall be permitted.”
The concern is that a sea turtle digging a nest might be burned by hot coals covered by sand, or that a person might step on coals and sue the town.
But several people thought celebratory bonfires such as those often seen in Lake Worth Beach should be allowed.
Michael Gallacher, general manager of Briny Breezes Inc., said streetlights on Old Ocean Boulevard and lights at the clubhouse at the beach were already “turtle friendly” and would not need shields that the proposed ordinance would require. “There’s no glare from those lights on the beach and we’ve never been asked to change that,” he said. “I think we’re getting overzealous with this almost.”
Because Aldermen Bill Birch and Kathy Gross were absent, the council decided to table a vote on the ordinance changes until July. Nazzaro will write a memo for them summarizing the discussion.
Comments