More northeast Florida coastline to ban driving

Northeast Florida beaches are some of the finest in the south, and one of the favorite attractions to both St Augustine and St Johns County visitors is the ability to operate a motor vehicle and park directly on the beach. Those days may be numbered, as this popular form of beach entertainment comes under attack, and loses.

To our south, Flagler County already prohibits driving on their rocky beaches; and, this afternoon the Volusia County Board of Commissioners voted to approve an ordinance that will make it possible to ban driving on some parts of Daytona Beach.

The controversial ordinance was approved after Volusia County Council members listened to several hours of comments from citizens representing both sides of the issue.

So who is happy about this decision? Hoteliers. Backing the ban, Florida’s Seminole Indian Tribe who want to build a Hard Rock Hotel, and a developer who says he wants to build an oceanfront Westin Hotel.

Before beach driving can be stopped, the hotels would have to be completed, creating the arguable safety concern for its guests walking out to the ocean. Volusia County Council Chairman Jason Davis told reporters that this may take several years to be enacted.

“This ordinance sets the groundwork,” Davis said. “Now, people could start up a new hotel and try to have cars removed from the beach.”