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South Patrick Residents Association
Supporting Community & Accountability
Supporting Community & Accountability
South Patrick Residents Association (SPRA) is a 501 (c) (4) nonprofit that represents residents in South Patrick Shores. SPRA was first incorporated in 1965 and has been actively involved in community service for over 50 years.
SPRA serves households located within County Commission District 4 in unincorporated Brevard County and works closely with county elected officials, state elected officials, and government agencies, in order to further the best interests of our community. Our all-volunteer association continues to be a powerful and influential voice representing our area’s interests in local government affairs, as well as helping to make needed improvements in our community. We also communicate directly with the homeowner associations located within South Patrick Shores to ensure that there is a solid working relationship and a united voice on issues that impact the entire area.
In addition, a strong membership helps support our united effort to enhance the SPRA area and to further assure that our voices are heard and that we maintain a quality location in which to live, work, and play.
Golf Cart and LSV Update for South Patrick Shores (SPS) by Rick Mariani
As per County ordinance: Use of a golf cart on our streets or side walks in the unincorporated County area of South Patrick Shores is prohibited by Brevard County Ordinance 106-73. LSVs may not drive on SR513 (South Patrick Drive) or the adjacent sidewalks. Both golf Carts and LSVs may only be driven by individuals with a valid driver’s license. The Brevard County Sheriffs Office (BCSO) requests residents who observe traffic safety violations, particularly violations of the above Brevard County Ordinance to call 321-633-7162 ext. 4 to aid in BCSO’s enforcement efforts.
Brevard County Ordinance 106.72 & 106.73
https://library.municode.com/fl/brevard_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH106TRVE_ARTIIIGOCA_S106-72DE
- Designated multi-use sidewalks shall mean all sidewalks approved for use by pedestrians, bicycles and golf carts and designated as such by appropriate signs. The required signage shall be provided and maintained by the private entity, homeowners' association, community development district or special district seeking to designate multi-use sidewalks. Multi-use sidewalks shall have a minimum un-obstructed width of eight feet, be located not less than five feet from the outside edge of the nearest traffic lane of any adjacent road or street, and have one adjoining grassed shoulder which is relatively flat and not less than four feet wide.
- Golf cart shall mean a motor vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes.
- Operation of golf carts (106.73) The County lists the County areas where golf carts are allowed to operate upon the streets, roads, multi-use sidewalks, and trails designated for their lawful operation. The list does not include the unincorporated area of South Patrick Shores.
State of Florida Statute Section 320.01(41) & 320.01(22)
https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/consumer-education/low-speed-vehicles/
Low Speed Vehicles Brochure for print
Low Speed Vehicles
Section 320.01(41), Florida Statutes, defines LSVs as “any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour.” LSVs must be registered, titled and insured with personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Any person operating an LSV must have a valid driver license in their immediate possession.
LSVs may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 MPH or less and must be equipped with the following safety equipment:
- Headlamps;
- Front and rear turn signals;
- Stop lamps;
- Tail lamps;
- Reflex reflectors, red – one each side and one on the rear;
- Exterior mirror on the driver side and an interior rear-view mirror or exterior mirror on passenger side;
- Parking brake;
- Windshield;
- Seat belt for each designated seat; and a
- Vehicle identification number (VIN).
- Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin;
- Form HSMV 82040 (Application for Title);
- Proof of Florida insurance (minimum $10,000 PDL and $10, 000 PIP);
- Identification – driver license, ID card or passport; and
- Applicable fees
Golf Carts
Golf carts are defined in section 320.01(22), Florida Statutes, as “a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.” Golf carts may be operated on roadways that are designated for golf carts with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less. Golf carts may also cross a portion of a county road which intersects a roadway that is approved for golf carts, or that intersects a golf course or mobile home park. In both examples the roadway should have signs posted that golf carts share the roadway. The operation of golf carts on roads must comply with any more restrictive ordinances enacted by local government and should be verified prior to operating these vehicles. Beginning October 1, 2023, a person operating a golf cart on public roads or streets who is under 18 years of age must possess a valid learner’s driver license or valid driver license, and a person who is 18 years of age or older must possess a valid form of government-issued photographic identification.
Converted Golf Carts
Golf carts can be converted to LSVs (see LSV safety equipment requirements above). Buyers should be aware that if a golf cart has been modified to an LSV, the registration and title date do not reflect the manufacture date (age of the vehicle). Instead, it indicates the year it was registered and titled. This means that the vehicle could be older than the date listed on the title.
BCSO and SPRA thank you for helping to keep our community safe. BCSO can be reached at 321-633-7162 ext. 4.
South Patrick Shores Updates
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FUDS: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is planning the next phase of fieldwork at the NAS Banana River Off-Base Disposal Area. This phase will include conducting soil borings and installing groundwater monitoring wells on 20 parcels, conducting soil borings at 20 additional parcels, and collecting surface (0-24 inches) soil samples on every parcel where USACE received a signed right-of-entry form. USACE anticipates mobilizing to the site for fieldwork on September 15, 2025, and continuing fieldwork through the end of November. We will be mailing letters with more details to property owners within the Off-Base Disposal Area soon, and as before, representatives will place door hangers with the specific date and time of work on individual parcels at least two days prior to working on that property.
Please visit the project website for more information (www.saj.usace.army.mil/BananaRiver). If you have any questions or concerns, please email FUDS.Florida@usace.army.mil or call 800.710.5184.
Formerly Used Defense Sites Program
Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
800.710.5184
FUDS.Florida@usace.army.mil - Grand Canal Dredging Update: The County Commission voted to complete the north Grand Canal project including Lake Shepard and two other ingress/egress canals. Current dredging is ongoing at Lake Shepard.
- Berkeley Canal stormwater concrete flume: The flume along Jolly Rodger is broken on the northeast side of the Jolly Roger bridge. It is dislodged and not allowing proper drainage into the Berkeley Canal. SPRA reported this issue to Commissioner Feltner’s office for assessment and repair.
- Boating/Watercraft Reminder: The legal wake zones throughout our canals are slow speed minimum wake zones, especially with the seasonal dredging that began in March. This slow speed helps to protect wildlife, mangrove vegetation, and property along our waterways.
- Community Projects: Project suggestions through area directors are welcome.
No Motor Vehicles Sidewalk Signs
Brevard County recently installed five, 2-sided signs at selected sidewalk locations stating that No Motor Vehicles are permitted to drive on South Patrick Shores sidewalks.
Golf carts are not lawfully permitted on our local sidewalks, with the intent to ensure safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others using these sidewalks.
The map below indicates the location of these new signs.
South Patrick Drive (S.R. 513) Road Improvements
Financial Project Identification (FPID) Number: 448792-1
Financial Project Identification (FPID) Number: 448792-1
https://www.cflroads.com/project/448792-1
Project Contact Information: Samuel Jumber, P.E., FDOT Project Manager 1-386-943-5244 Samuel.Jumber@dot.state.fl.us
In my conversations with South Patrick Shores residents, I have yet to speak with someone who believes that they and their families are safer with a 45 MPH speed limit in our South Patrick Shores community of residences, schools, churches, a fire station, and our local county park. SR A1A has a consistent 35 MPH speed limit southward from the Pineda (SR 404). Speed south of the Eau Gallie (SR 518) along N. Riverside Drive was lowered to 35 MPH years ago, but, South Patrick Drive, is set at 40 MPH through Indian Harbour and Satellite and increases to 45 MPH through South Patrick Shores to the Pineda. The cost of safety and the fact that we are a true beach community that has only two (2) main north/south corridors, should ensure that consistency in speed and safety must be considered throughout the beachside area.
Satellite Beach-Imposed Fees at Hightower/Pelican Parks Won't Come at Cost for County Residents
BREVARD COUNTY, FL. – Brevard County residents are eligible for free parking and beach access at Hightower Beach Park and Pelican Beach Park even as the City of Satellite Beach implements a Beach Parking Fee Program for out-of-town visitors to its beachside parks.
Annual Parking Permits are available online effective today (Friday, Sept. 1.) Permit applications require a minimum of 72 hours to be processed. The hourly and daily parking rates will be implemented on Friday, Sept, 15.
Both Hightower Beach Park and Pelican Beach Park are former county-owned properties, which were deeded to the City of Satellite Beach in 2013. Parking at these locations will remain free for all Brevard County residents with proper passes, which can be obtained at the City of Satellite Beach parking website. Passes will be required for other Satellite Beach beachside parking areas.
Satellite Beach is implementing these daily parking rates (effective Sept. 15):
- Brevard County residents are eligible to obtain a free annual pass that will allow parking at Hightower Beach East Parking Lot and Pelican Beach Park without being required to pay the daily parking rates.
- For anyone residing outside of Satellite Beach city limits, the annual pass rate is $75 for access to ALL of the beach parking areas within the City of Satellite Beach, or $2.50 per hour with a maximum of $10 per day. A mobile phone convenience fee of $0.35 will be added to each mobile phone payment.
- Brevard County residents wishing to visit any other beachside park within Satellite Beach will need to purchase an annual pass at the rate of $75, or pay $2.50 per hour with a maximum of $10 per day.
- City of Satellite Beach residents are eligible to obtain a free annual pass that will allow parking at all beach accesses and parking areas without being required to pay the daily parking rates.
All rate customers can pay either through an App, by phone, or through kiosks that will be provided at Pelican, Hightower, and Shell Street in Satellite Beach.
For questions on the Beach Parking Fee Program or how to obtain a beach parking pass, please call (321) 425-2522. Annual Parking Permits may be applied for any time of the year. (Public notice sent by Brevard County)
Tree Planting Community Project
The Tree Planting Community Project for Earth Day was held on April 8th, 2023 at 9:00 AM at the South Patrick Community Park, with many willing volunteers in attendance who prepared the soil and planted the trees. In addition, three residents stepped up to water the new plantings over the next several months. This project was funded by SPRA for the benefit of the South Patrick Shores community.
Conserving Hightower Beach Park – Our Oceanfront Legacy
Grant Award Agreements between FDEP, the City of Satellite Beach, and Brevard County for the Hightower Beach Park 18.5 acre site, set “restricted use” precedents. Obligations and responsibilities for activities and improvements on the oceanfront Park must be in accordance with use “restricted to public open space, limited recreation, and conservation use in perpetuity”. The following document was sent to the County Commissioners, County Manager, County Attorney, other relevant County staff, Florida Legislators, FDEP, FWC, and SJRWMD.It is critical to hold all parties, Brevard County, the City of Satellite Beach, and FDEP, accountable for their ongoing contractual obligations, and to ensure that the highest and best public interest is achieved with regard to Hightower Beach Park.
You are partners, who have obligated yourselves to purposeful, conservation efforts at Hightower, as well as to specified uses. These intended uses set the precedent for conservation and passive, public recreational uses enumerated in the two (2) page attachment citing these various contractual agreements by and between the three parties. They are the guiding documents that all signatories are obligated to follow in order to expedite the intended uses and to best serve the public interest and trust.
It is also important to view and understand that the totality of the oceanside beach park we know as Hightower Beach Park is crafted from several parcels, all of which adjoin each other with the expressed purpose of creating a unique, oceanfront park. This was intended to create a gestalt, where the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parcels. Thus, if development impinges on any portion of the Park, it impacts these contiguous properties as well.
Clearly, intended uses do not include an aerial walkway over SR A1A, with an estimated 440 square foot foundation on the east side of SR A1A and east of the sidewalk at Hightower. This would negatively impact Hightower Beach Park, in order to meet the developer’s demands and desires, as well as benefit the developer, not Hightower Beach Park conservation efforts, nor the public. It has been suggested that such a structure would provide safety for the general public, but instead, it would provide a walkway specifically designed for hotel customers. SR A1A already has a reduced speed limit at 35 MPH, as well as superior crosswalks in place for safety. Constructing this looming, aerial structure and foundation footprint would work in direct opposition to the intent of the existing contractural agreements and the public trust.
In addition to the legitimate concerns expressed above, impacts from lighting on nesting turtles (FWC oversight) and amplified, stormwater impacts (SJRWMD oversight) can negatively impact the park area, if this concrete behemoth is constructed on the east side of SR A1A.
The Park is for the use of all Florida residents and tourists alike, where no discrimination should be made with regard to use, access, or fees, irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries.
Now, our residents look forward, with promise, for all parties to assume their appropriate responsibilities to follow, enforce, and preserve the expressed intent of these agreements and the pledges made, in order not to diminish the value of Hightower Beach Park and to provide a natural legacy for the future.
Ayn Marie Samuelson MS, MPA, president SPRA
A 501 (c)(4) Supporting Community & Accountability