Notice of Development of Rulemaking

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Departmental
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
14-96.007: Application Submittal, Review, Approval, and Conditions
14-96.011: Modification of Connections
14-96.0011: Forms
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Four of the incorporated forms are being amended to update the notice of hearing rights.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: The notice of hearing rights is being updated on four forms, which are incorporated by reference under Rule 14-96.0011 and referred to within the text of other rules in Rule Chapter 14-96.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 334.044(2), 334.044(28), 335.182(2) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 334.044(14), 334.044(28), 335.18 - 335.187 FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: : James C. Myers, Clerk of Agency Proceedings, Florida Department of Transportation, Office of the General Counsel, 605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 58, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:

14-96.0011 Forms.

The following forms shall be used in the connection application administrative process and are incorporated by reference and made a part of the rules of the Department:

Title

Form Number

Date

Driveway/Connection  Application – Category A

850-040-14

09/02

Driveway/Connection Application for All Categories

850-040-15

04/03

Receipt of Connection Application and Fee (or Waiver of Fee)

850-040-16

04/03

Record of Waived Requirements for All Categories

850-040-17

09/02

Driveway Connection Permit for All Categories

850-040-18

06/06 04/03

Record Drawings Report by Permittee’s Professional Engineer

850-040-19

09/02

Security Instrument Receipt

850-040-20

04/93

State Highway Access Connection Completeness Review

850-040-21

11/94

Applicant Time Extension Form

850-040-22

04/93

Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Deny Permit

850-040-23

06/06 09/02

Proposed State Highway Access Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit

850-040-24

06/06 09/02

Violation and Notice to Show Cause

850-040-26

06/06 09/02

These forms are available from the Department of Transportation’s local area Maintenance Office, District Office, Urban Area Office, or Central Office at 605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 19, Tallahassee, Florida  32399-0450.

Specific Authority 334.044(2), 334.044(28), 335.182(2) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(14), 334.044(28), 335.18 - 335.187 FS. History–New 4-18-90, Amended  7-16-95, 6-24-99, 1-28-03, 12-28-03,_________.

 

14-96.007 Application Submittal, Review, Approval, and Conditions.

(1) through (3) No change.

 (4)  Technical Planning and Engineering Sufficiency/Compliance Review.  The applicant will be notified within 90 days of receipt of a complete application, receipt of all required information, or expiration of the time period for receipt of additional or corrected information.  The notification will include the Department=s decision of approval or denial of the application.

(a)  Notice of Intent to Issue Permit.  The Department shall send the applicant a Proposed State Highway Access Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02), if either:

1.  The Department determines that an application is consistent with Rule Chapters 14-96 and 14-97, F.A.C., and there is no need to exceed the minimum standards as stated in paragraph 14-97.003(1)(e), F.A.C.; or

2.  The Department determines that an application is not consistent with Rule Chapters 14-96 and 14-97, F.A.C., but that denial of a connection would be denial of reasonable access and that such a connection would not jeopardize the safety of the public or have a negative impact upon the operational characteristics of the highway, consistent with Rule 14-96.007, F.A.C.

(b)  Direct Permitting.  If an applicant provides an application that otherwise meets all the requirements of Rule Chapters 14-96 and 14-97, F.A.C. and the Department is not imposing any additional conditions, the Department will issue a permit.

(c)  Notice of Intent to Deny.  The Department shall send the applicant Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Deny Permit, Form 850-040-23, (06/06 09/02), if the Department determines that an application is not consistent with currently adopted Department rules and design standards or additional site specific operations and safety concerns as stated in paragraph 14-97.003(1)(e), F.A.C., apply, and:

1.  The Department determines that denial of a connection would not be a denial of reasonable access; or

2. The Department determines that denial of a connection would be a denial of reasonable access but that a connection would jeopardize the safety of the public or have a negative impact upon the operational characteristics of the highway.

(d) Additional Connections. When an applicant seeks a permit for additional or alternative connection(s) the previously permitted connections are presumed to provide reasonable access to the State Highway System unless the property owner shows:

1. That there has been a change in the use of the property from that reflected in the application(s) for the previously approved connection(s), which change has or will cause an increase in the trip generation (peak hour or daily) of the property exceeding 25 percent more than reflected in the prior application(s), and that such change in use and increase in trip generation was not reasonably foreseeable at the time the application(s) for the previously approved connection(s) was filed; or

2. That circumstances relating to traffic safety and efficiency, outside the control of the permittee, have arisen that were not reasonably foreseeable at the time of approval of the connections that prevent the connection(s) from providing reasonable access to the highway.

(e) Agreements made after Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Deny Permit, Form 850-040-23, (06/06 09/02), is issued.  If an agreement is made between an applicant and the Department which will allow the Department to approve a connection, this agreement will not be effective nor supersede the Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Deny Permit, Form 850-040-23, (06/06 09/02), unless it is in writing, executed by the applicant and the Department, and appropriate revisions are reflected on signed and sealed construction plans before the time period allowed for a denial challenge has expired.  The agreement will completely describe the mutually agreed access plan.

 (5) Conditions of the Notice of Intent to Issue Permit.  The Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02), shall set forth all conditions not otherwise required by this rule chapter for issuance of a permit and maintenance of the connection(s).  The notice will specify which of the conditions set forth in the notice must be met before issuance of a permit and those that must be met after the permit is issued.

(a) Not a Permit. The Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02), does not authorize the initiation of connection construction within the Department right of way but acknowledges completion of the Department review and indicates the Department=s intent to issue a permit upon compliance with the conditions stated in the Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02).

(b) Time Period. A Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02), is valid for one year and may not be revoked during that period, provided that no material change has occurred in the proposed development or traffic characteristics on the abutting State Highway System.  The Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02), may be extended, upon Department approval, upon a showing of good cause by the applicant (such as  weather delays, natural disasters, governmental entity coordination delays, or other technical problems not within the control of the applicant).  A Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02), may be assigned to a purchaser or new occupant within one year of issuance if there is no change in the land use or in the site plan and the Department is notified of the reassignment by the original applicant.

 (c) Standard Conditions.  The following standard conditions will apply to all Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02), before a connection permit can be issued:

1. Development approval from the appropriate governmental entity consistent with the Proposed State Highway Access Driveway/Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02);

(5)(c)2. through (5)(c)6.c. No change.

(6) Issuance of Permit. A Driveway Connection Permit for All Categories, Form 850-040-18, (06/06 04/03), will be issued after the applicant provides satisfactory evidence of compliance with all conditions that must be met before issuance of a permit.  A permit shall be subject to all the conditions set forth in the Proposed State Highway Access Connection Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, Form 850-040-24, (06/06 09/02).  A permit authorizes construction for one year from the date of issuance and expires if construction of the connection is not completed within that period.

(a) Failure to Comply.  If the Department determines that the applicant has failed to comply with all conditions required prior to the issuance of a permit, it shall notify the applicant that the Department will not issue a permit and specify the conditions that have not been met.  Notice of the Department’s intended action will be provided in accordance with Rule Chapter 28-106, F.A.C.  The Department’s action will become final unless a timely petition for a hearing is filed in accordance with Rule Chapter 28-106, F.A.C.  In order to be timely, the petition must be filed with the Department’s Clerk of Agency Proceedings within 21 days after receipt of the Department’s notice, in accordance with Rule Chapter 28-106, F.A.C.

 (b) Permit Time Extension. The permit will be extended beyond the one year time limit (only with Department approval) for good cause, such as weather delays, natural disasters, governmental entity coordination delays, or other technical problems not within the control of the permittee.

(7) through (9) No change.

Specific Authority 334.044(2), 334.187(4), 335.182(2), 335.183 FS. Law Implemented 334.187, 335.181 - 335.1825, 335.184, 335.185 FS. History–New 4-18-90, Amended 7-16-95, 6-24-99, 1-23-03, 12-28-03,________.

 

14-96.011 Modification of Connections.

(1) through (1)(e)2. No change.

(2) Notification Process for Permitted Connections. Notice of the Department’s intended action will be provided in accordance with Rule Chapter 28-106, F.A.C. The Department’s action will become final unless a timely petition for a hearing is filed in accordance with Rule Chapter 28-106, F.A.C.  In order to be timely, the petition must be filed with the Department’s Clerk of Agency Proceedings within 21 days after receipt of the Department’s notice, in accordance with Rule Chapter 28-106, F.A.C.

(a) If the reason for the modification is due to noncompliance, this notice will include the Violation and Notice to Show Cause, Form 850-040-26, (06/06 09/02). The notification shall state that, unless the deficiencies are corrected, the permit shall be modified and the connection to the State Highway shall be modified by the Department at the expense of the property owner.

 (b) If the reason for modification is due to significant change the notice will state the basis of the Department’s determination for modification of an existing connection. Where the Department’s action has become final and no timely application for a new connection permit has been filed, the Department will take immediate action to modify the connection in accordance with the notice.

(c)  If the reason for revocation or modification is a safety or operational problem, the notice will state the basis of the Department’s determination and describe the changes necessary to reduce the hazard or correct the situation.

(3) through (6) No change.

Specific Authority 334.044(2), 335.182(2) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(14), 335.182, 335.187 FS. History–New 4-18-90, Amended 7-16-95, 6-24-99, 1-23-03,________.