Nocatee completes electric cart networkBack to News
The PARC Group, master developer of Nocatee, has completed
Nocatee's initial electric-cart network, making it the first of its
kind in Northeast Florida.
Nocatee is the only community that offers electric carts such as
golf carts and other electrically-powered, low-speed vehicles as an
alternate form of transportation throughout the entire
community.
The PARC Group worked with St. Johns County on an ordinance that
allows electric and motorized golf carts to operate on county roads
that meet specific criteria including a posted speed limit of 25
miles per hour or less, subject to final approval by the county
engineer.
To expand the network and allow residents to travel within the
community on electric carts, the developer added connectors between
destinations like the Town Center, the Splash Water Park and
residential communities.
The extensive trail system will ultimately connect all of the
community's neighborhoods with shopping, schools and the
community's 330 acres of parks and other common areas.
Nocatee's interlinked Greenway Trail System, which is easily
within reach of all of the community's neighborhoods, includes
miles of multiuse 16-foot-wide pathways and 1,200 feet of bridges
that wander throughout wetlands.
"Once residents get home, they never need to drive their car
within Nocatee. They can get anywhere in the community with
electric carts," said Chris Pilinko, project director at the PARC
Group. "While electric carts have been allowed in confined, gated
communities, no other Northeast Florida community literally you to
replace cars with electric carts. This is a great amenity that is
incorporated into the overall lifestyle for our residents."
The electric-cart network includes cart-crossing and "share the
road" signage, along with smaller stop signs for carts. There are
also electric cart-designated parking spaces at the Splash Water
Park, Fitness Club, Nocatee Town Center and the recently completed
Nocatee Preserve trailhead.
According to Pilinko, the PARC Group looked at Peachtree City in
Atlanta as a model. "In Peachtree City, golf-cart transportation is
part of the lifestyle," said Pilinko. "It's safe and efficient,
saves fuel costs and is better for the environment."
The St. Johns County ordinance states that electric cart
operators must have valid drivers' licenses, and carts must have
headlights, rear lights and blinkers for night usage. Carts must go
no more than 25 miles per hour, and the vehicles cannot carry more
than four passengers.
As a result of careful planning and a commitment to long-term
preservation, The PARC Group has won a number of awards for its
efforts including Best Green Community and Best Master-Planned
Community of the Year by the Florida Home Builders Association, the
Environment Stewardship Award by the Northeast Florida Regional
Planning Council and Developer of the Year 2008, 2007 and 2006 by
the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
More than 600 families currently reside within Nocatee. Located
on the border of Duval and St. Johns counties, the community is
comprised of residential villages surrounded by greenways. The
community's developer set aside more than 60 percent of Nocatee's
environmentally sensitive lands as preserve areas.
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