he Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District told Pinellas County that none of Pinellas’ beach renourishment projects are moving forward because some beachfront property owners refuse to grant the federal government perpetual public access easements to come onto their sand. In effect, the Corp decided told Pinellas officials to either obtain the easements or the beach replenishment projects will not move forward even though they are ready to go out for bids.
TBNWeekly reports:
Traditionally, federal funds have covered about two-thirds of the cost of what is estimated to be a nearly $80 million overall project. The state and Pinellas County covered the rest.
“As you probably heard over the last few years, we have had challenges with the Sand Key nourishment project, which runs from Clearwater south to North Redington Beach, related to perpetual public access easements required for federal funding to support nourishment,” Pinellas Public Works Director Kelli Hammer Levy told city commissioners at a July 25 meeting.
She said that there are 27 different projects in the works across the state, and 10 counties are in the same boat as Pinellas — having projects without the public access easements, “which means their projects will not be going forward.”
Hammer Levy said the Corps also took another look at Treasure Island, Upham and Pass-a-Grille beaches. “They completed their review and called us yesterday (July 24) to tell us that none of these projects are moving forward, because we do not have the necessary perpetual public access easements in place.”
Property owners may object to signing a perpetual easement because they interpret it to protect public use such as recreation on the beach as well as construction on the beach.
“Pretty much where we are right now is none of our beach renourishment projects are moving forward with the Army Corps,” Hammer Levy said.
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