Posted on July 26, 2020
FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. — Flagler Beach is among the most fragile beaches on the east coast and for years the pounding surf has punished the dunes.
In 2016, Hurricane Matthew took out a portion of A1A, but a new federal beautification project could provide some relief.
Flagler County leaders are enthusiastic about the Army Corp of Engineers’ plan to dredge sand offshore to restore the dunes and widen the beach for 2 and a half miles. The project will start near the Flagler Beach pier and continue south.
The project requires easements from 141 property owners who have small slivers of land east of the road.
“We’re enhancing the property. We’re not going to hurt your view of the ocean and we’re protecting not only you, but your neighbors,” Flagler County Commissioner Dave Sullivan said.
Carol Fisher and Debbie Meyer are two of the owners who have given easements. They watched in 2016, when Hurricane Matthew, with no protective beachfront to stop it, took out more than a mile of scenic Highway A1A. The road has been repaired, but the beach has not.
“We want our dune to protect our road, our house, our land,” Fisher said.
“Coming into hurricane season it’s so scary. If the water does come up, absolutely it’s going to washout the road again and could take out our houses,” Meyer said.
The multi-million dollar restoration project is completely funded by federal and state government. There is no cost to the locals, but 10 owners have so far refused to grant easements.
Without 100% compliance, officials say the project is dead in the water.
“If this doesn’t go forward, we’re literally giving up $26 million in cash,” Sullivan said.
Owners in favor of the project, the majority, are still working to convince their neighbors, but time is running out.
WESH 2 News spoke by phone with the Tampa-based attorney representing the property owners who haven’t signed easements.
He said they all have different reasons and said a few are looking for financial compensation.
He said wording of the easement agreement has raised some red flags and added that his clients don’t appreciate the strong arm approach that he claims the county has been using to get them to sign.
Source: wesh
