Flagler County hosts series of meetings about protection, dune restoration

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Flagler County is hosting a series of meetings with oceanfront property owners to discuss a comprehensive dune restoration plan, county officials said.

The goal is to avoid gaps and better protect all property owners, as well as the beach.

Five meetings will be held to discuss different stretches of oceanfront property. Individual letters were sent to property owners on Friday, inviting them to specific meetings.

“We wanted to meet with smaller groups of residents so we can discuss the specifics about what we are proposing that will directly affect them,” County Administrator Craig Coffey said.

The first meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday with those residents in the Painters Hill/Beverly Beach area where constructing a permanent sea wall is being considered. This meeting will be held on the third floor of 120 Airport Road.

Subsequent meetings will be held on Thursday afternoon at the Hammock Community Center, 79 MalaCompra Road to discuss constructing protective sand dunes that will include vegetation. A copy of the proposed profiles will be provided at the meetings. 

Meetings will be held hourly, beginning at 1 p.m. for affected oceanfront property owners in the following four zones:

• 1 p.m. – Painters Hill/Beverly Beach (near Flagler Beach)
• 2 p.m. – Painters Hill/Beverly Beach (near Varn Park)
• 3 p.m. – MalaCompra to Washington Oaks State Park (Sea Colony, Armand Beach, Marineland Acres and Johnsons Addition)
• 4 p.m. – Washington Oaks State Park north (Matanzas Shores Area to the county line)

“For those who have individually taken some protective measures, we would tie in with that work or supplement that work,” Coffey said. “The long-term goal with all of these areas is to create protective dunes and a beach similar to what existed before Hurricane Matthew.”

In order for the county to assist, property owners will need to provide temporary construction easements over the dunes portion of their properties. Copies of these easements will be provided at the meeting. 

For additional information, affected property owners can call 386-313-4001, or send an email to dunes@flaglercounty.org.