St. Johns County officials met with property owners on Thursday evening, hoping to work on a solution to beach erosion following tropical storms and hurricanes that have swept Florida’s east coast.
The county hopes to dump more sand along the beaches to help shore up the sand dunes, but officials can’t do that without the permission of homeowners. That has others frustrated and concerned for what could happen when the next big storm comes along.
Steven Berk has owned a condo on Crescent Beach since the 1980s.
“What happened with Ian and Nicole was epic, horrific and unprecedented,” Berk said.
He was one of about two dozen property owners that attended the open house.
The county says FEMA determined there was enough damage during the storms that it’s willing to fund some emergency sand placement along the coast.
But before that happens, it will need the permission from the majority of property owners.
“Last year’s sand project stopped short of our house by about ten houses,” explained Linda Allegra, who also lives along the beach.
Allegra worries that her home could get swept away by the next big storm.
“My husband is like, ‘We’ve gotta sell the house before it falls into the ocean because of what happened in Daytona, just plopping in the sea,’” Allegra said.
There has been pushback from other property owners, who say they are concerned about granting the government an easement — or do not want to deal with the heavy machinery and work that could come along with the project.
Berk says it’s needed to protect homes along the coast.
“I live in a condominium, and I now see the ocean lapping up at the shores,” Berk said. “I’m about to renovate it. I plan on living here and dying here. It’s a beautiful place.”
Thursday’s meeting was the last open house regarding the sand placement project.
The county says homeowners have until Feb. 21 to make a decision before they bring the results to the county commission meeting.