Okaloosa County to draw line in the sand

The next step in Destin beach restoration is figuring how much of the new beach waterfront owners can claim for their own.
Wednesday, Okaloosa County Beach Projects Coordinator Jim Trifilio told the county’s Tourist Development Council that surveyors setting an “erosion control line” in Destin and Okaloosa County are scheduled to begin work Sept. 8.

The line would mark a point along the beach roughly one foot above sea level. The rebuilt beach upland of the ECL is considered part of the property owners’ private beach; sand added south of the line becomes public.
The thought of seeing their beachfront property turned into “gulfview property” has mobilized many beachfront owners to come out against restoration.

A two-year-old lawsuit before the Florida Supreme Court argues that restoration takes away private property rights. Lawsuits filed this month by various condo associations question the quality of the sand that will be used and the legality and fairness of the special Municipal Service Benefits Unit district the county has created to help pay for restoration.

The MSBU will bill beachfront owners based on the recreational and storm-protection benefits their property will see from restoration, but some owners say the formula doesn’t calculate the fees fairly.

TDC attorney Michelle Anchors said Wednesday that the suits have been filed, but the county hasn’t been served with papers yet.
Setting the ECL line will probably generate more controversy. When the Florida Department of Environmental Protection drew up an ECL for the 2007 Crystal Beach restoration, opponents objected that the DEP’s survey used outdated photographs and underestimated how much of the beach should be private.

After the DEP makes its survey, Trifilio said Wednesday, there will be a public hearing followed by a 30-day period for further public comment. The DEP’s hearing officer will then submit a report to the Bureau of Surveying and Mapping for approval.

“This is a long process,” Trifilio said. “We’re trying to get this done, hopefully before holiday season.”

THE FUNDING PLAN
                          Destin                    Okaloosa Island
Florida grants:     $100,000                $7,889,178
TDC bed taxes:   $9 million                $1.797 million
MSBU district     $4.45 million            $2.66 million
Total:                 $13.55 million          $12.35 million