Bay News 9: 11-year beach renourishment standoff ends with Army Corps, Pinellas County agreement

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Army Corps of Engineers and Pinellas County signed an agreement Friday that ended an 11-year standoff over beach renourishment.

The agreement means the corps will now go back to paying for 65% of beach renourishment projects.

"The Army Corps of Engineers is proud to stand with you today. We’re ready to turn this agreement into action," said Major Gen. Jason Kelly. "We’re ready to build.” 

This past February, a $125 million beach renourishment project wrapped up that Pinellas County was forced to pay for on its own for the first time. Before that project, water during high tide reached the deck at a hotel on North Redington Beach.

The assistant secretary of the Army, Adam Telle, traveled from Washington, D.C. for Friday's signing at that hotel.

Telle says the corps decided to change its strict stance on having homeowners sign perpetual easements, which include public access, because of customary use ordinances in Florida.

"The real unlock here was recognition that because of the unique laws in Florida and the unique ordinances here in Pinellas County, we can consider this a public facility, and therefore we have access to it into perpetuity," Telle said.

Pinellas County Public Works Director Kelli Levy says homeowners will now be asked to sign temporary easements, which are only in effect during the project period.

"If we never nourish again or the corps doesn't come back and nourish again, that easement expires and it's no longer in place," he said. "But it's for construction only. It includes no public access and use, and it's just for the placement of sand.” 

During the last project, about 20% of beachfront homeowners refused to sign the perpetual easements.

Levy is hopeful that those homeowners will now reconsider for the next project.

She says the agreement between the county and corps will save Pinellas County hundreds of millions of dollars over the next couple of decades.

Telle says U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna played a big role in getting the standoff resolved.

Luna, a Republican representing the 13th District, calls it a big win.

"What got it done was a combination of things," she said. "It was my pressure, really, our team's entire collective effort and working with not just talking with Army Corps, but the White House. But also I directly called the White House and asked for assistance on this.”

The county says the beaches support an $11 billion tourism industry. To read the full story from Bay News 9, click here.