News

By Rich Pollack
    Although the signs of Hurricane Sandy are all but gone and overall the beach in Highland Beach is in good shape, town officials still might want to take steps now to offset potential weather damage in the future, a recent study concluded.
    The study, by Coastal Planning and Engineering at a cost of $15,158, found that the northern section of beach along the town’s 2.85 miles of coastline is doing well, thanks in large part to sand from Delray Beach’s repeated beach restorations moving south.
    Along the southern portion of the coast, however, the engineers found that the width of the beach had been receding over the last several years.
    It was that section of the beach that suffered the most from Hurricane Sandy and all but a few remnants of damage in the area have disappeared, partly due to private property owners paying for truckloads of sand used to fill in impacted sections.
    “Overall, the beach in Highland Beach is good condition and does not have an immediate need for a beach-nourishment project,” engineer Gordon Thomson wrote.
    Still, Thomson told commissioners it might be wise to consider beginning the designing and permitting process for a beach restoration project, since it could take a few years of preparation before approvals could be granted.
    “It is recommended that the residents prepare for a nourishment project so that a proactive response is available if there is an active hurricane season,” Thomson wrote. “Beach nourishment projects can take several years to design and permit so this process should be initiated as soon as possible.”
    While the cost of a full-scale restoration project would be in the neighborhood of $9.5 million, according to the study, it is estimated that the preparation alone would cost an additional $1.5 million to $2.5 million.
    Paying for such a project could be a challenge for Highland Beach, in large part because all of the beaches along the town’s coastline are privately owned and there is no public beach access within town limits.
    Thomson told town commissioners that federal and state funding for the project would be difficult to come by, due to the lack of public access, and local funding — through property taxes, a bond issue, a special assessment or other vehicle — would be the most likely way to finance the project.
    Town commissioners accepted the report but took no formal action.
    They could discuss beach improvement options during future meetings focused on the town’s capital improvement plan.