By Patrick Sherry
Owners of a Pelican Lane home on Hypoluxo Island say that worsening flooding leaves them without road access. They are asking Lantana officials to allow them to keep an access road to give them another route to South Atlantic Drive.
Harry Ehrlich and Heather Brookman, owners of 701 Pelican Lane, halted work on the project after recently receiving a stop-work order from the town. They already built a small access road from their driveway across the nearby town-owned right-of-way adjacent to their property, creating an emergency route during floods.
At the Town Council’s July 27 meeting, Ehrlich apologized for not getting a permit from the town for the project, but he wanted to work with staff to find some way they could get a permanent easement, license, or variance to keep the access road.
He is still awaiting a decision from the town and is working with town staff to find a solution to the problem.
When the area floods, the water can block the only route to and from their home. “We had the best of intentions: create safe access, help reduce flooding on Pelican Lane for the benefit of all, update tired landscaping and install a new sprinkler system,” Ehrlich said.
According to documents submitted to the town, former owner Bob Fritts privately maintained the right-of-way for 40 years. Neighbors have submitted 12 letters in support of the project.
However, other neighbors were worried about losing more green space on Hypoluxo Island.
“We’re dealing with a reduction, dwindling of canopies, vegetation, trees and natural open space that helps with drainage,” nearby resident George Huguely said.
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