An advisory panel voted to recommend that the city council approve a mitigation plan to repair dune damage at 8600 Breakers Boulevard and required that any future placement of hay on the dune be coordinated with staff and may require a permit.

Panel staff member Abby said the damages were unpermitted and totaled 760 square feet seaward of the setback line, and that a notice of noncompliance had been sent to the General Land Office. The mitigation plan in the agenda packet would allow planting native dune vegetation and installing sand fencing in line with General Land Office guidance.

The plan presented to the panel calls for 10-foot fencing sections placed at 45-degree angles and spaced 10 feet apart, and native dune plants to be established as mitigation. A board member who reviewed the site said, “I walked up there and looked at it. I thought it was more than adequate to mitigate what happened.”

During discussion, board member Chuck moved to approve the mitigation plan and to clarify that any future hay placement would be considered filling or grading if applicable and would require a permit or coordination with Christina, a city staff member. Chuck said, “If they want to add hay in the future, they need to coordinate with Christina before they add hay.” The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote; the transcript records the motion as approved but does not record a roll-call tally.

Staff clarified timing and scope: planting associated with mitigation generally must be completed within one year, and monitoring can continue for up to three years. Abby explained that the current permit request covers mitigation for the previously placed hay and does not authorize additional hay placement. If the property owner seeks to place more hay going forward, staff advised they must obtain any required beachfront construction certificate or protection permit before doing so.

The panel’s recommendation will be forwarded to the city council for its consideration. The transcript does not specify the council meeting date for consideration or the exact permit expiration date.

Details recorded in the meeting: the damage area (760 square feet seaward of the setback), mitigation measures (native vegetation plus 10-foot sand fencing sections at 45-degree angles, 10 feet apart), planting completion expectation (within one year), and monitoring period (up to three years). The record also notes that the current mitigation permit does not authorize future hay placement and that future placement may require a beachfront construction certificate or other permit and coordination with Christina.