Planning board approves seawall and 200-square-foot dock at 4301 Tranquility Drive; neighbors question island settlement

The Town of Highland Beach Planning Board voted June 12 to approve Development Order application PZ-25-27 for a 100-linear-foot seawall with associated cap and a 200-square-foot dock at 4301 Tranquility Drive.

Town Planner Ingrid Allen said the property is zoned residential single-family (RS) and therefore is subject to a 25-foot waterfront setback for docks; she said the proposed dock and seawall comply with that setback. Allen said the applicant obtained a Florida Department of Environmental Protection authorization and that Army Corps approval was not required. She noted a discrepancy between the elevation shown in the FDEP materials (6.17 feet NAVD) and the town plans (7.17 feet); Allen said the applicant provided an email from FDEP indicating the higher elevation is covered by the existing permit and that the town’s code requires a 7-foot base flood elevation on the west side of A1A.

The plan set shows 11 anchor blocks and typical cross-section details similar to other seawall applications reviewed at the meeting. Allen told the board the plan set was date-stamped May 28, 2025, and recommended that the application is consistent with section 30-36 of the town code and the comprehensive plan where applicable.

At the hearing, residents raised questions about historical settlement in the Belle Lido Isle area and asked how seawall installation interacts with the proposed reconstruction of a house at the site. Building Official Jeff Remus said the hybrid-seawall approach discussed earlier that evening generally places less mass on the ground than some traditional seawall and pile installations, and he explained that deeper driven piles can be required for new homes where soils have shifted. Staff said the applicant’s house application is in plan review and that sequencing (seawall first, then backfill and house construction) is commonly used so the property can be graded and prepared for new construction.

After public comment and board discussion, a member moved to approve the application. The roll call recorded affirmative votes from Member David, Member Axelrod, Member Brown, Member Powell, Vice Chairperson Rosen and Chairperson Mendelson; the motion carried.

If the applicant proceeds, building-permit submittals and structural engineer calculations will be required and any material substitutions will be reviewed at the permit stage. The board’s approval carries the usual two-year commencement requirement under section 30-21(g).