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St. Pete Beach planning board discusses options to accelerate seawall height compliance
Summary
Planning board members debated possible triggers and enforcement approaches for bringing seawalls up to Nov. 2024 code standards (5-foot NAVD88 on bay side, 6-foot on gulf side) including upland-development triggers, inspection programs, fill/drainage rules, and living-shoreline options; staff will return with draft changes for commission review.
The City of St. Pete Beach Planning Board spent the bulk of its Jan. 27 meeting discussing how and when private seawalls should be required to meet the city's minimum height standards adopted in late 2024.
Planning staff described the current code as requiring seawall compliance when one of three conditions is met: replacement or repair of more than 50% of the seawall's length; repair costs exceeding 50% of the seawall's depreciated value; or an elevation change along more than 50% of the seawall's length. The city's current minimum elevations are 5 feet NAVD 1988 on the bay side and 6 feet NAVD 1988 on the gulf side, staff said.
The commission requested the discussion last month to consider whether the city should accelerate compliance based on upland development activity (such as rebuilding, substantial renovations, or adding a pool) rather than only on seawall work itself. Board members also debated several related issues: whether…
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