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St. Augustine commission approves $450,000 easement settlement for Lake Maria Sanchez seawall project
Summary
The St. Augustine City Commission approved a settlement to obtain easements on the Steely parcel for the Lake Maria Sanchez seawall project, authorizing the city manager to execute final documents. Outside counsel said the easement payment would be $450,000 plus statutory attorneys fees and estimated all‑in costs at or below $550,000.
The St. Augustine City Commission voted to approve settlement terms to acquire easements on the Steely parcel to advance the Lake Maria Sanchez seawall project and authorized the city manager to execute the final settlement documents.
Outside counsel Mike Cavendish told the commission that one set of property owners had agreed to voluntarily convey all easements the city is seeking across the parcel, and that the proposed easement payment amount is $450,000, "exclusive of statutory attorneys fees," which he said would be calculated under Chapter 73 of the Florida Statutes. Cavendish said the city estimates the total, attorneys-fees-included cost would be "at or less" than $550,000.
City Attorney Isabel Lopez opened the closed-session discussion and said the meeting had been confined to the commission and authorized staff, and that a certified court reporter was present. Commissioners returned to the public meeting afterward and moved to authorize the settlement.
Commissioners noted the settlement affects three easements on the parcel — some permanent and some described as 15-year "substantial" temporary easements — and that resolving the Steely parcel would eliminate one of two sets of property-owner defendants in eminent domain case CA25-0827. Commissioner comments framed the vote as a step toward the larger Lake Maria Sanchez resiliency project.
A motion to approve the settlement terms and to allow the city manager to execute the final settlement documents carried on a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded four yes votes and one absence; the motion passed and the commission adjourned.
The commission did not specify additional implementation dates or a final accounting in the public portion of the meeting. Attorneys said statutory attorneys fees would be added on top of the stated easement payment and cited Chapter 73 of the Florida Statutes for fee calculations.
