Planning commissioners hold public hearing on dune mitigation plan for 415 East Beach Drive

City of Galveston planning staff held a public hearing on a mitigation plan for disturbances to dunes and dune vegetation at 415 East Beach Drive, a property in the Islander East Condos subdivision.

The hearing centered on a proposed new dune walkover and demolition of an existing walkover, an 18-square-foot mitigation requirement and incidental mitigation in an existing barren footpath. "This is a notice of mitigation for disturbances of dunes and dune vegetation," planning staff member Hunter said in the presentation, noting staff had prepared survey maps, cross sections and aerial photos for the commission.

Staff said a Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) map shows the area is accreting and described alternative-design elements of the plan including a 12-by-12-foot observation deck as an authorized public walkover alternative because the structure would serve multiple units. Hunter told commissioners the concrete path included for ADA access would be five feet wide and four inches thick and that inspections will monitor vegetation preservation as part of incidental mitigation.

The Coastal Resources Division and the planning department mailed 109 notices and said they received nine email responses in favor of the project. The commission opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers from the public and took no action; the item was listed as public comment only.

The record includes staff photos, BEG distance maps and a property survey; staff said the mitigation would be installed in the secondary barren footpath created by the previous walkover.