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Commission asks staff to study 'living' seawalls for city-owned waterfront sites
Summary
Vice mayor described living/bio wall panels that create habitat and sequester carbon; staff noted feasibility is higher for new seawalls and that permitting is county-level. The commission directed staff to investigate feasibility and permitting for city-owned locations.
The vice mayor introduced the idea of living seawalls — 3D‑printed, habitat‑forming panels placed in front of conventional seawalls — as a resilience and habitat enhancement option. Presenters and staff described the technology as creating artificial reef structures that can attract native species and sequester biological carbon over time.
Staff noted that the retrofit feasibility depends on existing wall condition and that permitting for in‑ground or in‑water changes would be handled at the county permitting level; Bella Vista Bay project is already bid and awaiting permits. Commissioners asked staff to prepare a feasibility report for city‑owned seawalls (Intracoastal Park, Bella Vista Bay Park) including permitting pathways and potential incentives.
Why it matters: Living seawalls are an emerging coastal resilience approach and could provide dual environmental and infrastructure benefits, but technical feasibility and permitting constraints must be assessed.
Next steps: Staff to return with a report on feasibility, location suitability, permitting steps and potential incentives.
