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Commission grants easements and a deed to FDOT for Bridge of Lions seawall work; staff says environmental mitigation will be required
Summary
The commission approved a deed and temporary and permanent easements to FDOT for construction and future maintenance of a new seawall at the base of the Bridge of Lions, and approved a $613,419 reimbursement agreement for US-1 median landscaping. Staff said environmental assessments and mitigation (including oyster-bed relocation where needed) will be part of the process.
The City Commission approved a package of resolutions needed to support a Florida Department of Transportation seawall project and related corridor improvements.
Assistant City Manager Meredith Breidenstine told the commission Resolution 2024-37 deeds a linear submerged parcel at the base of the Bridge of Lions to FDOT to allow construction of a new seawall. Commissioners asked about oyster beds and restoration; Breidenstine and Assistant City Manager Ruben Franklin said an environmental assessment is required and prior work on a southern seawall necessitated relocation and marsh restoration, so mitigation is part of the process.
Breidenstine also presented Resolution 2024-38, authorizing temporary easements on four parcels (700.1, 701.1, 702.1, 703.1) to give FDOT staging and work areas during construction, and Resolution 2024-39, granting permanent easements (800A/800B/801/802) to allow future access for seawall maintenance. She emphasized the easements are limited to construction and maintenance of the seawall and that the parcels remain city property; landscaping disturbed during construction will be replaced.
Separately, staff presented a reimbursement agreement with FDOT (Resolution 2024-36) to design and landscape medians along U.S. 1 from State Road 207 to the north city gates. Ruben Franklin said the agreement is for $613,419 and will hire a landscape architect to replace corridor plantings similar to other intersections the city has improved.
Commissioners voted to approve all four resolutions. Several commissioners asked staff to prioritize native plantings and to confirm irrigation provisions in the medians; staff said irrigation sleeves were previously installed in anticipation of the project.
