Highland Beach halts marine docking project after agency demands for seagrass mitigation

Town staff told the board they have suspended work on a state‑funded marine docking facility after permitting requirements from the South Florida Water Management District increased projected costs and uncertainty. Staff described the district’s calculation of a 32.6 square‑foot seagrass impact for a walkway and boat‑lift area and said the agency is seeking off‑site mitigation and pretreatment structures that would add substantial engineering and mitigation costs.

“We’ve done two seagrass studies… our project, using their formula for impacts, comes to 32.6 square feet of low quality seagrass impact,” a staff speaker said. The speaker added that engineers estimated additional design work and mitigation would require further six‑figure costs and that pursuing that spending without a permit guarantee is not prudent; staff said the project has a state appropriation and a federal grant and they have asked legislators and the federal grantor to help resolve the impasse.

The board was told the town had sought a de‑minimis public‑safety waiver that other jurisdictions receive more readily and that competitive grants had been extended to preserve the appropriation. Staff said they will delay additional design expenditures while pursuing meetings with the Water Management District and legislative contacts.

Members requested more detail on the engineering cost estimates and the exact mitigation requirements; staff said those items are under review and will be reported back when clarified.