Pinellas County officials are making a fresh attempt to secure easements for critical beach renourishment projects, following devastating damage from two Category 3 hurricanes last fall. The situation has become increasingly urgent after Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the area in September, effectively erasing previous shoreline restoration efforts.

The county’s coastline was already facing severe erosion before the hurricanes hit. Hurricane Helene brought 3-5 feet of storm surge to the barrier islands on September 26, followed by Hurricane Milton’s impact on the county’s interior two weeks later.

At a recent Barrier Islands Governmental Council meeting held at Madeira Beach City Hall on January 29, John Bishop, the county’s coastal management coordinator, presented a new approach to the longstanding easement issue. The proposed project would cover the Sand Key area from Clearwater to Redington Beach, excluding Belleair Shore.

New Easement Proposal

The county’s latest proposal differs significantly from previous U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requests. Key features include:

• Property owners can choose between two options:
  • A “horizontal plateau of sand” measuring 150 feet wide and 5 feet high
  • A beach and dune system, which requires concentrated participation to be effective
• Unlike previous Corps easements, the new proposal doesn’t address public access
• The county emphasizes that these easements neither grant nor remove public access rights
• The deadline for easement agreements is March 1

Current Challenges

Progress has been limited since the initiative’s launch in mid-December:

• Fewer than two dozen responses received
• More than 200 easements still needed
• Indian Rocks Beach alone requires 93 easements
• Areas most in need include Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, and Redington Shores
• Only Belleair Beach and Clearwater currently have sufficient easements

Bishop emphasized that the project cannot proceed without adequate easement participation, as the county cannot legally work on private property without proper authorization.

Federal Agency Complications

Local officials express growing frustration with federal agencies. Belleair Beach Mayor Dave Gattis highlighted concerns about both the Corps of Engineers and FEMA, noting the challenges of working with “two of the most powerful agencies in the federal government.”

Indian Rocks Beach Mayor Denise Houseberg reported minimal progress as of February 10, citing property owners’ persistent skepticism about government involvement.

Next Steps

Indian Rocks Beach officials have issued a press release emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The county has scheduled a public webinar for February 13, from 6-7:30 p.m., to address concerns and questions. Interested property owners can direct inquiries to signforsand@pinellas.gov.

The county warns that this may be the final attempt to secure easements, with future projects focusing only on areas where construction is feasible due to existing agreements.

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(Image credit: City of Treasure Island)