Pinellas County officials recently visited the White House to advance plans for restoring beaches severely impacted by hurricanes. The trip, described as “productive” by County Commission Chair Kathleen Peters, aimed to address the hurdles posed by new federal requirements.

The county is seeking an exemption from rules mandating all beachfront property owners to sign easements permitting public access wherever sand is replenished. These rules have stalled federal projects on Sand Key, Treasure Island, and Long Key.

The visit followed a February 5 letter from Peters to President Trump, endorsed by the entire county commission. “Our meetings at the White House, Capitol Hill, and the Pentagon were incredibly productive,” Peters stated. “The importance of beach nourishment for Pinellas is undeniable—it’s vital for protecting our infrastructure, economy, and way of life.”

Accompanying Peters on the trip were Commissioner Chris Scherer, County Administrator Barry Burton, and Public Works Director Kelli Hammer Levy. They engaged with U.S. Senator Rick Scott, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, and Stacey Brown, Acting Principal Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Progress is being made, with several renourishment projects nearing approval. For Treasure Island, only 11 easements remain to begin the project, which would be 65% federally funded. However, Sand Key and Long Key face more significant delays due to a lack of easements, leaving over 160 beachfront homeowners yet to sign. Without these agreements, gaps in sand placement could leave areas vulnerable to storm surge.

County spokesperson Tony Fabrizio noted, “It’s not ideal to have gaps, as storm surge will exploit weak points. But at this time, some areas on Sand Key cannot be nourished due to insufficient easements.”

Time is critical, especially for the Sand Key project. An emergency permit from the Army Corps provides a 12-month window to complete the work once approved. Plans to request proposals in March aim to start the project before the hurricane season begins.

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(Image credit: Steve Newborn/WUSF)

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