St. Pete-Clearwater Sun

St. Petersburg city officials are asking residents to weigh in before developing a master plan to improve the city’s 15 miles of publicly owned seawall.

The Seawall Master Plan aims to create a consistent seawall condition rating system based on federal standards and to establish a framework for future repair and replacement projects. The stated goal is to make the area more resistant to flooding and erosion, following years of storm damage and recurring flooding in parts of the city.

Residents are invited to complete an online survey and can attend a virtual public meeting. The first of these meetings was held February 10, with an additional session held Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.

Beyond the city-owned stretches, the plan could also affect the private sector. St. Petersburg has roughly 95 miles of privately owned seawalls, and the city is asking residents whether they would support raising minimum elevation requirements for private seawalls, allowing the city to take ownership of private seawalls for more consistent maintenance, or establishing a citywide assessment program to inspect, maintain, and repair private seawalls.

Not everyone is fully on board with expanded city authority. Lifelong resident Amy Dinovo said she wants the city to hold to the same standards as homeowners. “I don’t want to have somebody getting a fine and then going out and finding city waterfront not in the same condition,” she said.

Dinovo also raised concerns about cost. “Seawalls aren’t cheap, it’s an expensive endeavor,” she said, calling for a well-thought-out funding plan with relief and incentives for property owners if changes to private seawalls are required.

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