HILLSBORO BEACH TO MAKE ITS FIRST-EVER OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR RELIEF

Recently, you may have seen articles in local newspapers highlighting the ongoing beach controversy in Hillsboro Beach. These articles shine a light on the escalating demand by Hillsboro Beach taxpayers for a long-term solution to the problem created by our neighbors—specifically by the rock piles just off Deerfield Beach (groins) and the Boca Raton Inlet. It’s been only three years since the major nourishment of 2011—which we will all be paying for through a special tax assessment until 2021, and already another nourishment is needed on the north end of town. In the three-year interim, sand prices have risen exponentially.

Boca Raton Inlet Progress

On June 3^rd, our Commissioners voted unanimously to send a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requesting the terms of the permit for the Boca Inlet be amended.

Currently, Hillsboro Beach is required to send 45% more sand south past the Hillsboro Inlet than we receive from the Boca Inlet bypass. Obviously, that leaves us with a deficit right out of the gate. In addition, Boca Raton’s city records show that for quite some time, Boca has not, in fact, been passing the full amount of sand required annually by their permit. Commissioners have finally taken the first step to address these inequities by voting to send this letter requesting FDEP involvement.

Deerfield Beach Groin Progress

Unfortunately, addressing the Deerfield Beach groins in any fashion has been pushed back until the July Commission meeting.

Although three Commissioners (Garcia, Feaman, and Maggiore) favored immediately pursuing relief for the groin situation along with the inlet situation, Mayor Schubert convinced the Commission to delay a vote for making any groin-directed requests. The Mayor does not want to address the groins in any way until AFTER the emergency nourishment planned for Spring 2015 is completed, fearing Deerfield will “back out” of their share of the project. A majority of the Commission was not willing to wait nearly a year to begin serious discussion of the problem with appropriate authorities, therefore; a compromise was reached:

Commissioners voted to have a similar letter regarding the groins re-drafted using less inflammatory language and presented again at the July Commission meeting.

Biggest Takeaway from the 6/3/14 Commission Meeting

FINALLY, a majority of Commissioners realize something besides purchasing sand at the expense of Hillsboro Beach taxpayers MUST be done to alleviate the financial pain being sent “downstream” to us by our neighbors.

What does this mean for you?

Unless the problem of the inlet and the groins is rectified, the Town of Hillsboro Beach could very well become financially insolvent, obviously causing property values to nosedive as well as a raft of other problems for residents.

Hillsboro Beach Advocates is waging a campaign to get information out to residents. Once people understand the gravity of the situation, they are in full support of doing what should have been done years ago. To that end, we’re working to set up a network of residents with one or two representatives from each building who are willing to be contacts for their buildings. If you have any interest in being a contact for your building, please let us know.

For some of you, this may be the first communication you’re receiving from the Hillsboro Beach Advocates group. If you would like more explanation for any of the points covered herein or for the science behind the issues, please review some other pages on this blog or email us at hillsborobeachadvocates@gmail.com.