Pinellas County authorizes legal intervention in Bel Air Shores DEP appeal over erosion-control line

The county attorney told the board the Department of Environmental Protection is handling an appeal by Bel Air Shores that seeks to change the adopted erosion-control line in the town; staff argued that a successful challenge would undermine the county's ability to proceed with federal beach-nourishment projects.

"What I'm asking is authority for the county to seek to intervene in that action," the county attorney said, explaining the matter will be handled before an administrative law judge. The board voted unanimously to authorize the county to intervene to protect its nourishment and federal-project interests.

Staff noted that the erosion-control line is adopted as a continuous line across jurisdictions and that removing a segment would create precedent that could negate the larger line and jeopardize state and federal nourishment approvals.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 2039, topfinish SEG 2049

Speakers (attributions in this article): County Attorney (first reference: SEG 2039), Kelly Hammer Levy (Public Works Director, SEG 2039)