Town prepares beach project review

Time’s they are a changing — at least when it comes to the town’s beach management plan.
In a July 19 email to the Longboat Key Town Commission, Town Manager Dave Bullock announced the town will get a second opinion about its current Beach Management Plan, which hasn’t been updated since 2008.

The town is paying Jacksonville-based Olsen Associates Inc. $121,800 to perform the assessment. During the next six months, Kevin Bodge, of Olsen Associates, will review the town’s coastline and make recommendations that include whether he believes the town needs a sand project at this time and, if so, how big that project should be.

A shoreline survey of the entire Key’s coastline, complete with digital aerial photos, will also be performed in the next 30 days.

The new study is the latest shift in the town’s beach project strategy.

At the Town Commission’s June 17 workshop, Bullock needed and received direction from his seven commissioners to nix a summer beach project that was 40% more than town staff expected.

For more information, pick up a copy of the July 25 Longboat Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].