Town prepares for groin challenge hearing

Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock informed commissioners in an email Wednesday the town is preparing for an upcoming state hearing in response to a challenge to place three north-end groins on the north end of the Key to help hold sand in the area.

On Oct. 10, McClash filed a second amended petition stating the groins will have adverse impacts to marine life and the coastal area. It also states McClash is an affected person because he “is a longtime boater and Manatee County commissioner for 22 years and was actively promoting protection of the environment during his time in office.”

McClash also objects to a terminal groin being built on Beer Can Island closest to Longboat Pass, on property owned by Manatee County.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection determined the amended petition had merit and is forwarding the objections to the Division of Administrative Hearing, where an administrative law judge will be assigned to hear the case. 

The amended petition puts the permit on hold again as FDEP reviews the petition. The town now has responded to McClash’s amended petition and the administrative hearing will be scheduled soon to review the challenge. Bullock said staff and legal counsel will now prepare for the upcoming hearing and file the appropriate responses.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].