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In the wake of St. Johns County’s recent passing of Phase I of the Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) project, the Ponte Vedra Beaches Coalition addressed beach restoration and the environmental impact on the area’s surrounding community at its meeting on Feb. 25.
Lori Moffett, the co-founder for Save Ponte Vedra Beach Inc., was the guest speaker at the meeting held at the Palm Valley Community Center. Save Ponte Vedra Beach Inc. is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the restoration of Ponte Vedra’s beaches. The nonprofit has received donations from over 200 people and businesses in Ponte Vedra and Nocatee to address the issue. Save Ponte Vedra Beach has retained both a lawyer and a coastal engineering firm that was involved in Amelia Island’s recent restoration project.
Ponte Vedra’s beaches have suffered heavily during Hurricanes Irma and Matthew, said Moffett. This erosion has been coupled with nor’easters, human activity and other environmental factors. In 2018, a study performed by the coastal engineering firm, Olsen Associates, concluded that Ponte Vedra Beach has lost 135 feet of coastline since 1970. For too long, Moffett said, Ponte Vedra has been one of the few places along Florida’s coast that didn’t have a restoration project implemented. According to Moffett, it shows.
“As a result, we have one of the thinnest coastlines in the state,” Moffett said. “Mickler's Landing Beach has gotten very narrow. When you take out Miami and the Keys, guess what community is No. 1 in terms of sea level rise in the state? Ponte Vedra. Okay? It's us.”
The recent passing of Phase I of the MSTU project by the Board of County Commissioners addresses the design of the potential project. Since it’s been established, the county can begin to develop an idea of where the project is headed and which other options for funding might be available. Phase 1 of the MSTU would raise money for the project by taxing private parcels east of Ponte Vedra Boulevard.
Some community members at the meeting raised concern as to whether Phase II of the project would involve taxing those living on the other side of Ponte Vedra Boulevard.
Moffett said that although she can’t speak for what Phase II may or may not entail, she wants to work toward avoiding any additional taxing for the MSTU.
“For me to tell you whether or not you will be taxed, I don’t know,” Moffett said. “That’s not my role.
“We have one critical need at the moment and that is to get our beaches fixed,” Moffett added later in the meeting.
In a subsequent conversation with the Recorder, Moffett affirmed that whether there is a tax on the residents and businesses is determined by the county commissioners.
