The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Florida are working with St. Johns County on a beach renourishment project in South Ponte Vedra and Vilano Beach that will provide residents, visitors, and oceanfront property owners an improved beach experience. State Road A1A and homes along the beach will also be better protected from the ocean with a widened beach and a fortified dune system.
However, this beach renourishment can only happen with the cooperation of those who own properties along those beaches. In order to proceed with this project, as well as any necessary emergency repairs in the future, St. Johns County must collect easements from oceanfront property owners to allow the sand to be placed on the beach. Temporary easements are also required from several oceanfront property owners to allow a pipe on the beach for a few months to bring sand up from the St. Augustine Inlet.
This project is the best possible solution to save North Beach, and we are asking property owners to partner with us to save the beaches. If the easements are secured, this investment of more than $144 million into the beaches over the next fifty years will improve the quality of life for those who live near and visit the beach.
If you have any questions regarding the beach renourishment project or how to sign the required easement for your property, please contact St. Johns County at 904.209.0760 or jjolley@sjcfl.us. I am excited for the future of these beaches and would like to thank the oceanfront property owners in advance for providing the easements necessary to renourish our coastline.
Sincerely,
Henry Dean
District 5
St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners
