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BOOK i"AI';t 06 <br />Parcels Seaward of the CCCL <br />Information from the Property Appraiser's Office indicates there are 422 oceanfront parcels in the <br />unincorporated county. In reviewing county tax maps, staff estimates that —275 of those parcels (-65%) are <br />mostly or entirely seaward of the 1987 CCCL. Consequently, strict prohibition of construction seaward of <br />the CCCL will render those parcels unbuildable (or nonconforming, if already developed). County maps <br />indicate there are relatively few vaunt oceanfront parcels in the unincorporated county that have enough <br />depth perpendicular to the ocean, such as the Orchid Dunes site, whereby residences could be designed to <br />be totally landward of the CCCL. <br />Acquisition of Vacant Oceanfront Parcels <br />Of the total 422 oceanfront parcels,114 parcels are classified by the Property Appraiser's Office as "vacant <br />residential land," with a combined tax assessed value of --$54.57 million. If the County is to contemplate <br />acquisition of all vacant oceanfront parcels to prevent development /erosion conflicts, as well as development <br />restriction/ taking conflicts, the Board must consider condemnation of those parcels. Assuming that assessed <br />value is about 800/6 of market value, and that condemnation costs could be up to double the market value, <br />the cost to the County to acquire all vacant oceanfront parcels could run in excess of $125 million. <br />Current DEP Review <br />In the past, the County has let the DEP determine the extent to which a proposed structure may project <br />seaward of the 1987 CCCL and the type of construction and conditions it must meet in order to be so located. <br />In its determination, the DEP uses a 30 -year erosion line estimate, calculated on a site -by -site basis, at the <br />time of the proposed development This deferral to the DEP has heti applied to single-family structures as <br />well as construction proposed as part of site plan, PD, and subdivision projects. This deferral has been <br />predicated on the DEP's expertise in the review and permitting of coastal structures and the county's <br />comparative lack of expertise in such matters. In terms of county project reviews, DEP approval is currently <br />required prior to site plan release for site plan projects, and prior to county building permit issuance for <br />single-family homes. <br />Prior to 1987, the State CCCL was a line of prohibition. In 1987, when the current CCCL was adopted, the <br />DEP started applying the CCCL as a line of regulation, instead of prohibition, because otherwise it would <br />result in illegal taking of land seaward of the adjusted line. If the County now chooses to establish the 1987 <br />CCCL as a line of construction prohibition, it will run into the same illegal taking issues that the DEP had <br />to face in 1987, particularly regarding parcels completely seaward of the CCCL. <br />County Beach Renourishment Plan <br />The County is developing a comprehensive beach erosion control plan, including beach renourishment in <br />areas of critical erosion. The beach renourishment plan is being justified on the premise that it will retard <br />the landward extent of erosion over the coming years. <br />In consideration of the DEP's expertise and extensive coastal regulations; the potential issue of "taking" that <br />would apply to the majority of oceanfront parcels; and the proposed beach renourishment plan, staff thinks <br />that the Board should reconsider its position on prohibiting construction seaward of the 1987 CCCL, and <br />should continue to defer to the DEP regarding the location of structures between the CCCL and the County's <br />Dune Stabilization Setback Line (DSSL). <br />Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners reconsider its position on prohibiting <br />construction seaward of the 1987 CCCL, and recommends that the County continue to defer to the DEP <br />regarding the location of structures between the CCCL and the County's Dune Stabilization Setback Line <br />(DSSL). If the Board does not reconsider its position, staff recommends that the Board give staff direction <br />as to how to address ongoing requests for construction seaward of the CCCL, as described herein. <br />March 21, 2000 <br />114 <br />