Retaining walls arm property
BY B.J. DAVIS Gulf Breeze News bjdavis@gulfbreezenews.com

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Retaining walls such as this are being constructed along the north portion of the city

Following Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, several waterfront homeowners on Highpoint Dr. constructed large retaining walls to thwart further erosion to their high-end property.

"A lot of the walls aren't really sea walls, but retaining walls especially on the north side of the city where there are significant bluffs," said Director of Community Services Craig Carmichael. "Unfortunately, it's a necessity. We don't like to see the shoreline hardened, but the city is sympathetic to property owners."

According to Carmichael, residents must first get approval from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers before requesting permission to the city to build a retaining wall. Once approved by the Gulf Breeze Development Review Board, the request goes to city council.

"We want to make sure they're complying with all the standards," said Carmichael.

Carmichael said that the process for the first resident to construct a retaining wall is lengthy, but once completed, makes the job easier for adjacent residents to construct their wall adjoining the original one. The process usually takes around six weeks.

Although the retaining walls are intended to prevent erosion, Carmichael said there are drawbacks to the structures.

"We scrutinize them very closely. One, they cut off pedestrian access, and two, is changes the flow of currents down the beach," said Carmichael.

City Manager Edwin "Buz" Eddy says the retaining walls are necessary for maintaining the natural bluff landscape of the city.

"What we had after Ivan was what is called slumping. Water hit the bluffs so hard that they actually began to slump down into the bay," he said. "The retaining walls will keep that from happening again." Eddy also indicated sympathy towards property owners.

"[Construction of the walls] is for the health, safety and welfare of the residents. The bluffs are also a significant geographical feature to the city."

Although there are no codes that require residents that build retaining walls to landscape the structures, Eddy said the property owners are planning to put rocks in front of the walls to lessen the hardening.