August 2017
Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
Volume 10 Issue 8
Along the Coast
South Florida seeks new source of sand for beaches Manalapan vows to fight South Palm Beach sand retention plan By Dan Moffett Manalapan is stepping up efforts to block a proposed beach stabilization project that would install concrete groins to capture sand in South Palm Beach. On July 18, Manalapan Mayor Keith Waters and Town Manager Linda Stumpf met with Palm Beach County Commissioner Steven Abrams to outline the town’s opposition to the project. Waters told Abrams what he’s
been telling his residents: The town is prepared to do “whatever it takes” to prevent the installation of groins that will “steal” sand from Manalapan. The project, which county environmental managers hope to begin in November 2018, is going through a complicated permitting phase now that requires approvals from federal and state agencies. Waters said the town intends to intervene in that process and argue against granting the permits. After the meeting, Abrams sent an email to Rob Robbins, director of the county’s Environmental Resources Management department, which oversees the project. Abrams’ remarks reflect the conflicted positions officials find themselves in as neighbors turn against neighbors in disputes over sand See MANALAPAN on page 13
Florida (left) may import sand from the Bahamas for use in beach renourishment. The light blue areas of this satellite image show the shallow bottom around the Bahamas. Photo by NASA
Will our next beach renourishment use Bahamian sand? By Cheryl Blackerby Beach sand is constantly on the move, generally north to south, and is as fluid as the ocean that pounds it. Most Floridians had never really considered this geological phenomenon, but they have learned the hard way that barrier islands are constantly reshaped by winds, water currents and development. In recent decades, coastal residents noticed that sand was leaving the shore and not coming back. Waves, particularly those powered by tropical storms and hurricanes, carved out cliffs in formerly flat shores and washed sand out from underneath high-rise condos
and beachside houses. When faced with thinning beaches and encroaching ocean water, resourceful beach towns simply dug up offshore sand and pumped it onto the beaches, grumbling about costs as the big dredges did their work, but doing whatever it took to keep the beaches nice and wide for tourists. Then, the unthinkable happened: The offshore sand ran out. No longer were they looking at expensive dredging for sand, they were looking at no sand. Miami-Dade and Broward counties have depleted their offshore sand, and See BAHAMAS on page 12
Delray Beach
Midtown project faces critical juncture with commission
By Jane Smith The developers of Midtown Delray Beach have a grand vision for their project. “We want to provide a bridge from the Northwest
and Southwest neighborhoods to those along East Atlantic Avenue,” said Steven Michael, a principal in the project’s developer, Hudson Holdings. “We want to re-energize the West Atlantic Avenue
neighborhoods … bring the historic homes back to life.” But a city board has denied the site plan that the project needs to go forward, and the project’s future is scheduled to be decided at the Aug. 15 City
Inside
Manalapan police starting marine unit to monitor partying on sandbar. Page 11
Ultimate sun block
Your guide to viewing the eclipse. Page H1
Commission meeting. If approved, the 4.4-acre project would sit prominently at the southwest corner of Swinton and Atlantic avenues, putting it at the entrance of The Set, the new name for the Northwest
Aesop’s Tables Tables with fables. Page AT7
Boynton OKs subsidy for Ocean One builder. Page 19
and Southwest neighborhoods. When complete, Midtown would have 35,049 square feet of retail; 22,525 square feet of restaurants; 21,872 square feet of office space; 44 dwelling See MIDTOWN on page 16
Speaking volumes
Raptis offers rare books on Worth Avenue. Page AT1