HOLMES BEACH – It’s been more than two months since commissioners first began their discussion on whether or not to allow property owners in Seaside Gardens to raise their ground floor homes above the flood plain level. Now it seems they may have reached a decision.
During a Sept. 26 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance allowing property owners to raise the ground-level structures that characterize the waterfront neighborhood – the catch is that they can only do so if the home was involuntarily damaged.
If the new ordinance passes a second and final reading at an upcoming meeting, Seaside Gardens owners will be able to raise their units to or above the current flood plain level, but only if the unit is involuntarily damaged by 50% or more of the townhome’s market value by fire, flood, windstorm or other similar event. Property owners will not be able to simply choose to raise the structure.
If the unit is damaged, when reconstructed it will have to meet or exceed the current elevation requirements, the ground floor will have to be converted to non-habitable space and the existing floorplan cannot be increased.
The decision comes after work session discussions in which Mayor Judy Titsworth and commissioners heard from several residents and property owners in the small neighborhood, part of which fronts a canal. While some property owners felt they should be able to choose to build their properties up, others said it would change the character of the neighborhood and reduce the quality of life for adjoining residents.
All of the properties in Seaside Gardens have at least one wall that adjoins another property, with some being duplex units and others townhouses in buildings with three or more units. During discussions, Commissioner Pat Morton, who lives in Seaside Gardens, said he was not in favor of allowing property owners to choose to raise their properties to a second story because of the issues neighbors would face including construction noise and possible damage to their units. Under the new ordinance, property owners who raise their units must make sure that the construction doesn’t damage adjacent properties or cause those property owners to not be able to elevate their own units at some point in the future if necessary.
