Proposed Seawall Ordinance

ULDR Section 47-19.3

King Tide in September 2015

2.615 ft
NAVD88
Observed
King Tide
Predicted
King Tide
Normal
High tide

Miami, FL

240 events
in 2045

Tidal Flooding
today, in 2030 and in
2045

Southeast Florida will

advance from
<10 events annually
to
240 events in 2045

Seawalls are an
important defense
against frequent
tidal flooding.

2015 Unified Sea Level Rise (SLR)

Projection for SE FL
Possible

3 SLR since
1992
2030: 6-10 SLR

2060: 14-26
Likely

Orange line for

long term
projects with low
risk tolerance
(2060: 34)

Seawall Elevations and Future Sea Level Rise

Sept 2015 Tide

2.6 ft

NAVD88
FT

Feet Above
Mean Low
Tide

3.9

6.2

3.0

5.3

1.0

3.3

Extreme high tide

0.0

2.3

Avg high tide (MHHW)

-2.3

0.0

Avg low tide (MLLW)

Condition

Max seawall height

(5.5NGVD29)

2 ft SLR -2060

Existing
Seawall and
dock
inundated

Seawalls in
significant
disrepair

Upland eroding
through the
seawall

Seawalls of
differing heights
offer different level
of protection to
the upland
property.

Stakeholder Outreach and Input

March 8

Council of Civic Associations*

March 9

Board of Adjustment

April 7

Marine Advisory Board*

April 14

Idlewyld Board of Directors

April 17

Las Olas Isles Homeowners Association

April 21

River Oaks Homeowners Association

April 22

Riviera Isles Homeowners Association

April 25

Council of Civic Association Executive Board*

April 27

MIASF

May 2

Rio Vista Civic Association

May 4

Harbor Beach Property Homeowners Association

May 5

Marine Advisory Board*

May 9

District 1 Districtwide Meeting*

May 10

Council of Civic Association Regular Meeting*

* Public Meetings

Feedback and Outreach

Written comments by e-mail

Next Door inquiries
Website comment board
Posted Frequently Asked Questions
Distribution of the ordinance through CoCA

Newspaper, TV, and radio articles

Written responses by e-mail
Notification of public meetings in utility billing

Key Modifications to the Seawall Ordinance :

Commission Consideration Draft - ULDR Section 47-19.3
Adds definitions for seawall, North American Vertical Datum and rip rap;
Sets a minimum seawall elevation at 3.9 feet NAVD88 (current allowable max);
Recommends design of seawall for future height adjustment;
Sets an allowable maximum height of the seawall based on a propertys base
flood elevation;
Requires seawall reconstruction to the minimum elevation if the substantial
repair threshold is triggered;
Requires maintaining seawalls in good repair and sets a timeline of 365 days
for completion of repairs if cited;
Requires owners to prevent tidal waters entering their property from impacting
others and sets a timeline of 365 days for remedy if cited;
Allows fixed docks to extend 10 inches above the adjacent seawall; and
Allows for floating docks and requires them to be permitted and permanently
attached.

A seawall would have to be

raised when:
a. Installing a brand new seawall;
b. During permitting for a repair, the
substantial repair threshold is triggered;
c.

During permitting for a repair required

due to citation, the substantial repair
threshold is triggered;

d. An owner cited for tidal flooding from

their property elects to install a new
seawall or to raise their seawall to

come into compliance.

Questions

May 3 Seawall Ordinance Compared to May 17 draft

ULDR Section 47-19.3

Key revisions include:

1)

Minor text changes in the preamble;

2)

Addition of a definition for Rip Rap;

3)

Allowing property owners with a finished floor

elevation of less than 3.9 feet NAVD88 to seek a
waiver from the City Engineer to construct a lower
seawall;

4)

Technical clarification related to the impermeability

of the seawall to tidal flows; and

5)

Relaxing of the requirement to design for future

extension of the seawall to a recommendation for
design.

Public Readings
JUNE
June 7, 6:00pm First Public Reading City Commission- Commission
Chambers

June 21, 6:00pm Second Public Reading City Commission- Commission

Chambers

Seawall Elevations
Why provide a range?
Maximum elevation standard
helps prevents flooding the
home during rain events

Minimum elevation standard

helps prevent flooding on the
property from the sea

Seawall Elevation
Based on Base Flood
Elevation (BFE)

BFE = 4 or 5 ft NAVD88

BFE= 6 ft NAVD88

Min 3.9 ft - Max 5.0 ft

Min 3.9 ft - Max 6 ft

Not in a flood plain

Min 3.9 ft

Max Grade

Identification of 16
Adaptation Action
Areas meeting
minimum AAA
criteria
Includes 38 Capital
Projects in the
Community
Investment Plan (CIP)
for funding