Residents clash over storm protections
Highland Beach resident Howard Spector walks his dog Barkley past Town Hall on Tuesday. Some residents are revolting against a proposed property tax designed to improve a popular walking path near the ocean and pay for protections from severe storms that flood the town’s main street. The town will ask voters next month to approve up to $45 million to bury utility lines and improve sidewalks and drainage systems.
Some Highland Beach residents are revolting against a proposed property tax designed to improve a popular walking path near the ocean and pay for protections from severe storms that flood the town’s main street.
Like many coastal cities, Highland Beach, a three-mile narrow strip between Boca Raton and Delray Beach, has suffered from floods and power outages after major storms. The town has about 4,000 residents, with about three-fourths living in condominium buildings and the rest in private homes.
With their homes right on the ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway, many residents are already seeing the effects of climate change.
As protections against rising tides and flooding, the town will ask voters next month to approve up to $45 million to bury utility lines and improve sidewalks and drainage systems. Opponents, rallying residents with email campaigns, YouTube videos and neighborhood meetings, say these upgrades are too drastic and fiscally imprudent.
“This is the biggest financial decision ever in the history of the town,” said Greg Babij, who serves on the town’s Financial Advisory Board. “It leaves us with too much debt. I’m very much for improving the town, but at a reasonable cost.”
On March 12, residents will vote on three bond projects:
Up to $16,550,000 to pay for upgrades to drainage, ditches, pipes, water quality treatment, roadway improvements and land-
scaped
Up to $11,250,000 to improve Ocean Walk, the popular walking path along State Road A1A,
Up to $17,200,000 to bury power and communications lines and improve street lighting.
If voters approve all three proposals, the tax rate would increase a hefty 31 percent, according to the town’s website. The owner of a $500,000 property who now pays $1,859.50 in town taxes would pay $2,433.70.
Town Commissioner Peggy Gossett-Seidman described the proposals as part “vanity,” fixing up the walking path, and part climate change protection, “flooding and sea rise.”
She said parts of A1A flood after severe storms, but the situation has been mostly unchanged for decades.
“I’ve been here years, and it hasn’t areas to absorb water. for 27 gotten
that much worse,” she said.
Coastal cities throughout South Florida are dealing with similar issues. In Miami Beach, construction has already begun on elevated roads and pumps that help to dry streets after floods.
In Broward, beach dunes have been built and seawalls raised. Municipalities have invested in sensors, gates and pumps to push water out of neighborhoods.
Delray Beach commissioners were stunned recently to hear the price tag for raising roads and improving drainage and seawalls in 14 neighborhoods in their frequently flooding city: $378 million.
Highland Beach Mayor Rhoda Zelniker said a vocal contingent in the town is working against the referendum’s approval.
“They do not want to spend money and solve problems for the future of Highland Beach,” she said in an email. “They will express these opinions whether the vote is now or next year.”
She said Florida’s Department of Transportation is not scheduled to make improvements in the area until 2022.
A race for
atown commission seat also will be on the ballot. Incumbent Elyse Riesa will face resident Evalyn David; both say they will vote no on questions. the referendum