Join Fort Pierce Shores Preservation (FPSP) to Save our Beach
URGENT CONCERN:
Guarantee public access to the beaches in St Lucie County, FL
2024 Florida Statute 163.035
Preserve the beach, its wildlife, and vegetation.
Fort Pierce Shores is a small community in St. Lucie County between A-1-A and the Ft Pierce Inlet State Park, on the southern tip of North Hutchinson Island. Fort Pierce Shores Preservation, Inc. (FPSP) is a nonprofit that we formed to block overdevelopment of our beachfront property. Our goal is to preserve the pristine beauty of this natural beach for the local residents and public to continue to enjoy.
This is one of our natural footpaths to the ocean. How often do you see such natural beauty along the Florida coast? We have 3 such public accesses through 40', 70', and 70' right-of-ways affirmed by a FL Supreme Court ruling. Sea oats and sea grapes are protected by Florida law, but the developer wants to take 90' from these right-of-ways for his own use & profit! Help us stop them!
The Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) runs close to the road, so almost the entire area to be developed is East of the CCCL. Development here will set a precedent that will allow for more and more development on the beach. Once the natural beauty of this beach is destroyed by development it will be gone for good - like so many other natural treasures.
Fort Pierce Shores Preservation Inc. is a group comprised of property owners, residents, and friends who are committed to the preservation of our court-affirmed beach access Right-Of-Ways in their original, natural state as dedicated to the residents of Fort Pierce Shores and the public. Additionally, we advocate for the protection of our dunes and natural coastal ecosystem which protect our homes and our small community lifestyle and environment, as well as protected and endangered animal and plant species.
The Gopher tortoise is one of the oldest living species on the planet. Both the tortoise and its burrow are protected under Florida state law. Gopher tortoises are a keystone species, that is, they have an outsized impact on their environment, largely due to their burrows. They dig burrows up to 40 feet long and 10 feet wide. At least 150 other species also use their burrows.
Development on the beach not only threatens wildlife and native plant species, it also works to destabilize the coastline and could vastly increase storm damage to our neighborhood. Our community is where Navy Seals trained and lived during WWII. It consists of primarily single family homes on ground level, and we are surrounded by water on 3 sides at the southern tip of North Hutchinson Island.
Note: Hurricane Nicole reached a Category 1 hurricane for only 1 minute, then decreased in speed. The eye went directly over Fort Pierce Shores. In 2004 Hurricane Frances made landfall on Hutchinson Island as a Cat 2 on Sept. 6th. Then, on Sept. 26, Hurricane Jeanne landed as a Cat 3 crossing virtually the same point. The beach vegetation can be a protection from disaster.
Five species of sea turtles are in Florida's waters and three of the five, Loggerhead, Green and Leatherback, nest right here on Fort Pierce Shores. All sea turtles in Florida are protected under state statutes. The sea turtle migrates hundreds of miles from its feeding ground to its nesting beach. Adult females return faithfully to nest on the very beach where they were born.
During nesting season (generally March to October), on the beach at Fort Pierce Shores, you will often encounter a Ft. Pierce Inlet State Park ranger on their ATV circling a nest to notify beachgoers to be aware, and noting data; GPS coordinates, type of turtle identified by the nest & tracks, etc.
FPSP particularly opposes any project that would seek to:
· reduce 3 current St Lucie County public beach access ROWs of 40’/70’/70' in violation of court-affirmed rights dedicated specifically to the property-owners of Fort Pierce Shores and the public
· appropriate the balance of land from the ROWs to enable the creation of an 8th lot for the developer in exchange for nothing of value or benefit to the community
· restrict or preclude public access at or above the Mean High Water Line and prevent freedom of movement along the shoreline at high tide
· exceed current height restrictions of 35’
· obtain exception(s) regarding building seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line
· intrude upon the Dune Preservation Area
· damage or destroy indigenous vegetation that protects against storm surge and erosion
· eliminate the advantages of beach accretion that are essential to our community at the tip of a barrier island
· damage or destroy the natural habitat of federally-protected species of wildlife
The St Lucie County Commissioners are the ones who vote yes or no on the proposed development project (with many required sources of input). We have made a huge impact with decisions in the past by voicing our concerns with email and letters. Please voice your desire to preserve and protect this pristine environment & our old-Florida style community.
District 1: Chris Dzadovsky: dzadovskyc@stlucieco.org
District 2: Larry Leet: leetl@stlucieco.org
District 3: Linda Bartz: bartzl@stlucieco.org
District 4: Jamie Fowler: fowlerj@stlucieco.org
District 5: Cathy Townsend: townsendc@stlucieco.org
Or by USPS mail:
2300 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, FL 34982
Or by phone:
772-462-1100
If you agree with our Mission, send an email to:
FortPierceShoresPreservation@gmail.com
saying count me in, and we will add your name to our contact list for future communication regarding issues and progress.
Help our cause with a donation today!
Fort Pierce Shores Preservation, Inc. is a non-profit corporation. We rely solely on donations. We appreciate any contribution you can make. Please note, any contributions you make are not tax deductible.
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and fund our mission.
- Donations by check can be made to:
Fort Pierce Shores Preservation, Inc.
2301 Okeechobee Rd. #15
Ft. Pierce, FL 34950
Or