IOP passes emergency ordinance to permit some residents to build seawalls
ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCBD) – Erosion on the Isle of Palms in recent months led to the approval of a temporary emergency ordinance Tuesday night.
During a special city council meeting, the required supermajority voted in favor of allowing residents between 100 and 914 Ocean Boulevard to build their own seawall or revetment, outside of the state’s jurisdiction, for emergency erosion control.
“I think folks have been asking for some type of relief to be able to do something on their own to protect their property,” said IOP Mayor Phillip Pounds before the meeting.
Council considered two different options regarding how far out the structure could go on the beach. The first option proposed 35 feet from the max build line. The second option was “anywhere as long as entirely landward of the critical area.”
Leaders passed the first but amended it to 20 feet from the max build line. The move relaxes the longstanding city ordinance that prohibits any hard erosion control structures within 250 feet of the ocean.
“We can’t back off the 45-year-old ban on seawalls and hard structures. We, I think, can compromise, and say ‘alright you want to protect your foundations’ let’s do that. But let’s do that as close as possible to the max build line,” said IOP City Councilman Blair Hahn.
Last week, News 2 reported on a man on the Isle of Palms who is already in the process of building his own seawall and is in a dispute with local and state agencies about his rights.
Mayor Pounds said the special meeting was not related to that situation.
“You know, this ordinance is really about allowing homeowners to do something to protect their property and not out on the active beach, not, you know, far out to where it’s going to inhibit people to be able to enjoy our beach, but close enough to their property to where they can protect their property,” said Mayor Pounds.
According to the mayor, the temporary ordinance will last for 60 days and can be extended up to six months.
