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Beachfront Construction Permit - 13107 Gulf Beach Dr, Treasure Island, Freeport, Abstract 29 S.F. Austin Block 8 Lot 18 (Precinct 1)
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The General Land Office (GLO) has reviewed the application materials for a beachfront construction certificate and dune protection permit for the above-referenced location. The applicant proposes to construct a single-family residence with crushed shell beneath the habitable structure, a crushed shell driveway, and a septic system. The applicant also proposes to place beach quality sand to elevate the driveway. The proposed construction is located within 200 feet landward of the line of vegetation, which is the seaward side of the rock revetment in this area. According to the Bureau of Economic Geology, the area is eroding at a rate of seven to ten feet per year.
Based on the materials forwarded to our office for review, we have the following comments:
• The applicant must provide the name of the property owner and property owner permission if the owner is different from the applicant. The construction for the driveway is partially on property not owned by the applicant. The applicant must submit information demonstrating the legal property owner of the Gulf Beach Drive right-of-way has authorized the proposed construction to the County and GLO before the County may issue the beachfront construction certificate and dune protection permit.
• The applicant proposes to construct the habitable structure seaward of the Building Setback Line, which is prohibited without an exemption from Brazoria County. To qualify for an exemption, the applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the County that no practicable alternatives to construction seaward of the Building Setback Line exist. In this instance, practicable means available and capable of being done after taking into consideration existing building practices, site alternatives, and the footprint of the structure in relation to the area of the buildable portion of the lot, and considering the overall development scheme for the property.
• If the County allows an exemption from the prohibition on building a structure seaward of the building setback line, the lowest habitable floor of the structure must be constructed at a minimum of two-foot freeboard above FEMA’s Base Flood Elevation.
• Gravel or crushed limestone may be used to construct driveways and parking areas in the area 50 feet landward of the line of vegetation to the Dune Protection Line. Crushed shell and beach quality sand as proposed is permissible.
• The County must limit the area of enclosures below BFE to 299 square feet.
• The County must ensure the proposed habitable structure is designed for feasible relocation.
• The applicant should direct all stormwater inland away from adjacent properties, the critical dune area, and public beach. The County shall not issue a certificate or permit authorizing construction unless the construction activities will minimize impacts on natural hydrology and will not cause erosion of adjacent properties, the critical dune area, or the public beach.
• If any part of a structure comes to be located seaward of the line of mean high tide, it becomes an unauthorized structure on state-owned land. Repairs are prohibited and the state may take action to remove the structure.
In the event of a material change to the site conditions or the proposed construction, a new or amended beachfront construction certificate and dune protection permit is required.
Further, that a certified copy of this order be returned to the Flood Plain Administrator.