(A) The Town of Long Beach acknowledges that seawalls, revetments, retaining walls, groins, and other such structural methods designed with the intention of forestalling erosion also alter natural shoreline processes that result in a variety of negative effects on coastal resources, including but not limited to effects on sand supply, public access, coastal views, natural landforms, and overall beach dynamics. See, Coastal Planning Guide and “Natural and Structural Measures for Shoreline Stabilization”, developed with support and funding by NOAA and the US Army Corps of Engineers. PDF copies available from the Building Commission upon request.
(B) Only after the property owner and coastal engineer (post review and approval by the Building Commission) establish that the proposed protection structure is in fact required and is the minimum necessary to reasonably preserve the shoreline and protect the property, complies with the terms of all Long Beach town ordinances and the property owner has provided all applicable federal, state, county, and town permit(s) and approval(s), shall a building permit for the construction of a protection structure be issued.
(C) The following conditions shall apply to the issuance of building permits or variances within the Coastal Zone:
(1) No protection structure or structure of any kind—except town information sign or as otherwise permissible under § 154.060—is to be located greater than 106.6 feet lakeward from the northern boundary of Lake Shore Drive or lakeward of the NOHWM, whichever is most restrictive.
(2) A new seawall may only be installed between a revetment and the principal use structure if there is a principal use structure on the subject property. A new seawall must be installed as close as reasonably practicable to the lakeward foundation of the primary structure and not greater than 18 inches from the side property line, subject to Building Commission approval. A new seawall may not extend into the side setback by more than 18 inches unless connecting to an existing neighboring seawall, subject to the following additional requirements:
(a) Neighboring property owner(s) have given written consent to allow the new seawall to be connected to the existing seawall; and
(b) The resulting seawall structure will form a continuous barrier.
(3) A revetment may be installed on a private property for the purpose of protecting the property. Any such revetment shall be installed with the lakeward toe of the structure not to extend greater than 106.6 feet from the northern boundary of Lake Shore Drive or lakeward of the NOHWM, whichever is most restrictive.
(4) The slope of any revetment shall be 1.5:1 or less for dumped stone or rip rap and 1:5 or less for hand-placed stone or rip rap. The stone size shall be based on the determination and recommendation of a coastal engineer.
(5) The height of a protection structure shall not exceed the height determined to be necessary by the coastal engineer subject to the approval by the Building Commission in accordance with this subchapter.
(6) The town reserves the right to retain another coastal engineer, delineation consultant, and/or structural engineer of its choosing and at the expense of the property owner if deemed necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this subchapter.
(Ord. 2018-04, passed 8-13-18; Am. Ord. 2021-13, passed 9-13-21)