Home › News › Environment
Hideaway Beach seeks tourist tax dollars to fund beach erosion control
County to consider whether private beach is in public interest
More Environment 
Share and Enjoy 
Collier County officials are questioning whether erosion control on a private beach is something that is in the best interest of the public. The Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC) discussed the issue at a meeting on Thursday and the consensus on the board was the Hideaway Beach was an area enjoyed not only by residents of the private beach community but also by residents and tourists visiting the beach by boat.
Collier County Coastal Zone Management staff recommended a different direction. Their finding was that since Hideaway Beach had no public access by road that the beach was ineligible for Tourist Development Tax fund dollars. The tourist taxes are supported by tourism business including hotels throughout Collier County and are to be used for projects that are in the public’s best interest.
Collier County staff did find that the beach is subject to high erosion and the erosion control devices or “T-Groins” are successful solutions for erosion control.
However Hideaway Beach is not easily accessible to the public and therefore does not meet standards to receive tourist tax dollars because access to the beach is only gained by walking from the public access at Tigertail Beach or by boat.
Hideaway Beach representative and engineers, Humiston & Moore, presented to the CAC their finding that erosion control structures would protect the coastline including Tigertail Beach.
Ken Humiston, one of the engineers also said the devices would protect sea turtle nests on Hideaway Beach.
CAC members each expressed their opinion on whether preserving Hideaway Beach was in the best interest of the public and unanimously, 8-0 decided to recommend to the Tourist Development Council and Board of County Commissioners that controlling the beach erosion was in the public interest and suggested $1.6 million of tourist tax dollars be used to build the T-Groins.
Hideaway Beach residents formed a special tax district in 2004 for the purpose of controlling erosion. They proposed matching funds, offering to pay $1.9 million toward the cost of engineering, dredging and sand replacement for the project.
“We are offering every dollar we have available to us,” said Erik Brechnitz, vice chairman of the Marco Island Special Tax District.
Brechnitz said that with 312 homes at risk, he believes it’s a “compelling argument” that being able to continue to collect these residents’ real estate tax dollars is in the public interest.
“There is no such thing as a private beach in the state of Florida. Calling it a private beach is a misnomer. It’s a boater’s destination,” Brechnitz said.
Hideaway Beach resident Ilona Hirschmann said she too believes not only is the erosion control necessary, but the public does use Hideaway Beach.
“People come by boat and they barbecue on the island. It’s a very close place by boat for many people. Also, Marco provides tourism dollars. It makes sense to use those dollars in Marco,” Hirschmann said.
The CAC agreed, including committee member Victor Rios.
“I believe the shore lines of Marco Island are in serious danger,” Rios said.
Hideaway Beach received TDC funds in the past and the special taxing district matched those dollars to pay for $5.5 million in erosion control completed in 2005.
The Tourist Development Council may not agree with the CAC’s most recent recommendation however. The TDC will be discussing the issue 9 a.m., May 19, in the Collier County Board of Commissioners chambers on U.S. 41 East and Airport-Pulling Road. The meeting is open to the public.
“I believe the council generally follows staff recommendations,” said tourist director Jack Wert.
He added that the major concern for the committee will most likely be the lack of public access to the beach. Brechnitz said Hideaway Beach residents offered to make the beach accessible to the public, but it was turned down due to lack of space for parking.
Following TDC review and recommendations, the BCC will make the final decision on the issue.
Comments
This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. Break our rules, and we will ban you. No exceptions, no second chances. Read our privacy policy & user agreement.
Wow it sounds like you have the county by the groin.
#1 Posted by hadenuf on May 13, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is an idea, if they want the money from public funds, then make the beach accessible to the public.
Once again Jack Wert's top secret funds are the subject of a give-away. I believe that Mr. Wert and his office needs a visit from Mr. Dwight Brock, or someone else to look at the hideous spending and waste of funds.
#2 Posted by kneejerk on May 13, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The public can't access or use this beach and these private beach people want public tourist funds for erosion protection. NO WAY.....only open access will gain you the funds.
#3 Posted by suntan on May 13, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can people still land a boat on this beach? Back in the day, a boat could be anchored on the sand on Hideaway. If that is the case, there is a little bit of access. Albeit, a SMALL access point to minimal people.
However, the high rises on this beach are substantial, and the beach views are AMAZING I must say. The people who live there will have to pay for a huge assessment on this one.
They better not think for a minute that public dollars should fund a private beach though.
It was a good try though.
Very funny proposal.
Hey, we want Collier County to pay!
For our PRIVATE Hideaway.
And the answer from the public...NO WAY!!!!
#4 Posted by beetlejuice on May 14, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can thank the "enviromentalists" for the erosion of Hideaway Beach and the demise of Coconut Island on the so called eviormentalists. Several years ago they demanded that the non native trees which were growing on Coconut Island and holding down the soil had to be removed. There was no forethought that with out the trees and their roots to hold down the soil the island would erode away. Some private citizens agreed to get native trees and plant them at their own expense or from donations from businesses and private donation. With much effort, volunteers planted the new trees. However, there is no water supply on the island and the trees died because of lack of sufficient rain. This whole disaster could have beed avoided if the existing trees, native or not, were allowed to thrive on the island and thus hold down the sand. Now we not only lost an island used by many, but are losing another area of beachfront.
Marco is a very sensitive barrier island and must be protected from beach erosion no matter where the beach is.
#5 Posted by blondie on July 14, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Post your comment
(Requires free registration.)