Plan would reduce beach erosion near The Breakers

Clarke Beach south of The Breakers (Credit: Palm Beach Shore Preservation Board)

The management of The Breakers in Palm Beach plans to apply for government permits for a coastal project that would reduce beach erosion near the resort.

Resort officials are preparing  to apply for state and federal permits to modify or add to offshore breakwaters, groins and other so-called “coastal structures.”

Executives of The Breakers last week hosted a pre-application meeting to present their plans to engineers with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Officials of the Town of Palm Beach and its consultant Coastal Systems International attended the meeting.

The Palm Beach Shore Preservation Board recommended that the town retain Coastal Systems for advice during the permitting process.

Board member Jerry Frank told the Palm Beach Daily Review that The Breakers plan could have consequences for the rest of the town: “If they're going to put groins there … we, the town, have to be involved because we have to protect ourselves so we don't stop the movement of sand from north to south.'

Palm Beach public works director Paul Brazil told the Palm Beach Shore Protection Board that a consensus favoring The Breakers plan had emerged: “I think everyone shares a sense of urgency that we need to do this as quickly as we can.” [Palm Beach Daily News] - Mike Seemuth