Vilano Beach to get sand if all homeowners agree to temporary easement

Decimated homes still line the Vilano Beach shore, months after Hurricane Matthew.

St. Johns County said $120 million dollars worth of sand was washed away during the storm.

The county has a plan to haul in sand that will replenish the beach, but it needs 154 property owners to sign a temporary easement.

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“It basically just gave them permission to potentially use our property and give us sand,” homeowner Brandi Schmidt told Action News Jax.

The easement will allow St. Johns County to bring equipment on the beach so it can deliver sand and shore up damaged homes.

“I don’t think it’s a solution. It’s a Band Aid, but it’s one that we’ll take right now. Some of my neighbors could use that band aid,” Schmidt said.

But not everyone is on board with the plan.

The county still needs five signatures before 5 p.m. Monday. St. Johns said one property owner in particular is strongly opposed.

Those who have signed said they aren’t concerned about the temporary impact on their property.

The project would take 90 days to complete.

“Ultimately, it’s what we need," Schmidt said. "I’m not sure that what they’re doing for us right now is really going to impact anyone’s property, aside from potentially laying some pipe on their dune.”

St. Johns officials said it’s a temporary inconvenience that could save the beachfront community.

If the county can’t get the signatures before Monday’s deadline, the Board of County Commissioners will hold an emergency meeting to consider potential legal action.

Cox Media Group