St. Johns County

Outrage spreads as video captures excavator digging into St. Augustine Beach dune

By Russell Colburn, Action News Jax
By Russell Colburn, Action News Jax

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. — City leaders in Saint Augustine Beach say they have closed the loophole that recently allowed a homeowner to dig into a dune on his property.

“It’s four o’clock in the morning, you had trucks coming in through here,” said neighbor Jay Leavitt.

Neighbors near 12th Lane saw an excavator ripping away the dune behind a home. They fear there could be a Hurricane Matthew repeat if a major storm were to hit.

Families in our area will remember the scene of Matthew breaching the dune in Jacksonville Beach three years ago, sending water rushing down the street.

“I’m absolutely blown away, because these are dunes that are protected,” Leavitt said.

The work left a gaping hole behind the property. The dune used to be at least six feet taller.

City leaders said the owner wanted to give his renters an ocean view.

Undine Celeste George is the former mayor and a current commissioner.

She said the owner was cited in the past for digging without a permit.

This time, he obtained a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection, stating the work can be done since it is private property and if there is “no significant adverse impacts to beach/dune areas or to adjacent properties.”

“They have their own protocols and standards to determine whether or not it’s appropriate to excavate in the dune area, and unfortunately, the city has no authority over that,” George said.

But an environmental expert said there have already been impacts with animal habitats. He showed Action News Jax the tracks of beach mice just a few feet from the dig. This beach mouse, the Anastasia Island beach mouse, is federally endangered, according to St. Johns County.

In the last week, George said commissioners closed the loophole so owners can no longer do this, even with a DEP permit.

“The good news is it really should never happen again,” George said.

But that doesn’t help neighbors here and now.

“This is terrible,” Leavitt said.

Action News Jax got a hold of the homeowner Friday. They did not wish to comment for this story.

Outrage spreads as video captures excavator digging into St. Augustine Beach dune Outrage spreads as video captures excavator digging into St. Augustine Beach dune

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