Proposed Cherry Grove Canals Dredging Project

Transcription

1 Proposed Cherry Grove Canals Dredging Project 1

2 Development of Cherry Grove C.D. Nixon inherited 9,940 acres of land 1924 Nixon family began planning subdivision of Cherry Grove 1950 Mr. Nixon closed natural inlet separating Cherry Grove Beach from Futch Beach, creating seamless Cherry Grove beachfront Mr. Nixon created a new outlet to Hog Inlet, and in 1950s and 1960s developed lots 2

3 As early as 1971 property owners called for dredging some finger canals A 1971 flyer called for dredging finger canals. One shown here originally offered 4 feet of water at low tide, but by 1971 offered little water at low tide 3

4 Property owners also called for dredging parts of minor channel 1971 flyer shows sand buildup in minor channel, blocking water flow to finger channels at low tide. Corps would not permit dredging 4

5 Today, the canals are navigable at high tide 5

6 But canals are not navigable at low tide, which is why property owners asked the City to secure a dredging permit 6

7 The City s efforts on your behalf 2004 Dredging feasibility study initiated 2005 City applied to SC DHEC for dredge permit and ultimately received one, but it was too restrictive. Example: DHEC required dredge path to stay 10 feet away from all shellfish and marsh grasses, with no mitigation allowed City meets with canal property owners to discuss legal and other challenges 7

8 The City s efforts on your behalf 2011 SC General Assembly removes project from DHEC jurisdiction 2012 SC Supreme Court rules canal bottoms are owned by the State 2013 Army Corps issues 10 year dredge permit 8

9 Scope of Dredging Project Dredge finger canals between 42nd Ave North and 63rd Ave North Dredge minor channel Dredge main channel where required 9

10 Why not dredge all canals and Hog Inlet? Dredging of upper portion of Z Canal prohibited Channel south of 42nd Ave N. includes private property. City has no right to dredge private property. Canals south of Russell Burgess Coastal Preserve do not qualify Dredging Hog Inlet would require a separate permit: -- Expensive environmental impact study -- No federal funding due to limited commercial activity in the inlet 10

11 Basic dredge approach Square Cut dredge down center of canals -- Finger Canals: 24 feet wide, average 3 depth at low water -- Minor Channel: 34 feet wide, average 3-1/2 depth at low water Dredge may widen up to about 30 feet as sides stabilize 11

12 Why limit finger canals dredge to 24 width? State-owned right of way in finger canals is 50 wide 12

13 Why limit finger canals dredge to 24 width? Does not matter how wide a canal is from your bulkhead to the bulkhead across the canal from you. Dredging must stay within State-owned 50 foot right of way The wider the dredge cut, the more negative the environmental impact Example: Additional disturbance of Spartina grass and oyster beds. Even if additional disturbance and mitigation were allowed, the current $16 million-plus cost of the dredge as currently designed would only increase exponentially 13

14 More about basic dredge approach Dredged materials to be processed at Corps Horry County Tidewater Confined Disposal Facility. Dredged material dries out there, then hauled to final location Initial dredge occurs mid-november 2015 through March About 125,000 cubic yards of fill to be removed in this dredge 14

15 More about basic dredge approach Maintenance dredge occurs around 2021, if needed, and if affordable. About 120,000 cubic yards of fill removed in this dredge Dredging permit expires September 30,

16 Estimated Costs Includes Estimated Inflation Initial dredge: $6,622,179 Figure includes $1,033,486 in marshland and oyster bed mitigation costs as required by Corps in dredge permit About 125,000 cubic yards to be removed in this dredge Maintenance dredge: $5,962,983 About 120,000 cubic yards to be removed in this dredge Total both dredges: $12,585,162 Total estimated project cost, including bond interest payments, professional fees, etc: $16,016,278 16

17 Financing Plan City has invested $1.25 million and will invest another $1.6 million ($800,000 for each dredge) Special Assessment District: Single family unit parcels assessed up to a maximum of $2,400 annually for up to 10 years Multi-family unit parcels assessed up to a maximum of $1,656 annually Assessments pay debt service on separate bond issues for each dredge 17

18 Why not spread cost among all North Myrtle Beach taxpayers? Taxpayers not located on canals to be dredged, including those in the immediate Cherry Grove area, will not realize appreciable benefit from dredge Put another way Taxpayers not located on canals to be dredged clearly have no political will to help pay for the project above and beyond the amount of funding already committed by the City 18

19 What about future dredges? Dredge permit expires September 30, 2023 Existing City Council cannot bind future City Councils to a program of canal maintenance No one can forecast regulations or requirements that may apply to future permit applications, or which agencies will be involved 19

20 Expected next steps March 2015 Consideration of ordinance to establish special assessment district. Includes 30 day property owner appeals process June 2015 Obtain dredge bids, select contractor, negotiate contract June 2015 Secure bond financing from lender October 2015 Dredge contractor mobilizes 20

21 Expected next steps November 2015 March 2016 Complete initial dredge Dry, then remove dredged material from Tidewater Basin Perform mitigation and monitoring Maintenance dredge, if necessary, if affordable 21