Sands Shifting for Dune Destroyers on Clearwater Beach

To Wendy Hutkin it looks like the tides are changing for sand dune destroyers on North Clearwater Beach. 

A homeowner with a bulldozer pushed over the sand dunes near the Mango Street and Eldorado Avenue beach access over the weekend (Jan. 12-13).

It is the first dune destruction of the year. 

Hutkin, president of the Clearwater Beach Association, a neighborhood group, said she saw it happening Saturday. She took videos and pictures, posted the information on Facebook and called police.

Because of those efforts the homeowner could be looking at misdemeanor charges for the unpermitted work.

Dune destruction is a theme in the North Clearwater Beach neighborhood, Hutkin said to city leaders Thursday night. The illicit work usually takes place on the weekend or at night, when enforcement is more difficult.

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Mayor George N. Cretekos said residents should take photographs or video of the violation and call the police.

“The protocols are there. The problem is, as you indicated, some of our neighbors, some of your neighbors don’t like rules,” Cretekos said.

He said the success from over the weekend shows state officials that residents are serious.

Not the First Time Trouble Rumbles From the Dunes

Hutkin also found out the results from previous violations.

Ed Chesney, the city's environmental manager, talked about cases from 2011.

The same homeowner cited this weekend pulled a permit to move sand in April 2011. The homeowner had a permit to widen a path near a dune, Chesney said. While they may have shifted too much sand, the case is closed to the satisfaction of the state, Chesney said.

Another violation had to do with sea oat removal, Chesney said. That homeowner also had a permit and a plan to replant vegetation.

“That was closed because she did replant,” Chesney said.

Hutkin said she was surprised to find out the other cases were closed. She said there needs to be more public awareness when the cases are opened and closed.

City Looks to Clamp Down on Dune Destruction 

Hutkin said that many communities self preserve by monitoring and citing violators at a local level.

“We’re self destructing by not responding” Hutkin said.

But enforcement efforts seem to be changing.

Chesney said this is the first time a criminal investigator came out. They interviewed the contractor and plan to file a citation that could lead to a first degree misdemeanor, he said.

“So the state did react that quickly and did send someone at a higher level than we had before,” Chesney said.

The city might also look into an ordinance that would not allow heavy equipment access on the beach without a permit.

This is not the first time the homeowner has tried to change the sand buildup. The homeowner had a permit in 2011 and applied for one about six months ago but was denied, Chesney said.

They bulldozed anyway.

“This weekend, it was going to happen regardless of what was in place,” Chesney said.