Barrier Islands Preservation and Protection Association

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Built on Sand: How this Florida barrier island community pushed back against overdevelopment

Built on Sand The Miami Herald examined the impacts of continuing to build on Florida’s barrier islands, which are at high risk from rising seas and strengthening hurricanes, as well as the little-understood geologic consequences of packing bigger and heavier high rises on sinking sand.

Read more and watch the video on the Miami Herald Website

STATE Legislation : 4/30/25
Congratulations to the South Beaches! Again!

Thank you all for the hundreds of telephone calls and e-mails sent by residents to State Legislators over the last 3 months. Most of the bills we were concerned about either got amended or eliminated.

With support from Sea Turtle Conservancy, 1000 Friends of Florida, FWC, IRLC and other NGO’s, Representative Debbie Mayfield coordinated our Brevard House Delegates, Reps. Brackett, Miller, Tramont and Sirios to avert potential conflicts between proposed State bills and the Brevard Barrier Island Area of Critical State Concern (BBIA).

As a bonus, since 2023 when the 40-member Senate and 120-member House unanimously voted to establish the BBIA, the approximately 35% of State Delegates that are new to their positions, are now becoming aware of the BBIA.

Brevard County is not far behind, we are all working hard to come to an agreement on the terms for our Comprehensive Land Use Plan amendment.

Aa such, there will be a Planning and Zoning (P & Z) meeting in June 17 at 3pm, and a Brevard Board of Commission (BBOC) meeting on July 17 at 5pm. We will keep you updated as we get closer to these meetings.

We all know the importance of getting the BBIA right the first time. No increase in density. We all know what is at risk. We are all in this together to preserve this local, State and National treasure that we call home.

Latest update to bill: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/247/BillText/c3/PDF
Go Item (6) line 185-189 to view the bill, for latest update.
Thank You South Beaches, you are the Best!
Mark Shantzis, Executive Director
Barrier Islands Preservation and Protection Association (BIPPA)
“Leading Efforts To Preserve The Balance of Population Growth, Natural Habitat and Wildlife on the Barrier Islands for over 30 years".   bippa.org

COUNTY Update: 3/21/25
We are currently working with our Commissioners, County Staff, NGO's and our State Legislative Delegates to secure the necessary language to Preserve Sea Turtle Nesting, Control Density, Reduce Flooding, Improve Evacuation, Restore the Indian River Lagoon and Establish Tree Canopy guidelines on the South Beaches.
Rest Assured we will contact you to help when we need you to pitch in!

COUNTY Update: 2/11/25
Congratulations to the South Beaches!
A 5-0 Commission vote AGAINST  increasing density!
Below is a thank you from our Commissioner Kim Adkinson (District 3) who did a fabulous job supporting us to preserve the South Beaches.
We showed up in numbers, joined by a contingent from Casseekee, Aquarina and several other HOA's.
VIDEO: Go to: Brevardfl.gov; then Board Meetings (at top); scroll down to P & Z at Commish for Feb 6, 5pm;
Click video (on far right).
Go To: 1:41:46 to hear the BIPPA pitch.
Go To: 2:20:00 to hear the County Attorney explain in no uncertain terms that Density Increases in the South Beaches are Prohibited by Policy 7.1 of the Comprehensive Plan
Its a MUST SEE!
From Commissioner Adkinson
"Hello Mark,
Commissioner Adkinson asked me to forward you her thank you for the support at last night’s meeting. If you could please share the enclosed thank you with your contacts (residents in the South Beaches), I would greatly appreciate! Thank you again!"
Liz Alward, Chief of S!taff
County Commissioner Kim Adkinson, District 3
PH: (321) 633-2075 * Fax: (321) 633-219
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Alward, Elizabeth M <[email protected]>
To: BIPPA
Sent: Friday, February 7, 2025 at 02:53:58 PM EST
Subject: Thank you from County Commissioner Kim Adkinson

COUNTY Update: 1/30/25
STOP INCREASED DENSITY
Commission voting to increase density on South Beaches!!
CURRENT ACTION:
1) E-mail the message or similar to Gov't Officials listed below.
2) Attend Feb. 6th, 5 pm Commission Meeting.

Commission Chambers, 2725 Judge Fran Jamison Way, Viera 32940
Attendance sends the Message!

1) Copy and Paste from here down and send to gov't officials:
2) Call them too
3) Come to meeting
Dear Brevard County Commissioners,
Although this is the 1st time before the commission, the owner of 5610 A1A has been told 4 times in the last 5 years by County Staff that their Request To Increase Density from Res 1 to Res 2 is AGAINST THE LAW because of Policy 7.1 of the Brevard Comprehensive Plan!
The word "policy" makes people think it is just a guideline, which is not true. In fact;
1) Policy within a Comp Plan is not just LAW, but a stronger version called BINDING LAW and,
2) Policy in the Comp Plan is considered "The Constitution of Land Use".
Policy 7.1 of the Coastal Management Element (CME) of the Brevard Comprehensive Plan states;
“Brevard County shall not increase residential density designations for properties located on the barrier island between the southern boundary of Melbourne Beach and the Sebastian Inlet”.
Since 5610 A1A is directly in the MIDDLE of this area, it is clearly against the law to change the density designation to Res 2.
You MUST vote against Res 2 at the February 6th meeting.
Please do not set a precedent of breaking the law or others will surely want to do the same.
Thank You,
Signed: Name + Address (Phone Email optional)
Send to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Calls are great too: Concentrate on BOLD numbers below
• District 1 - Katie Delaney 321-607-6901
• District 2 - Tom Goodson (Vice Chair) 321-454-6601
• District 3 - Kim Adkinson 321-633-2075
• District 4 - Rob Feltner (Chair) 321-633-2044
• District 5 -Thad Altman 321-253-6611

Past Issue below is related and will be coming up in March 2025.

Re: In Favor of F.S. 380.0553 for public "Q & A" after the Dept. of Commerce sends their comments BUT before Commission Meetings in reference to "Adoption" of the BBIA Amendment .

We residents of Brevard County’s South Beaches strongly support F.S. 380.0553, which designates the Brevard Barrier Island Area (BBIA) as an Area of Critical State Concern. We urge the County to provide additional opportunities for public and expert input to Brevard’s Comprehensive Plan, Appendix A, so that amendments better align with the legislative intent and guiding principles of F.S. 380.0553. The BBIA is defined as the area south of the Town of Melbourne Beach to the southern end of Sebastian Inlet State Park, and between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean.

Signed: Name + Address (Phone Email optional)
Send to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
debbie[email protected]
[email protected]
monique[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Past Actions on this issue are successful and ongoing: Condition: Monitoring
Illegal Short-Term Vacation Rentals (VR's) - Even though we were successful restricting legal VR's in 2019, hundreds of homes are being used as illegal VR's. To put a stop to this chaos, residents MUST participate in eliminating them. You must REPORT VR activities. Code Enforcement Officers will determine if it is illegal and get back with you. MOST of them ARE ILLEGAL, so don't feel bad reporting them. Otherwise the problem will become a pandemic and become a way of life in every Brevard neighborhood. To Report:
Call Beatrice at 321-633-2069 and speak to a Code Enforcement Officer (if u reach recording, leave a message)