The town of Melbourne Beach is inviting residents to contribute to an important conversation about how the town’s economy, housing and critical infrastructure might bounce back after a disaster or other threat.
In an online survey released last month, officials are hoping to glean insight into the top priorities of the town when it comes to becoming a resilient community. The first step is determining how resilient the people, the businesses, and the community, might be when faced with severe threats such as sea-level rise or hurricanes. And what can be done to address any weakness?
Information collected could influence future policy and procedure.
While becoming resilient often incorporates tactics like building berms to serve as flood barriers, implementing breakaway walls, and planting natives along the riverfront to protect the shoreline, it also includes a variety of strategies like downtown redevelopment, which increases the tax base, as well as other ideas like preserving neighborhoods through lower speed limits, vehicle restrictions or even requiring elevated homes.
In the survey, residents are asked to rank their most pertinent issues from a list of vulnerabilities including the Indian River Lagoon, flooding, infrastructure, population growth, sea level rise, and hurricane and storm surge. Or they can add their own concerns not listed.
Currently, hurricanes and storm surge lead as the top concerns singled out by residents who’ve taken the survey.
Melbourne Beach Mayor Jim Simmons hopes to hear from everyone. “As for what is our most pressing sustainability issue, I would say stormwater and rising Indian River Lagoon levels,” Simmons said.
The survey also deals with possible strategies. A month into the survey, the top strategy selected so far is addressing growth south of town and the impact it has on the community. Also high on the list are identifying flood areas, strengthening infrastructure and lowering speed limits.
Simmons said Melbourne Beach continuously works towards sustainability through a variety of efforts including regular beach cleanups, native plantings along the riverside, sea oat planting along the coast, and others.
“The town’s environmental advisory board is one of the most active boards we have,” Simmons said.
Curtis Byrd serves as the board’s chairman.
“Our strategy includes a lot of education so people understand why these measures are important,” Byrd said.
“When a child accompanies their parent at a beach clean-up, they learn early the importance of sustainability, and remember it.”
The “Planning for Resiliency” survey is currently available on the town’s website at www.melbournebeachfl.org/home/news/planning-resiliency-survey.
