Nueces County Erosion Response Plan

The Erosion Response Plan (“ERP”) passed the City Planning Commission with a unanimous vote. In 2012, Cliff Schlabach represented the Texas Coastal Bend Chapter at a City Council meeting where the ERP was voted on an passed. The Chapter played a part in pushing the ERP through in spite of there being some strong resistance to the 350 ft. building setback. Nueces County is the only county bordering the Gulf of Mexico that has the 350 ft. building setback. Some counties still don't have an ERP in place and will be facing some serious penalties from the Texas General Land Office.

Below is a shortened account of what the ERP addresses:

- Assessment of the foredune ridge in the Corpus Christi and Nueces County jurisdictions. 
 
- Review of scientific studies concerning storm surge, coastal erosion, and sea level rise.  

- Review of FEMA velocity zones on Mustang and Padre Islands. 
 
- The plan identifies the beach as the first line of defense to storm surge and the foredune ridge as the second line of defense. 

- The plan defines the minimum width of the public beach for provision of public beach access as 100 feet wide from the Line of Vegetation to the wet/dry line on the beach.

- The goal for enhancing the foredune ridge is to establish a dune system of at least 14 feet high, 350 foot deep, and containing at least 50% vegetative coverage. 

- Mitigation sites for enhancing the foredune ridge are identified and prioritized.

  - Establishment of a 350 foot building setback line located 350 feet landward of the Line of Vegetation along the gulf beach.  The building setback line will prevent new construction of residential or commercial buildings within the foredune ridge.  Land that is landward of the seawall is exempt from the Building Setback.  Existing structures are exempt from the building setback prohibition, provided there is no practicable alternatives, that the foot print of the building is not increased and that the new structure meets new construction guidelines.  

- The plan addresses enhancements to public beach access.  Generally, these enhancements to public access focus on designs to reduce damage to the public access ways after storm events.