TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — The Treasure Island City Commission has approved a series of ordinances related to a terrain modification program.

What You Need To Know

  • The Treasure Island commission has approved its terrain modification program

  • The plan addresses sea level rise by using fill dirt to elevate homes

  • The program was unanimously approved, though Commissioner Chris Clark opposed the program as it's currently written, but was unable to attend Tuesday night's meeting

It’s part of a plan to address sea level rise and has been something the commission has discussed for months now.

The work has already been underway for some homes in Treasure Island.

After Helene and Milton, some homeowners have chosen to lift their houses up to avoid flood waters when the next storm comes.

But what hasn’t been allowed in the city has been fill dirt, but Tuesday night, a unanimous vote changes that.

“We have 92 homes that have been demolished,” said John Doctor, mayor of Treasure Island. “And a lot of those homes are waiting for this ordinance to pass.”

Doctor was one of those approval votes Tuesday night.

He has seen the work people are already doing around town and says this would alleviate the process.

“We see it as probably the most direct and the most timely way to actually get fill dirt in, because people are beginning to build their homes back up again and they’re going up higher, and they need that dirt to do so,” Doctor said.

The commission had its first reading of this program last month, with commissioner Chris Clark opposing the program because he feels the current plan is too complicated.

Clark had prior work obligations, so he wasn’t at tonight’s meeting but had a letter read aloud opposing the program.

In his letter, Clark said he was hoping to pass something more simplified.

Ultimately, with its approval, Doctor says even more work can continue on the island that’s eager to return to whatever normal is after a devastating storm.

“You’re going to start seeing dump trucks all over the city because that’s what they’re waiting for,” Doctor said.

Regarding Clark’s comments about the program being complicated, it did take the commission about 10 minutes just to read the entire program and its ordinances into the record.

According to the city’s website, the use of fill dirt is completely voluntary and will be evaluated every two years.