New Legislation Could Protect Ohio's Coastal Properties

COLUMBUS, OH — A pair of state lawmakers have introduced legislation that would help coastal property owners fight the impact of this year's severe erosion and high water levels. State representatives John Rogers, Democrat, Mentor-on-the-Lake, and Ron Young, Republican, Leroy Township, brought the bill forward.

“The damage caused by erosion this year to properties along Lake Erie’s shoreline has been unusually severe. This, combined with the ongoing threat of continued damage, represents a significant cost to individual homeowners, their neighborhoods and lake-side communities,” said Rogers. “Our legislation gives property owners an additional tool to help them shore up their home fronts and investments that are at serious risk.”

House Bill 709 would give residents along Ohio's coast the opportunity to start a petition to create a shoreline improvement project financed by a special improvement district (SID). Effectively, coastal property owners would need to band together for a specific project.

The petition and creation of a SID requires participation by 75 percent of the property owners in the proposed district. For example, if there are four homes along an eroding stretch of coast on Lake Erie, at least three of the home owners would need to agree to the project and sign the petition.

Once the petition has garnered the needed number of signatures, it would then need to be approved by the governing body of a city or township — usually a mayor or city council. Property owners within the SID would then be subject to a levy to repay the funds necessary for the shoreline improvement.

"A shoreline improvement district would allow neighbors to attack an erosion issue in unison financially as opposed to a piecemeal approach that might otherwise be cost prohibitive,” said Rogers.

House Bill 709 is awaiting referral to a House committee for its initial hearings. In the meantime, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has already begun offering its own tool to combat erosion — Temporary Shore Structure Permits for new, anti-erosion structures.

"These permits provide coastal property owners with the opportunity to quickly address any severe erosion damage that their property may be experiencing. Temporary Shore Structure Permits provide property owners with a free, expedited permitting process enabling them to protect their existing coastal property. They may also receive free technical assistance and guidance from the ODNR Office of Coastal Management during this process," the ODNR said on its website. The permits are intended for emergency situations only.

Lake Erie is currently about two-feet higher than its long-term average height, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said earlier this month. With the possibility of severe storms looming, severe erosion could hit much of the Northeast Ohio coast.

To download a Temporary Shore Structure Permit application, click here.

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch