An undeveloped Holmes Beach lot blanketed with mangroves soon might become the site of a single-family home.
But not without a loss of mangroves.
Chad Minor, the city’s director of development services, told The Islander Sept. 12 that property owners Terence and Valerie Jackovic are in the permitting process for a single-family home at 406 28th St.
The lot is located to the south of Grassy Point Preserve, 3021 Ave. C, adjacent to Anna Maria Sound and consists largely of undeveloped mangrove wetlands.
It is one of three platted lots that were retained as private property after the estate of resident Cedar Hames, who died in 2018, agreed in 2021 to donate more than 22 acres of upland and submerged property south of Grassy Point, otherwise known as the Hames Family Preserve.
As part of the deal, the city paid $41,200 for the cost of appraising the property and mitigation credits to satisfy federal and state regulatory requirements for development of the three parcels.
The Jackovics purchased the property in January 2022 for $678,000.
By November 2023, they had secured a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discharge fill over 0.012 acres of mangrove wetlands at the property, which would result in a permanent loss.
The fill would allow for the construction of a single-family home, driveway and elevated boardwalk.
USACE’s review of the permit application states, “The proposed structures associated with Parcel 2 will utilize disturbed uplands to the maximum extent feasible and will only impact mangrove wetlands where this habitat cannot be completely avoided.”
The permit is valid through March 14, 2026.
On Sept. 6, a path was cleared through mangroves on the lot to allow for further work at the site.
Code compliance supervisor JT Thomas told The Islander Sept. 13 that the work was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
“It appears that everything that is being done there is legal,” he said. “They have everything they need to be doing what they’re doing.”
Minor said it could be days or months until the city issues a construction permit at the property since it has received an application and is awaiting responses to some questions.
“They’re still just at the very beginning of the permitting process,” he said. “But the ball is in their court.”
About Holmes Beach’s Grassy Point Preserve
Grassy Point Preserve, 3021 Ave. C, Holmes Beach, was purchased in July 2001, with grant funding from the Florida Communities Trust.
The funding was $359,945.51 for 33 acres.
The preserve is considered a wetland area that provides open, passive and recreational opportunities and education for visitors.
The purchase of Grassy Point was envisioned by the late Commissioner Billie Martini and overseen by former city treasurer Rick Ashley and the late, former Mayor Robert VanWagoner as a guard against development and preservation of the last coastal hammock community on the island, according to the city. It is open daily to the public.