Fla. beaches focus of Supreme Court case

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear allegations that Florida state officials infringed on the rights of beachfront property owners, an attorney said.

Attorney Kent Safriet said he is representing a group of homeowners in Walton County, Fla., who allege their property rights were impacted by a state "renourishment" project that was upheld by the Florida Supreme Court, The Miami Herald said Sunday.

The renourishment plan represented an attempt by state officials to limit erosion of Florida's Gulf and Atlantic beaches. Safriet argues the project essentially created a public beach between his clients' property and the Gulf of Mexico.

"This beach renourishment project was not needed or wanted by the homeowners,'' Safriet alleges.

"The intent is a land grab by local government to create a public beach where a private beach previously existed."

Florida state officials argue the project is intended to help protect beaches against erosion and storm surges by restoring beaches with shipments of fresh sand.

The Herald said the state project was upheld by the Florida Supreme Court by a 5-1 vote and starting Wednesday, the dispute over the plan will go before the nation's top court.