Marina Plans on Norriego Point

It will be at least six months before the Destin City Council can hold development hearings on a proposed Norriego Point marina, City Manager Greg Kisela says.

Kisela told the council Monday that Pointe One LLC’s proposal for a 53-slip marina might receive approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida cabinet within six months, though it would more likely be six to 18 months. After that, Kisela said, it would return to Destin for review by the Harbor Board and City Council for compliance with local rules.

Back in 2005, when Pointe One requested city approval of the 79-condo unit Pointe Beach and Yacht Club on Norriego Point, a number of Destin residents opposed it. One of the reasons given was that the marina was too close to the East Pass and would make the busy, congested waters there even more dangerous.

Pointe One dropped the marina from its development application, but two months after the city approved the condo towers, the developer applied to the DEP for a marina permit. In 2006, Pointe One requested the city apply to the state for a permit for Pointe One to dredge the sand shoaling the Destin harbor, which would be placed on Norriego Point, and to relocate the navigation channel.

Although the council objected when it found Kisela had authorized staff to apply for the permit without council approval, it later agreed to proceed with the application. If the marina and dredging permit are approved, Pointe One says it will either pay the entire cost of dredging or a share in the cost, depending how big a marina is allowed.

Kisela has told the council that applying for the permit in no way commits the city to approve the marina when and if it comes up for a hearing. Last year, the DEP rejected the application saying the marina was too large and could pose a navigational hazard and would lower water quality. It also ordered Pointe One to provide more information if it reapplied.

A DEP environmental specialist told The Log this week that Pointe One has until late May to provide the additional information requested. If the property is determined to be permittable, Pointe One will have to notify all property owners within 500 feet of the site, and the DEP will have 90 days to approve the project.

Although Pointe One sales material has heavily advertised the marina, sales representatives have predicted that rejecting the marina won’t hurt condo sales.

Published on Wednesday, February 6, 2008