Sea level rise and current high tide flooding on Key Biscayne, as well as the possible impact of hurricanes, has made undergrounding utilities an integral part of resilience planning included in the $100 million General Obligation bond referendum on Nov. 3.
Exactly what the streets impacted by undergrounding will look like after the work — possibly following the “complete streets” concept – was spelled out Thursday evening during the final virtual town hall on GO bonds put on by the Key Biscayne Village staff.
Whether or not the referendum is passed Nov. 3, enabling the village council to use GO bonds as a future financing method, most residents agree something must be done to prepare for the rising sea level.
Village Public Works Director Jake Ozyman said statistics show there was a four-inch rise from 2000 to 2017, and projections show that — if nothing is done to curtail it — the rise will be nine inches by 2025, 17 inches by 2040, and 31 inches by 2060.
Ozyman pointed out several locations in the village, including parking garages and residential areas, where high tide flooding occurs regularly. “If we do nothing, we could lose our entire shoreline and there will be no beach to enjoy,” said Ozyman, who also heads Building, Planning and Zoning for the village…
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