TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — Treasure Island City Commissioners urge residents making hurricane-related repairs to submit permit applications by the May 31 deadline to have permit fees waived.
Treasure Island resident Barb Adams is finally moving back into her hurricane-damaged home next week.
She and her husband have been living in temporary housing for nearly eight months since Hurricane Helene and they’ve spent more than $100,000 making major repairs.
“Any money that we did have saved is all going into trying to stay where we live, because if we sell it, we are going to take such a huge hit, and then what are we going to buy?” said Adams. “We can't live anywhere near the community where we have developed roots and friendships and our work.”
Serving as the board president of the Isle of Palms Civic Association in Treasure Island and a local realtor for Coastal Properties Group International and Forbes Global, Adams emphasized the importance of staying connected to her community and addressing city commissioners at meetings to help neighbors repair and rebuild their homes.
“The scary thing is that it is going to end on May 31, and a lot of people still aren't even back in town because they’re staying with family and different communities,” said Adams.
City commissioners are also considering permit fee waivers for residents with substantial damage and required to relocate, demolish and rebuild, or elevate their homes to comply with FEMA’s guidelines.
According to Treasure Island Public Information Officer Jason Beisel, some residents with the substantial damage reached out to commissioners for additional relief because of the significant expenses involved.
“We know it's expensive to rebuild your home or elevate, and we just want to offer some sort of relief,” said Beisel.
“The commission is having a discussion at this special workshop on Tuesday to discuss ways they can help relieve some of these fees. They won't be clearing all of the fees, but some portion of the fees may be waived,” Beisel continued.
Permit fees to rebuild or elevate amount to $11 for every $1000 of residential construction cost.
If city commissioners move forward following the workshop on Tuesday, May 13, the issue will then go before a formal city commission meeting for a vote.
Waivers would only apply to taxpayers at the time of the hurricanes, which means developers purchasing hurricane damaged properties would not be eligible.
If the proposal is adopted, city officials stated the waiver would likely be in effect until September 2025.