With the rapid expansion of home development in Cape Coral, many new homeowners are discovering the joy of owning waterfront property. Owning a little slice of waterfront paradise is the essence of Florida living, where life revolves around the water. If you’re considering building your dream home on a waterfront lot, this article will help guide you through the process, especially if your property includes natural vegetation along the water’s edge.
What are mangroves?
Mangroves are essentially small trees that sit in the coastline of rivers, canals, and other shorelines. In Florida, there are three main species: white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa), red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), and black mangroves (Avicennia germinans). The species you find often depends on the specific environment.
Beyond their unique appearance, mangroves play a vital role in Florida’s ecosystem. They naturally filter water, stabilize coastlines, and provide critical habitat for fish, crustaceans, birds, and countless other species. Because they are such a cornerstone of Florida’s wildlife and environment, any mangroves present must be handled with care and properly removed—only when permitted—during development on a waterfront lot.
What do Mangroves Mean to a Builder?
As a home builder, Sposen thinks about mangroves more often than you might think. One of Southwest Florida’s greatest attractions is the opportunity to live on the water, but with so much residential waterfront property, the State of Florida has a responsibility to protect its natural coastlines and mangrove ecosystems from overdevelopment.
Because healthy mangrove forests are vital to our environment, we take these laws and regulations seriously. We build award-winning waterfront homes while carefully following the guidelines of Florida’s building codes. At Sposen, we design and build award-winning waterfront homes while strictly adhering to Florida’s building codes. If mangroves or other protected species are present on a lot, we identify them, follow the proper procedures for environmental protection, and act accordingly. When mangroves require removal, we refer to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to ensure everything is handled properly and in compliance with state regulations.
What to Know Before Removing Mangroves
According to the city of Cape Coral, the only way mangroves can be removed is for construction purposes, and there are laws requiring certain seawalls to be in place in order to build as well. Since mangroves are environmentally protected, there is an extensive process in order to remove them. The Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corp of Engineers may have to come together for the removal. There are mitigation fees that can exceed $5000 associated with the removal of mangroves in order for a permit to be issued. A licensed environmental firm would also need to be brought in to help with this mitigation process.
What’s Next?
After the removal of mangroves, a seawall or protective barrier needs to be built. Upon the completion of your seawall, construction of your new home can start! There are several options when it comes to seawalls, with the most common being cement construction. Read our blog about seawall options here.
Conclusion
At Sposen we perform a lot inspection to determine lot specific costs for our clients at no charge. If you have questions regarding your waterfront property and wish to tap into the extensive knowledge of our New Home Specialist Team, please give us a call at 239.244.886 or email hello@sposenhomes.com.