There is an interesting article in the Fort Worth paper today about the impact of hurricanes on the Texas coastline. Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson describes how Mustang Island (Port Aransas) is a good example of how coastal land should be developed. To read the entire article follow this link.
Mustang Island
One area of the developed Texas coast in better shape is Mustang Island near Port Aransas, where setbacks keep homes away from the beach.
Under the rules proposed by Patterson, new buildings would have to be set back 60 times the erosion rate, as measured from the beach's line of vegetation. If the shoreline is eroding 5 feet a year, then construction wouldn't be allowed within 300 feet.
The Legislature ordered the new rules last year in hopes of reducing storm damage. But Patterson insists that it doesn't make sense to enact them until it can be determined whether beaches will recover from Ike.
Patterson and Gibeaut say Mustang Island development is a good example of how coastal land should be developed.
"But it's a wider island," Patterson said. "There's more room there. The road is set back farther from the beach. You just don't have the same kind of room in other places."
Keith McMullin - Realtor
