The Point of Rocks seawall will stand.

And, thanks to new technology, could significantly outlive its predecessors.

Sarasota County commissioners June 2 unanimously approved a replacement seawall for a Point of Rocks property on Siesta Key’s Crescent Beach, clearing the way for work intended to stabilize a deteriorating structure familiar to people who train, swim and linger along Crescent Beach for its legendary sunsets.

The 5-0 vote followed a public hearing on the request for a Coastal Setback Variance at 7120 Point of Rocks Circle. The property, owned by Samuel and Janette Petersheim since 2006, sits near the southern end of Crescent Beach, where the wall has long served as a turnaround point for Siesta Key beach runs.

The new vinyl seawall will be 304.9 feet long and will sit as far as 114.4 feet seaward of the Gulf Beach Setback Line. The county established the line in 1979 to protect dunes and native beach habitat that help shield inland properties from storm surge and flooding.

Heather Rigney, representing county environmental staff, told commissioners the top of the new seawall will be about 9 feet above the county’s elevation benchmark, tapering down to about 8 feet.  The current seawall is 8.1 feet high, with a concrete walkway seaward of the wall at an elevation of 3 feet, according to the county staff report.

Attorney Matthew Brockway of Sarasota-based Icard Merrill, representing the owners, said the property is entirely seaward of the state Coastal Construction Control Line, giving the Florida Department of Environmental Protection permitting authority. Brockway said he had been told by coastal engineer Kristy Tigner, also representing the applicants, that the state permit was pending

Brockway acknowledged that people have long used the walkway in front of the wall, though he said that use remains trespassing. Historically, he said, the owner has not strongly objected to people crossing the area.

A seawall has stood at the site at least since 1982, Brockway said. The original structure is believed to have been wood, later replaced by concrete and then steel. Under the new plan, the existing wall will be cut down to within 4 inches of the concrete walkway, and the replacement wall will be installed immediately landward of it. Brockway said the work will not create new shoreline hardening.

The new wall will be vinyl, a design Brockway said is expected to last longer than earlier versions.

Brockway showed commissioners photos of damage and deterioration, including a significant gap behind the seawall in the southwest corner of the property and washout areas tied to the 2024 hurricanes. Rainwater is carrying soil from behind the wall, likely toward the Gulf, he said. He also said the wall is deflecting outward and could eventually fail if not repaired.

“That needs to be corrected sooner rather than later,” Brockway said.

Brockway said the new wall would not amount to new shoreline hardening and would not affect protected habitats, nearby vegetation, the natural rock outcropping or associated live rock at Point of Rocks. He also noted that properties to the south already have shoreline hardening.

Coastal engineer Kristy Tignor, of The Tignor Group in Sarasota, said building the new wall landward of the existing structure would reduce construction debris, avoid hauling large amounts of material across roadways and allow construction staging to occur away from beach pedestrians, with the project planning to work closely with county staff throughout construction to ensure public safety.

Tignor also said the existing wall will be cut to the elevation of the mean high water line. Concrete then will be poured between the old wall and the new one, widening the walkway.

Commissioner Teresa Mast said she was unfamiliar with vinyl seawalls but found the concept interesting. Brockway said his understanding was that the design uses two sheets of vinyl with concrete poured between them.

“Thank you for your endeavor to protect your property,” Neunder said to property owner Samuel Petersheim, who was seated in the gallery. Neunder noted the wall has personal and community significance, as snorkelers, lifeguards and athletes have used the area for years. “Certainly, takes me back a couple of decades,” Neunder said.

No members of the public signed up to speak. Mast moved to approve the variance, and Neunder seconded the motion before the board voted 5-0.