The constant complaints that Miami Beach, Fla.,’s plans to raise roads in the face of sea rise would flood nearby homes has finally resulted in lawsuits.
A group of property owners sued the city for raising the road in front of their houses and sending floodwater into their property, making it unusable as a short-term rental.
For Miami Beach, it’s the latest challenge to efforts to deal with rising seas — and an example of the legal hurdles that cities around the state (and nation) may face as they plan for the future.
“Miami Beach is at the forefront of resilience efforts to reduce flood risk from storms, high tides and sea level rise. We strongly believe the city’s resilience program benefits all properties, including this one. The City has not been served with the complaint, but once we are, we will proceed accordingly,” city spokesperson Melissa Berthier said in a statement.
In the lawsuit, the owners argue that they have never been legally required to manage the stormwater that flows onto their property. They said they’ve been […]