By Pam Nicholls, GSAC Board Member
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The first hurdle in establishing a well-defined means for Naples residents and condominium associations to protect their infrastructure from flooding with the use of flood panels was cleared on November 25 when homeowners met with City officials.
The meeting with Naples Building Department chief Steve Beckman and Fire Marshall Kyle Rambosk was teed up by City Councilor Beth Petronuff after hearing complaints about conflicting information and permitting delays from condo association representatives at GSAC’s November Board meeting.
With millions of dollars spent on fixing damage to ground floor units, lobbies, elevators, and fire panels after three hurricanes in quick succession, assessment weary condos have been looking at solutions, like flood panels, to protect their properties. The problem is the City has no established approval process and homeowners have been left to guess at what is required.
Beckman and Rambosk agreed that they needed to “put our heads together on this” but stressed they were open to allowing panels if there is a life/safety plan that adequately addresses egress and the building is determined to be strong enough to handle hydrostatic pressures.
Beckman said the two departments would look at what other coastal municipalities vulnerable to flooding are doing to enable residents to use panels and come up with a draft of submission requirements by early next year.
A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for January 21, 2025.
