4. Test Plaintiffs' Properties 



This chapter presents an analysis of the coastal property losses and gains experienced by the 

 test plaintiffs. The analysis draws directly from procedures and material described in the 

 previous chapter dealing with long-term regional coastal processes and storm impacts. 



4.1. Data Analyzed 



Surveys of beach profiles made by the FDEP and the USAGE were analyzed for calculating 

 changes in shoreline position and beach volume at the properties of the test plaintiffs according 

 to the Joint Protocol (Appendix B, Tier 4a). These surveys constitute the primary database for 

 quantifying shoreline position and sand-volume change as close to test plaintiffs' properties as 

 possible. Accuracy of the profile survey procedure is high (plus or minus inches). However, the 

 profile lines are approximately 1 ,000 ft apart, and interpolation is necessary to estimate 

 shoreline position at the properties. Variability in shoreline position associated with 

 interpolation between profiles at Applegate is estimated at ±10 ft based on small variations in 

 shoreline orientation between profiles in August 1981. Estimated shoreline-position variability 

 between profiles bracketing the Noro property is ±15 ft because the upland area fronting the 

 property in September 1986 was offset seaward of the MHWL for adjacent profiles. 



4.2. Applegate Property 



The first test plaintiff, Don and Gale Applegate, own a 106.16-ft-wide parcel with the 

 northern boundary located approximately 305 ft south of Monument R-7. Until about 

 September 1997 the structure on the property was a single-family, two-story house that was 

 originally constructed around 1960. In February 1997, the structure was determined to be 

 unsafe by the City of Cape Canaveral, which required its removal. Because the house was 

 vulnerable to collapse, the City deemed the structure to be unsafe and issued a demolition permit 

 on July 31, 1997; according to the City building inspector, the house and rubble were removed 

 by March 8, 1998. 



Don and Gale Applegate purchased their property in August 1981 for $15,000. At the time 

 of purchase, there was no dune in front of the structure, but much of the 1974/75 beach fill still 

 remained. Figure 4-1 shows the location of the Applegate house relative to the dune line in 

 August 1971, and Figure 1-2 shows almost the same view in May 1996. The house had been 

 located approximately 200 ft seaward of all other houses south of the Harbor in Brevard County. 

 In the 1960s, concrete rubble and automobile parts were placed in front of the property in an 

 attempt to protect against storm waves and flooding (Figure 4-1 and Figure 4-2) and were still 



Chapter 4 Test Plaintiffs' Properties 4_-| 



