20220148 Ver 1_More Info Received_20220418

Southeastern Coastal Construction Company, Inc
Stephen B. Conway, Owner
Unlimited Contractors License & Fully Insured /License #63073
910.538.9737 6252 Towles Rd., Wilmington, NC 28409
April 18, 2022
RE: 235 Florida Avenue, Carolina Beach, NC
To Whom It May Concern:
I have remeasured the area at the back of 235 Florida Avenue. I am requesting a total of 40
square feet above and beyond what is permitted per CAMA rules.
The plan is to continue the bulkhead from its current location toward the home, making a 90-
degree turn south to run along the west side of the home, and finish on the southwest corner of
the property - totaling 20 linear feet. Using 2-foot sheet pilings (bulkhead standard length), the
total environmental impact would be 40 square feet: 2' width x 20' length.
I am seeking approval for this request for two reasons:
The current structure was not properly constructed and is unsafe.
- Based on my professional opinion with 30 years of experience, the existing bulkhead is
not a true bulkhead. It is merely a wood retaining wall with 8x8 beams bolted on top. I
also discovered that the existing bulkhead does not have any tiebacks or deadmen. It
only has piles in front of a wooden face.
- This wood retaining wall is unsafe. The current wall is only 4' 6" tall, and the fail zone
could come within feet of the home's pilings and concrete pad. If this retaining wall
were to collapse, especially during a storm, the pilings of the home would be exposed,
undermining the concrete pad and would potentially cause safety issues as well as
structural and aesthetic damage to the home.
- This location has flooded multiple times this year, to the extreme that we have been
unable to get there to work. This flooding alone puts more stress and work on this type of
wall system when the water recedes multiple times per year.
Page 1 of 2

The new, properly constructed wall with the requested 40 square feet would mitigate the risk of
damage to the home at 235 Florida Avenue:
- Southeastern Coastal Construction Co. would install a wall with a minimum 50-year
warranty in front of the existing retaining wall. Once we anchor the new wall, it will
likely have a lifespan longer than 50 years.
- Ideally, the deadmen need to be a minimum of 2.5 times the height of the wall (although
we prefer to go a little higher). 4' 6" (current wall) x 2.5 equals 11' 3". This should be
the minimum for the face of the anchor.
- If we are only given the allowable 2 feet in front of the existing wall, that puts the anchor
under the concrete pad, so a traditional anchor is not an option. Therefore, a helical
anchoring system is the only option, as it is the most reliable when the traditional
concrete block deadman cannot be used. We do not use Manta Rays Systems as there
have been too many wall failures associated with that system, and quite a few in New
Hanover County alone.
- Due to all the debris, we have run into on the site, and keeping the house pilings in mind,
we want the anchor to terminate in front of the pad and piles if possible. If we hit
something, it could redirect the helical in a manner that could crack the existing concrete
pad. This preferred location for the anchor puts us at 4 feet in front of the old wall (as
there is 7' 6" in front of the pad now). 4 feet falls in line with where the sheet can turn.
- This would put the fail zone of the new wall right at the old wall, giving my client a
second line of defense if there were a catastrophic event that caused the old wall to fail.
- To recap, our request for an additional 2 feet puts the total environmental impact at 40
square feet (2' width x 20' length).
As a contractor without any wall failures in 30 years, I would rather my client have an extra layer
of protection, especially in Carolina Beach. 6 feet in front of the old wall would be the optimal
distance. We cannot ask for 5 feet because the sheet size (2 feet) determines where we can make
the turn in front of the old wall. In an effort to be cognizant of the environmental impact, we are
asking to meet in the middle at 4 feet (the allowable 2 feet plus our request for an additional 2
feet). This offers my client much more insurance against a catastrophic event, which is when
most wall failures occur.
I would appreciate any and all consideration for this request. I feel this offers my client the
maximum number of positive outcomes in all areas involved. I am happy to answer/address any
questions you may have if needed.
Thank you,
Stephen Conway
Southeastern Coastal Construction Company, Inc.
910.538.9737/[e-mail]
Page 2 of 2