Monroe County Posts Early Floodplain Review for Tavernier Fire Station

Monroe County posted an "Early Notice and Public Review of Proposed Activity in a Floodplain" for Monroe County Fire Rescue Station 22 in Tavernier on Feb. 26, 2026, the county reported. The notice names Monroe County and Monroe County Fire Rescue as the responsible parties and begins the formal public-review step required for projects affecting floodplains.

Keysnews cites federal review language attached to the posting, noting: "This is to give notice that under 24 CFR Part 58 Monroe County has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 and/or 11990 , in accordance with HUD." Federal guidance documents available to counties also reference 24 CFR Part 55: "These sample notices are used for compliance with 24 CFR Part 55 (Section 55.20), the decision-making process for projects located within floodplains or wetlands," and the HUD Exchange sample-notice package was published in December 2025.

Monroe County’s public-notification system is set up to reach residents through the Everbridge Alert!Monroe platform. The county pages state: "Messages will be sent to residents on their preferred contact paths — cell phone, SMS (text), home phone, email, fax, or pager — to ensure real-time access to potentially lifesaving information." Residents can register for Alert!Monroe and county press releases, and the county lists Alert!Monroe phone 305-292-4491 for inquiries about alerts.

The Station 22 posting arrives as the Board of County Commissioners has recently revised local floodplain rules. County web pages display the headline "COMMISSIONERS APPROVE REMOVAL OF 299-SQ-FT LIMITATION FOR DOWNSTAIRS STORAGE" and state the board "voted to eliminate the longstanding 299-square-foot limitation for enclosed storage space below elevated homes in unincorporated Monroe County, as well as the requirement for an inspection at the time of sale." Those pages add that expanded storage enclosures will require a recorded non-conversion agreement and reinforce that "They cannot be converted into habitable living space under federal floodplain regulations."

Public documents posted by Monroe County include floodplain-management resources and mapping tools residents may consult while the Station 22 review proceeds: NOAA tides and currents maps, Floodplain Management Maps, and the county note that "Staff is reviewing and gathering comments on these maps" for preliminary FEMA coastal flood maps. Municipal contacts for related flood questions are listed on county pages, including Marathon planning at 305-743-0033 (9805 Overseas Highway), Key West Building Department at 305-809-3810 (1300 White Street), Islamorada at 305-664-6400 (86800 Overseas Hwy.), Key Colony Beach at 305-289-1212 ext. 3 (600 Ocean Drive), and Layton City Hall at 305-664-4667 (68280 Overseas Highway).

The publicly posted Early Notice does not include the full project description, comment deadline, scope, cost, or which specific federal rule Monroe County applied to the Station 22 review — HUD guidance under Part 55 and the Keysnews reference to Part 58 both appear in supporting materials but the county’s posting does not resolve which regulatory pathway governs this project. The original county posting also contains a truncated sentence that begins "The public notice is part of required federal and local procedures when county cap" and the county advisory-review boundary text cuts off after "within ¼-mile of the shoreline of Lake ..." These gaps mean the full Early Notice text, any Final Notice or Final Public Explanation, and the county Floodplain Management contact email will be required to establish the review timeline and next steps for Tavernier residents.