The absence of a fence at the JB-7 beach access point in Juno Beach has sparked a heated debate between local residents and summer beachgoers. The dispute centers around the removal of the fence in 2026, which has led to concerns over property boundaries and public access.
The Colony Condos residents argue that the lack of a fence has resulted in increased trespassing and damage to their private property. The issue has become particularly pronounced during the summer months, with residents reporting frequent confrontations with beachgoers.
Residents’ Concerns and Experiences
Lori Hill, a resident of Colony Condos, has been vocal about the problems caused by the missing fence. She describes a scenario where beachgoers park their cars on private spots and cut through the bushes with their belongings. “Lots of cars that just come at random, and then they just park on the spots there,” Hill said. “Bushes are pushed back that they cut through those with their coolers and their fishing rods and lawn chairs and everything, and then they just park there all day.”
Hill recalls that the fence previously made the boundary clear. Since its removal, she has noticed an increase in confrontations with trespassers. “We used to confront them and tell them this is private property, and they would get pretty rude. So, now what we’ve just been doing is just calling the police, and they’ve been coming up and confronting them,” Hill explained.
Beachgoers’ Perspectives
Not all beachgoers share the residents’ concerns. Michael House, a frequent visitor to JB-7, has not witnessed the issues described by the residents. “There’s plenty of free parking…. If they’re damaging property and you know littering and stuff like that might be a different issue,” House said. “I have never noticed anyone hopping the fence or the shrubs or anything like that.”
House’s perspective highlights the differing viewpoints between the residents and beachgoers. While residents emphasize the need for a fence to protect their property, beachgoers argue that there are ample parking options and that they respect the boundaries.
Town Council’s Response
The dispute was brought to the attention of the Juno Beach Town Council, where officials noted that the town is not obligated to install a fence. However, Vice Mayor Pro Tem DD Halpern suggested exploring lower-cost solutions. “I understand fencing is expensive, but I’d like to see maybe we can help them with a lower-cost fence or some combination of split rail and shrubs,” Halpern said.
Residents are hopeful that the town will take action to address their concerns. “We’re really hoping that the town will get back on board and just put it back up, so that we can have our landscaping and our private parking,” Hill stated.
The council agreed to discuss the fence question as part of its upcoming budget discussions on July 15. This decision marks a step towards finding a resolution that balances the needs of both residents and beachgoers.
