County To Spend $16 Million On Property?

[James Bentwood]

It appears that #28 and #36- #40 all go together. It appears that the money from #28 will be used to purchase #36-#40. Per agenda for the BCC meeting Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Link to the BCC Meeting (you might have to cut & paste into your browser)

https://walton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=518287&GUID=61454EEB-BBFB-4D83-822A-C1509F3A79BF&Options=&Search=

28. Request approval to hold a public hearing at 9:00 AM or shortly thereafter on April 25, 2017, in the DeFuniak Springs Courthouse to amend the FY 2017 TDC budget in the amount of $15,900,000.00 to bring forward funds for the purchase of property.

36. Request to approve and Authorize the Chairwoman to sign the purchase agreement with Thomas Lavin and Suzanne Kelli Lavin for the Seacrest property (Parcel # 27-3S-18-16050-00C-0010) in the amount of $6,000,000.00.

37. Request to approve and Authorize the Chairwoman to sign the purchase agreement with GPMM, LLC for the Seagrove Beach property (Parcel # 24-3S-19-25050-000-0062) in the amount of $3,400,000.00

38. for the Seagrove Beach property (Parcel # 24-3S-19-25050-000-0061) in the amount of $799,000.00

39. Request to approve and Authorize the Chairwoman to sign the purchase agreement with Becky Ann Burkhart-Smith for the Seagrove Beach property (Parcel # 24-3S-19-25050-000-0060) in the amount of $780,000.00

40. Request to approve and Authorize the Chairwoman to sign the purchase agreement with Amalfi Coast Development, Inc. for the Miramar Beach property (Parcel # 33-2S-21-42195-000-00A0)

 

[John G]

At lease they are not hidden in the Consent Agenda...

 

[James Bentwood]

The county bought the 3 Seagrove parels for $5 million where a new regional beach access will be located across from Cafe Thirty-A. The TDC will try to get a better deal on the Miramar Beach parcel asking $4.24 million - original asking price $1.8 million. The Seacrest parcel was deemed too pricey also.

 

[Poppaj]

Meanwhile the seawall at Legion Park has been collapsing into the bay for over a year. They placed a $10 orange plastic fence around it so I guess it's problem solved.

 

[Kaydence]

I think its absolutely ridiculous to spend $16 million on PUBLIC ACCESS and then turn around and give 50% of it to beach vendors. WTF ?

 

[Dawn]

Walton County is moving forward to purchase another beach front piece of property, spending millions of dollars. Many of the homeowners in the area aren't too thrilled with the purchase. This piece of property could soon be home to 40 public parking spaces. While the Walton County Commissioners are please with their decision to buy the property, surrounding homeowners are not.

"I think this is a slippery slope for the county to start ignoring deed restrictions and that property owners all over Walton County should be concerned when the county takes such stands," according to Kay Minchew, Amalfi Coast Homeowner Association President.

Walton County Commissioners have been working with the Tourist Development Council to find and purchase parcels for regional beach access. Many of the surrounding homeowners and residents have concerns with the deed restrictions on the property.

"The big concern is the fact that the county can just legally ignore deed restrictions everybody should be concerned about their property," said Minchew.

 

[FactorFiction]

$4.2 Million approved for the Miramar Beach Amalfi property.

 

[Beauford]

Bed tax funds help secure beach access, lessen traffic congestion in South Walton

Visit South Walton and the Walton County Board of County Commissioners recently purchased three beachfront parcels and a 7.35 acre inland property with the goal of preserving public beach access and reduce traffic congestion in South Walton County. In less than a year, the county has used funds from Tourism Development Taxes (a 4-percent “bed tax” levied on short term rentals) to purchase beachfront properties in South Walton for future use as regional beach accesses, as well as a tract of land originally slated for development as a 153-room condo/hotel property that will now instead help reduce traffic congestion by expanding parking options in the Grayton Beach area, with the possibility of serving as a trolley hub in the future.

By expanding the number of regional beach accesses from the currently existing seven regional beach accesses (offering parking, bathroom facilities and lifeguards during season) to 10 regional beach accesses, less pressure will be placed on any single stretch of beach, and locals and visitors alike will have greater ease of access to South Walton’s beautiful beaches. These regional beach accesses are in addition to three beachfront state parks, and 52 neighborhood access points.

“This is a win-win for Walton County,” says Visit South Walton Executive Director Jay Tusa. “The addition of regional accesses is great for locals, and safeguards our visitors’ experience as well. Tourism accounts for $3.2 billion in economic impact in Walton County, and that helps fund jobs and projects throughout the entire county. Easy access to the beach is important to both visitors and our locals, so it makes sense to work to preserve the high-quality beach experience we all enjoy here in South Walton.”

Recent acquisitions and future regional access points include:

Miramar Beach – On April 25, 2017 the Walton County BCC voted unanimously to approve the purchase by Visit South Walton of a 2.03 acre beachfront parcel for $4.2 million, including 360-feet of frontage on the Gulf of Mexico on the south side of Scenic Gulf Drive, between Alamo Street and S. Geronimo Street. Purchase price of this parcel was well below appraised value.

Seagrove Beach – Visit South Walton purchased three adjacent pieces of property connecting from 30A to the beachfront, totaling approximately 1.5 acres with 117-feet of beachfront, located across from Café Thirty-A restaurant, between Somerset Bridge Rd. and Sugar Sand Ln. The purchase price was $4.9 million. The Walton County BCC voted unanimously to authorize Chairwoman Cecilia Jones to sign closing documents on April 25, 2017.

Dune Allen Beach – Visit South Walton purchased 1.51 acres of beachfront property in Dune Allen Beach, acquiring 220-feet of beachfront for $7.4 million after a unanimous vote by the Walton County Board of County Commissioners at the BCC meeting on August 23, 2016. The property is between Hilltop Dr. and Woodward Dr. on Hwy 30A.

Grayton Beach – In September 2016 the Walton County BOCC approved the purchase of a 7.35 acre site along CR-283 where previous owners had planned a combination hotel/condo and retail space facility, including 75 hotel rooms and 78 condo units. Purchased by Visit South Walton for $7.6 million, current plans are now instead for the property to be used to expand parking and lessen traffic congestion in the Grayton Beach area.

Total:

$24.1 million
12.66 acres
697-feet of beachfront

 

[Jim Tucker]

That Grayton property sticks out like a sore thumb. If parking is needed after all the on street parking that was recently added then there are way too many people trying to get to Grayton Beach. Or is it actually park and ride for watercolor and seaside?

 

[FactorFiction]

Walton County is moving forward to purchase another beach front piece of property, spending millions of dollars. Many of the homeowners in the area aren't too thrilled with the purchase. This piece of property could soon be home to 40 public parking spaces. While the Walton County Commissioners are please with their decision to buy the property, surrounding homeowners are not.

"I think this is a slippery slope for the county to start ignoring deed restrictions and that property owners all over Walton County should be concerned when the county takes such stands," according to Kay Minchew, Amalfi Coast Homeowner Association President.

Walton County Commissioners have been working with the Tourist Development Council to find and purchase parcels for regional beach access. Many of the surrounding homeowners and residents have concerns with the deed restrictions on the property.

"The big concern is the fact that the county can just legally ignore deed restrictions everybody should be concerned about their property," said Minchew.

"I think this is a slippery slope for the county to start ignoring deed restrictions and that property owners all over Walton County should be concerned when the county takes such stands," according to Kay Minchew, Amalfi Coast Homeowner Association President.

Amen