Public vs Private Beach [threads merged]

[SoWal Staff]

You are hereby notified that the Walton County Board of County Commissioners will hold a Public Workshop on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM or soon thereafter. The meeting will be held at the Emerald Coast Middle School located at 4019 US HWY 98, Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss public access to the beach.

Walton County adheres to the American with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to the meetings upon request. Please call (850) 892-8115 to make a request. For hearing impaired, please call 1-800-955-8771 (TDD), 1-800-955-8770 (VOICE). Requests must be received at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to allow time to provide the requested services.

 

[Garner]

This will be an extremely important meeting. While no decisions will be made, this is everyone's opportunity to learn the current issues about beach access and customary use and to speak to the county commissioners on the topic

 

[Kurt]

Public Workshop and Live Stream on YouTube


You are hereby notified that the Walton County Board of County Commissioners will hold a Public Workshop on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM or soon thereafter. The meeting will be held at the Emerald Coast Middle School located at 4019 US HWY 98, Santa Rosa Beach, FL.


The purpose of this meeting is to discuss public access to the beach.



As this meeting will not be held in a Walton County Board Room, Walton County will be live streaming the workshop on YouTube.



The stream should be available approximately 5 minutes prior to the meeting.



The process for the public to access the live stream is as follows:



1. Open a web browser and navigate to www.youtube.com

2. In the YouTube search box, enter Walton County Stream, and press enter.

3. The top item in the search results is the correct link.

4. Click the link.

5. Once the stream is active, you will then see the live stream in progress, click on the live stream, and it will begin on your computer



The public should be aware that this is the County’s first attempt at live streaming via YouTube and there could be unforeseen issues.



The County will also be taping this meeting for future posting and to ensure that video is available in the event that the live stream experiences any issues.

 

[Sun Chaser]

This will be the season of "disruption" on the SoWal beaches. People who have made their reservations and are looking forward to their beach vacation have no idea the hassle they are likely to encounter. If the perception that SoWal beaches are just one big hassle tourists will start not coming back. This means revenues across the board will, eventually, go down.

The TDC needs to step up and make official statements supporting beach access and beach use for ALL. TDC needs to pick a side here. They have done their part to get the folks here; they need to ensure that what the folks come here for (the beaches) are actually available, without a hassle.

 

[John G]

This will be the season of "disruption" on the SoWal beaches. People who have made their reservations and are looking forward to their beach vacation have no idea the hassle they are likely to encounter. If the perception that SoWal beaches are just one big hassle tourists will start not coming back. This means revenues across the board will, eventually, go down.

The TDC needs to step up and make official statements supporting beach access and beach use for ALL. TDC needs to pick a side here. They have done their part to get the folks here; they need to ensure that what the folks come here for (the beaches) are actually available, without a hassle.

The TDC is nothing but a marketing firm. Education is not in their vocabulary.

I'm all for TDC taking a stand, as long as their stand also encourages RESPECTING people's private property.

While they are at it with education on beach access, how about some education on parking?

Why does every member of a party of 12 need to each bring their own vehicle, while most places don't have ample parking?

 

[Garner]

Please do not forget about the workshop tonight! It is from 5 to 8 at Emerald Coast Middle School. Attached is a link to my interview on channel 7 news last night -

 

[Garner]

I don't know if the link made it above so here it is again - sorry if it's a repeat.

 

[FactorFiction]

Sounds like the Commissioners are going to give a serious look at a customary use ordinance. It will be interesting to see how broad they try to go with what is "ancient" and "uninterrupted". I hope people remember that customary use won't just be for residents. Be careful what you ask for. Sometimes you get it and it wasn't really what you wanted at all.

 

[Lake View Too]

"Residents" are a minor portion of the "population" of South Walton County. I don't know the exact figures, but it certainly feels like the amount of people is approximately ten times more people in July than February. If the county can craft an ordinance that defines the customary use portion of the beach as, perhaps, "half the distance from mean high tide line to primary dune line, or first seaward structure", then it would seem to be a workable plan, if our visitors can be educated to comply with this.

I just came up with this formula, and would certainly want to hear other ideas.

 

[justhavinfun]

I attended the meeting last night and even saw BMB's own Mr Huck observing the meeting and tapping away on his phone - attendance was stacked in locals favor but I can't help but feel, if our Sheriff enforced the laws while patrolling the beach instead of looking the other way when tourists are involved, we might be in the situation we are in..