Daugette Marina

Yes, I will be there with bells on. Tom Stein should not be able to manipulate the system to get what he wants.

I will be able to attend August 11th. Please post if the date changes again.

Thanks for info. Why is it that small quiet places can't stay that way?

What does the proposal call for regarding expansion?

Not sure about all the details, but here is the article in the Northwest Florida Daily News:

SANTA ROSA BEACH — Plans to expand a small marina in the Daughette subdivision in South Walton County are moving forward, but not as quickly originally thought.
Marina developer Tom Stein was tentatively scheduled to discuss revised plans for the development at a recent Walton County Planning Commission meeting. However, the discussion was continued to next month to give the county staff more time to review resubmitted plans.
“They just didn’t have enough time to review their individual portions of it to make sure everything does comply with the code,” said Mack Carpenter with the county’s Planning and Development Department. “We think we are getting there, though.”
The Daughette subdivision is along Choctawhatchee Bay on Bay Drive just east of U.S. Highway 331.
There is already a marina there. Plans call for adding 10 boat slips and additional boardwalk and dock access in Phase 1 of the expansion. Phase 2 would include 12 more boat slips and 18 parking spaces.
No new buildings are included in either phase.
The marina expansion originally was discussed May 4 by the county’s technical review committee. The staff requested more information from the developer before plans would be forwarded to the Planning Commission. The staff did not receive the information in time for this month’s Planning Commission meeting.
The project now is scheduled for the board’s Aug. 11 meeting.


I did talk to Tom Patton, a member of the Planning Commission. It appeared that there was not a lot of info available in time for the last meeting. Some of my concerns are boat traffic, erosion caused by boat wakes/enforcement of No Wake Zone, dredging costs, parking and, perhaps most important, water quality.

L&PC@PW: The small quiet places never seem to last long. I wouldn't mind more houses with boats along the canal, but a commercial operation makes me a bit anxious about the character of the quiet canal changing.

This may come as a shocker, but when Daughettes was developed, those canals were built for the specific purpose of the canal front owners to have boat access to the bay. The "marina" as it is called, isn't a true marina. It is simply host to a few boat slips, and the basin at that end has plenty of room for more slips as it was designed. There is no gas facility included in expansion plans from what I am reading. If you have ever driven a boat down either of those canals, you know that you would have to be a lunatic to drive with a wake, and your neighbors would quickly put an end to it. Dredging? Already been done.

I don't see the problem.

What is the definition of a marina? My imagination drew up a bait/general store, gas pump and boat slips. I have not seen the plans, but according to Murray it will just be additional slips.

Doesn't the canal size/turns to get in there severely limit the type/size of boats that could rent slips?

absolutely.

I lived on that canal for 5 years. I don't see the big deal either. The canal is so shallow you're not going to be kicking up a wake getting out to the bay. There are so few boats that come in and out of the canal if anything the canal is underutilized. Not to mention that there are several businesses in the area which aren't exactly scenic. I say let Tom have his way, he'll make it nice and it may actually increase property values on the canal.

Seagrovegirl,
I haven't seen the proposed plans other than those posted above in post #6, and that is what I'm basing my thoughts on.

There is already a marina there. Plans call for adding 10 boat slips and additional boardwalk and dock access in Phase 1 of the expansion. Phase 2 would include 12 more boat slips and 18 parking spaces.
No new buildings are included in either phase.

Here is one definition of marina, which seems to fit this particular in Daughettes:
"marina - a boat basin offering dockage and other service for small craft."

Tom already has an office building at that "marina." The building is very nice and I doubt Tom hears much about it from his neighbors. Tom invited input from the neighborhood before building it, and everyone that attended seemed to be in favor of allowing him to proceed. I suppose that existing building could potentially have a different usage like a marina store, but if future plans call for only 22 more boat slips, and there are only a hand-full now, that store would likely fail as a marina store due to only and occasional sale, or succeed as a very cool neighborhood general store.

All of you that do not see a problem. Try living just steps from this "marina" and the illegal business Tom
Stein already has there and then tell me it is not a problem. There are CONSTANTLY cars going in and out every single minute of the day up until dark. The cars that go in and out constantly hit their gas pedal the minute they turn the corner onto Ricker. God forbid if there is ever a child in the way, he/she will get hit and forget about having any animals. So YOU come live just a few steps away from that mess and then tell me you don't see a problem. When we bought these lots there were no businesses allowed unless it was a home workshop type of business yet Tom Stein somehow managed to build a building on that lot and rent it out to businessess, couldn't have anything to do with the fact that he is head of the ZONING board now could it? Now, with the low prices of real estate around here as it, ours is sure to go even lower. I did not buy a lot across from a huge monstrosity of a building OR a marina. We were here first.
AGAIN, those that do not see a problem, please, lets us trade places for a few days and see how you feel then. I am PISSED.

Seagrovegirl,
I haven't seen the proposed plans other than those posted above in post #6, and that is what I'm basing my thoughts on.
Here is one definition of marina, which seems to fit this particular in Daughettes:
"marina - a boat basin offering dockage and other service for small craft."

Tom already has an office building at that "marina." The building is very nice and I doubt Tom hears much about it from his neighbors. Tom invited input from the neighborhood before building it, and everyone that attended seemed to be in favor of allowing him to proceed. I suppose that existing building could potentially have a different usage like a marina store, but if future plans call for only 22 more boat slips, and there are only a hand-full now, that store would likely fail as a marina store due to only and occasional sale, or succeed as a very cool neighborhood general store.

EXCUSE ME???????Not a problem with neighbors??????I was completely against his monstrosity of a building and Tom Stein and myself almost came to blows over my objections but you see where it got me. He built the dam thing anyways. Well this time I am not taking this crap lying down. I am shooting off letters and emails to whomever is involved in passing this "Marina" and will be taking pictures to prove my point. This is BS.

I just measured, it is 20 feet from our driveway to this "Marina". Cars and trucks are constantly turning around in our driveway as it. Anyone want to try it out for a few days and see if it is "not a problem" for you then?
We used to actually fish in that canal. Now it is just dirty, smelly and in a word disgusting.

Night Angel,
You sound very upset. If you read through the covenants and restrictions for Daughette's you will find that all of the canal front lots in Daughette's allows for light commercial usage. Tom Stein's current usage, the last time I checked, was light commercial -- an office. His building is the first one on the street on the right side, just a few hundred feet from the road, so I cannot see people speeding once turning onto Ricker, if they are going to his business. With buying property, it isn't a "we were here first" thing. You should do your own due diligence or work with a knowledgeable Realtor, so that you know about things such as the light commercial usage for those properties across the street and along Bay Drive, which are also according to the covenants and restrictions, listed as light commercial usage. Ignoring the fact that the office didn't exist when you built, doesn't make it not

The road is wider than twenty feet, and the current boat dock and ramp sits well off the road. If they are using your driveway as the only way to back in a boat, they shouldn't be doing that, nor should they in the future. That should certainly be addressed at the public meetings.

You are saying the canals are dirty and smelly, but I don't see many boats being the cause of that. Canal water is fairly stagnant because it doesn't have any flow in and out, and that is the most likely cause of and dirt and smells.

If it is a problem for you due to traffic in your yard/driveway, you should continue to speak up, so that Tom can address that issue and perhaps change it so that it doesn't affect you.

Night Angel,
You sound very upset. If you read through the covenants and restrictions for Daughette's you will find that all of the canal front lots in Daughette's allows for light commercial usage. Tom Stein's current usage, the last time I checked, was light commercial -- an office. His building is the first one on the street on the right side, just a few hundred feet from the road, so I cannot see people speeding once turning onto Ricker, if they are going to his business. With buying property, it isn't a "we were here first" thing. You should do your own due diligence or work with a knowledgeable Realtor, so that you know about things such as the light commercial usage for those properties across the street and along Bay Drive, which are also according to the covenants and restrictions, listed as light commercial usage. Ignoring the fact that the office didn't exist when you built, doesn't make it not

The road is wider than twenty feet, and the current boat dock and ramp sits well off the road. If they are using your driveway as the only way to back in a boat, they shouldn't be doing that, nor should they in the future. That should certainly be addressed at the public meetings.

You are saying the canals are dirty and smelly, but I don't see many boats being the cause of that. Canal water is fairly stagnant because it doesn't have any flow in and out, and that is the most likely cause of and dirt and smells.

If it is a problem for you due to traffic in your yard/driveway, you should continue to speak up, so that Tom can address that issue and perhaps change it so that it doesn't affect you.

First off, YES, they use my driveway as a baking up point to the boat ramp several times a day. You call what Tom Stein is doing LIGHT commercial usage. You come over here and live for 1 day and tell me it is LIGHT. Traffic comes and goes through the SEVERAL OFFICES that are currently in the building all day long. Driveay to driveway is 20 feet, how the hell else do they get the boat baked in without using my driveway. Now you want me to say it is okay to have even more people coming and going 24 hours a day? Not in this lifetime. Now, if you consider what is going on over there right now LIGHT usage, just what kind of usage are you going to consider it when there is a Marina 24/7 with gas smells and oil smells and people laughing and talking and partying and we have no idea who these people are so there will be strangers coming and going 20 feet from my house and my mother is 76 years old and she worries about this kind of thing.
Again, I say that YOU come here and live for a day then tell me it would be "no problem".
Tom Stein cheated the provisions for this type of thing to start with siting as long as the original building is still there (he left 10 feet of concrete from the old house), they could rebuild with a business if someone is renting (living there) on the property full time. NO ONE live there full time. It has turned into a business complex right in front of my eyes with us having no say so in it whatsoever.
It will be different this time, I will be prepared for battle with provisions read, exact measurements and plenty of pictures blown up so others can put themselves in my place then say "no problem".
So Murray, unless this effects you directly, then stop spouting off because you NO NOTHING about living across from this mess that Tom Stein has created. We bought these lots more than 20 years ago dude.

Do not tell me it is more than 20 feet. I measured it this morning and I just took a picture of the tape measure across the road, it is 20 feet and 2 inches from white line to white line on the outside. I will post the picture in just a minute.

For some reason it will not let me post that pic. I tried changing the size but still no. If you want visual proof that it is 20 feet 2 inches from driveway to driveway, let me know and I will take another picture, if not you can see them along with everyone else at the meeting.

I have gone to the building you are talking about several times and it was not very busy at all. Plus, fastest/easiest way to go and out is via the main road instead of driving down your street.

The boats backing in using your driveway sounds like a total pain in the arse and something that should be addressed as part of any expansion plan.

I have gone to the building you are talking about several times and it was not very busy at all. Plus, fastest/easiest way to go and out is via the main road instead of driving down your street.

The boats backing in using your driveway sounds like a total pain in the arse and something that should be addressed as part of any expansion plan.

Wow, I love how everyone says "one time" I drove by and it was not busy. You do not live across the street from that monstrosity and see how busy it is all day. Until you do, I don't think you can make that blanket statement. Tomorrow I am going to try to photograph every single car in the parking lot and every single one that comes and go throughout the day so I can prove how much traffic there is at that place. As I mentioned, this is not LIGHT commercial. This is a commercial office building with SEVERAL offices inside. Again, please do not comment on something if you do not know the facts.

Also, I do not get what you are saying about going down the "main" road. You HAVE to turn on Ricker to go to the building, there is no other way.
Oh and Murray, since YOU say people are not speeding then it must be so if YOU said it. I will also turn into the easter bunny at midnight.

Night Angel, there is no need to get snarky with me. I choose not to live next to property which is deeded as commercial. Those covenants and restrictions were put in place in 1959 I believe, long before you bought the lots.

I'm not saying that people aren't speeding. I am saying that it seems weird that people would slow down enough on Bay Dr to turn, only to speed for maybe 50ft before having to slow down to turn in the driveway of Tom's office building.

You have every right to be upset if people are using your driveway as a loading zone for the boat ramp. I would be also.

Maybe (just a theory) when the covenants/restrictions were first written, the idea of "light commercial business" meant something other than what the developers/realtors want it it to mean now ($$???). Maybe these restrictions need to be changed to "no business" so that Point Washington and the Daughette's can remain a small quiet neighborhood for us to have some peace. Sowal is changing so rapidly, why can't we keep some places for those of us that do NOT want the high traffic/bright lights(so we can still see stars)/noise in our neighborhood.