Plans for Additional Parking at Beach Acesses

As planned they're all an outrage but...

The Walton Dunes access proposal is an outrage. The Santa Clara access proposal is an outrage. Unfortunately I have close family members with health issues and have missed so much work that I can't miss more work to attend meetings in Florida.

It's all just scary for South Walton.

did anyone attend the meetings to express that outrage? Sorry also for not being available for the meetings but surely as sensitive as this issue is (or appeared to be) someone here went to or knows what went on at the meeting.

So, now that the 30A/Santa Rosa Beach area is overbuilt and the existing beach accesses cannot handle the load, what do we do? Sadly, I think this ship has sailed. We built the houses and condos. We marketed the hell out of this place for people to visit here, move here, go to our beaches. Where does everybody go to the beach? Where do they park? There are going to have to be some compromises.

Link to Channel 7 article and video: http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/Residents-Oppose-Parking-Lot-Contruction-179573521.html

and who is "we" and whose ship are you sailong on ?.....

So, now that the 30A/Santa Rosa Beach area is overbuilt and the existing beach accesses cannot handle the load, what do we do? Sadly, I think this ship has sailed. We built the houses and condos. We marketed the hell out of this place for people to visit here, move here, go to our beaches. Where does everybody go to the beach? Where do they park? There are going to have to be some compromises.

I believe you presented a good case for the controlled growth that is needed for the area. The area is overbuilt; the existing beach accesses are stressed because the beaches are becoming overcrowded because the current policy is growth for growth's sake. So now just sit back and jump on that "ship" which I believe is called the good ship "Panama City Beach West". Don't think so. The compromise here is to spend money wisely to accomodate and support the infrastructure that is needed today and plan to accomodate growth in a rational way. And that doesn't mean throwing away money ( even the 20%) on an assinine motorized cartpath to nowhere which is just another example of the "we" mentality that is ruining this beautiful area.

Link to Channel 7 article and video: http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/Residents-Oppose-Parking-Lot-Contruction-179573521.html

Thank you for this update.

"We" is this community- property owners, lack of vision and foresight, not enough planning, runaway marketing and real estate sales and no way to keep up with it all from a community planning perspective. You know what I mean. I am just making the point that critical mass was reached a long time ago. It is a problem that needs to be death with 2 ways- managing what is here and what we know now, and responsibly looking ahead. I didn't say these parking options are the best options, but the bummer is that good options weren't part of the plan years ago.

After attending the meeting on the 15th, I have a better understanding of the angst the homeowners there expressed. We neeed to do several things before we start building new parking lots. The first, and most importand, is a change in our land use code to one of specified strictly enforced zoning instead of vague land use codes such as portrayed by "mixed village use". If you noted all the requests by developers at the last BCC meeting you would quickly realize that our paradise is far from being fallow. Growth and development here has reached a near saturation point as many have said. The BCC, planning commission and planning department needs to re-structure our planning criteria and then make sure it is strictly enforced.

There is no doubt that 30a needs more public beach accesses and parking to the public's beach.

The accesses are for the "common good" and a few vested interest neighbors should not be allowed to block it.

However, I agree there is a need for some tweaking of the county beach access and parking proposal to minimize environmental impact.

I would like the county to consider using water permeable material for the parking lots. Also it would also be beneficial to construct the parking lots out of a light colored material that would reflect heat rather than absorb.

I would also like the county to promise to plant irrigated sea oats, and erect sand fencing to protect the vulnerable Walton Dunes area.

I would also like assurances from the county that the Walton Dunes walk over access include a needed wheel chair access.

The installation of beach walkovers will assist in dune renourishment and prevention of beach erosion.

It must be a beautiful day in your neighborhood....

There is no doubt that 30a needs more public beach accesses and parking to the public's beach.

The accesses are for the "common good" and a few vested interest neighbors should not be allowed to block it.

However, I agree there is a need for some tweaking of the county beach access and parking proposal to minimize environmental impact.

I would like the county to consider using water permeable material for the parking lots. Also it would also be beneficial to construct the parking lots out of a light colored material that would reflect heat rather than absorb.

I would also like the county to promise to plant irrigated sea oats, and erect sand fencing to protect the vulnerable Walton Dunes area.

I would also like assurances from the county that the Walton Dunes walk over access include a needed wheel chair access.

The installation of beach walkovers will assist in dune renourishment and prevention of beach erosion.

.... because yours is not in one of those "vested interest neighborhoods" that are only out for themselves. Maybe you and the TDC should put yourselves into others situations before making proposals to overcrowd our beaches more than they are now and I would like assurances that common sense might someday prevail before the color for the parking lot is chosen. Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Don't think so!!!

Walton county should be working to preserve as much green space as it can near the beach. There is a way to increase beach access without paving paradise in the process. Ad-hoc approaches looking to sacrifice neighborhoods to cars are not the solution.

...so what's the latest on

Walton county should be working to preserve as much green space as it can near the beach. There is a way to increase beach access without paving paradise in the process. Ad-hoc approaches looking to sacrifice neighborhoods to cars are not the solution.

..... the status of the parking lot proposals by the TDC? Have the proposed sites been (or being purchased)? What about the ROW proposals for the neighborhoods that were so unpopular? It's been real quiet on this controversial subject.

..... the status of the parking lot proposals by the TDC? Have the proposed sites been (or being purchased)? What about the ROW proposals for the neighborhoods that were so unpopular? It's been real quiet on this controversial subject.

They voted last night not to proceed and will do more evaluation.

Did we lose Montigo Access? No mention of it on TDC site.