Hampton Inn Seagrove Beach on Chateau Hotel Property

I look at a couple area to our west, Mary Esther which has been a city since the 60's I believe and the city of Destin has been incorporated since the 90's. Depending of what services you want to supply they may be 2 in which you might want to ask residents what they think.

I don't think it's a bad thing for you to want incorporation. What I do think is bad is adding another layer a government, the inability to form your own police/fire departments or an expensive (maybe even cost prohibitive) contract with another agency to provide those services and contracts with power and trash collection services which may also be cost prohibitive.

I also think it's a bad thing to leave parts of a community you profess to love and want the best for to be left high and dry and still dependent on the government which you gave up on to incorporate because those community members fell into the non contiguous areas of South Walton.

Feasibility studies are also expensive and should be paid for by those who are driven to incorporate a community where the non contiguous issues actually prevent this idea from being anything more than a very expensive dream.

If you believe the government is so irrevocably broken then perhaps SoWal should use their unlimited resources (not taxpayer money) to fix all the problems listed above then incorporate.

I also think its ungrateful to think the government isn't working for you when the government actually listened to the homeowners along 30A who did not want the Hampton Inn and voted accordingly.

Misty, if you don't live in South Walton, why do you care? Just curious.

There is as much or as little additional government "layer" as the community wants. Communities incorporate for many different reasons. The reason I hear most often here is wanting self- governance and stronger controls over our development, dune lakes, and infrastructure. It's not so hard to understand why we would want these things. You seem to have your reasons to oppose it and that's OK. You won't be voting for or against it.

Misty, if you don't live in South Walton, why do you care? Just curious.

Oh, so now I have to live in South Walton to care about my community?

Mmmm K jdarg!!

It was ok for me to care and be opposed to Hampton Inn because it went against the Comprehensive Plan but it's not ok for me to care as a taxpayer?

Gotcha! From here on out, I'll let you decide what I should and shouldn't care about. (As if!)

The reason I hear most often here is wanting self- governance and stronger controls over our development, dune lakes, and infrastructure.

Infrastructure that was built off the backs of all the taxpayers in Walton County....Dune lakes which belong to all the people of this county, development that directly or indirectly effects all of Walton County...sounds pretty selfish to me....but that's just my opinion as someone who doesn't live in SoWal and shouldn't have a say in SoWal business even though it's considered part of my community.

Just wish the whole community had put more effort into managing growth and infrastructure all these years. Instead of wasting energy and money and time playing political games.

This is not the first time a community has turn to incorporation, and I doubt it will be the last time. Teresa 's post sound up all the reasons and benefits perfectly. Perhaps you should go read it, and also read the material on the website. As was stated in the meeting the other night, South Walton has reached the tipping point. And if we incorporate, there is a much greater chance that all the wonderful things about South Walton will stay the same and even be better for when you cross the bridge to enjoy the beaches, lakes, neighborhoods, shopping, restaurants, and activities.

Spare us your false outrage.

More than 90% of the county's income comes from south of the Bay. Only 11% of that money is spent in the community that produces it, despite massive infrastructure problems and deficiencies. That community is also severely underrepresented in the local government because of how the districts were gerrymandered.

One vote doesn't change that.

Just wish the whole community had put more effort into managing growth and infrastructure all these years. Instead of wasting energy and money and time playing political games.

I wish myself that this county wasn't run by "good ole boys" many of whom didn't or don't have the sense God gave a jacka$$ and have wished it for years but I've also learned over the years that as stubborn as some of those jacka$$es are, change is possible if the community sticks together. The Hampton Inn is but one example and believe it or not jdarg I don't have to live there to have a voice in my government. I'm very capable of making myself heard if I need to when I'm passionate about something that effects us all.

Does government always listen...absolutely, does the outcome always positively impact the community/county as a whole...absolutely not but it's a certifiable fact that what we have now is one hell of allot better than anything we have had in the past. We still have improvements in government that need to be made (huge improvements) but I can honestly tell you that the improvements I've seen over the last 25 years or so are incredible.

I read what Teresa had to say and I'm not opposed to incorporation, I just don't believe it's possible.

Spare us your false outrage.

No outrage here, I just think it's ridiculous to think incorporation is the answer to SoWals prayers.

I would hope that the incorporated area includes all land South of the Bay. Cities usually cover a range of communities within the borders. Each is important, and they all contribute to the uniqueness of the city.

I'm with most of you though. I would need to hear much more about the proposed structure and type of municipality. Apparently, there are many options and decisions.

I would hope that the incorporated area includes all land South of the Bay. Cities usually cover a range of communities within the borders. Each is important, and they all contribute to the uniqueness of the city. I'm with most of you though. I would need to hear much more about the proposed structure and type of municipality. Apparently, there are many options and decisions.

It is not a fast process. A lot of work goes into the process, but we don't have to reinvent the wheel.

I would hope that the incorporated area includes all land South of the Bay. Cities usually cover a range of communities within the borders. Each is important, and they all contribute to the uniqueness of the city.

That isn't possible because of the non contiguous areas of South Walton...unfortunately you can't reinvent those areas.

Non contiguous areas doesn't mean what it used to when it comes to city boundaries. A while back, the city of Niceville was allowed to jump Rocky Bayou and annex a sliver of land east of there, even though the bridge was supposed to make it a non contiguous area.

I'm not happy about that. Niceville had its chance to annex Bluewater/Seminole back in the 70s but turned that down because they didn't want to run water lines to big planned development that might fail. Now it just seems like a money grab on Niceville's part since property values are higher across that bridge.

It boils down to are we a county of land use codes and proper land usage or aren't we? The issue was vetted by the planning commission, both sides were heard by the BCC and, as useless as our MVU code is, it was fully explored as to the verasity of its use. It was decided 4 to 0 rightly that proper criteria was not present for the approval of the project. A lawsuit is a waste of money for both sides.

Planning Commission did not "vet" the project. The PC reviews and makes recommendations but this was a push not a true vetting. Vetting is an entirely different matter. The planning commission could not vet the project without all the evidence and all the evidence was not permitted to be submitted in that meeting. Look or listen to the goings on and you'll see the people were shut down and the applicant given leeway to make statements and testimony that were not permitted to be rebutted. This is not vetting. Not really.

Spare us your false outrage.

More than 90% of the county's income comes from south of the Bay. Only 11% of that money is spent in the community that produces it, despite massive infrastructure problems and deficiencies. That community is also severely underrepresented in the local government because of how the districts were gerrymandered.

One vote doesn't change that.

Ding, ding, ding. Best post in the thread. Incorporation won't change much, if anything. You need SoWal County.

Non contiguous areas doesn't mean what it used to when it comes to city boundaries. A while back, the city of Niceville was allowed to jump Rocky Bayou and annex a sliver of land east of there, even though the bridge was supposed to make it a non contiguous area.

I'm not happy about that. Niceville had its chance to annex Bluewater/Seminole back in the 70s but turned that down because they didn't want to run water lines to big planned development that might fail. Now it just seems like a money grab on Niceville's part since property values are higher across that bridge.

The politician (Drake I believe) that SoWal needs a thumbs up from for incorporation to happen lives in Niceville....which I'd be willing to bet was the reason that happened.

SoWal not only faces opposition because of the non contiguous areas, you'll see plenty of it from the local and State reps.

Ding, ding, ding. Best post in the thread. Incorporation won't change much, if anything. You need SoWal County.

I doubt NoWal would give up their beaches without a fight. IMHO an attempt to create a SoWal county would be a form of gentrification run amok.

The politician (Drake I believe) that SoWal needs a thumbs up from for incorporation to happen lives in Niceville....which I'd be willing to bet was the reason that happened.

SoWal not only faces opposition because of the non contiguous areas, you'll see plenty of it from the local and State reps.

I think Rep Drake still lives in Walton. If he lives in Niceville he would live outside his District as I understand it. No Rep Gaetz may live in Niceville. Either way I would think it would be an interesting fight to see a county form. Money would be flowing from both sides of the issue and with a full time population of approx. 25000 for sowal I am not sure we could sustain it without a big tax increase. The start up cost for providing services would be astronomical. The schools, the roads, the police protection. If you are just talking about forming a city maybe not so much but roads and police protection may be a cost on top of code enforcement. As for representation, don't we all have our own agendas. Look at the alphabet just is sowal they all have their own agendas. Just my opinion. I own property in both the north and south and one day may move back south of the bridge. As it stands I chose to live in unincorporated area for the express purpose of avoiding taxes.

Florida is a diverse state and many of its counties are extremely diverse as well. Walton is not the only county that contains both coastal and interior areas that are populated by very different groups of people with a wide variety of goals. Walton is certainly not unique in that these differences sometimes boil to the point that one group or the other wants a political divorce. At present some groups and leaders in South Florida wish to separate from the North and form their own state. The federal government is not going to allow that and state government is not going to allow the coast to split from the interior for a variety of reasons. So we might as well learn to work together and try to help each other.
I have long believed that what makes the coast better improves the interior and vice versa. It helps no one to harm the coast and kill the proverbial goose laying the proverbial golden eggs. But coastal residents screaming that this is ours and if you do not do what we want we will take our ball and go home does not help anyone. It makes those in the interior furious. Many who live in the north have roots here that go back generations and know that until very recently they and their ancestors paid the bills for the coast. Now it seems the golden goose they cared for all those years wants to deny the golden eggs to the farmer.
Just as bad are those who say that people who have long ties to this area are not smart enough to continue making decisions they have made for generations. Some "natives" believe that those moving in ruined their own home and are now coming here to ruin ours.
Those who have moved here have brought prosperity and and growth to the area. But there has been a cost that "natives" have paid as well. Many of the privileges that we grew up enjoying; in fact our entire way of life in some cases; has changed. When I was younger we could camp on the beach, drive from one end to the other, build bonfires while fishing all night, etc, etc. Some even forgot their clothing in certain areas of the beach now called Rosemary Beach. No one thought they "owned" the beach; we figured God owned it.
Change is going to happen. Whether it is good or bad totally depends on whether we can work together. "A rising tide floats all boats." If people would stop demanding and start explaining their position to others we can all move forward.

Danny, a very nice summation of both sides of the issue.

Bob Wells...thanks for the correction, I knew it was one of them.

Danny...Nice post but even you must admit that some of our past politicos were not the brightest bulbs in the pack and the best decisions regarding "what's best for all of us and not just some of us" has not been the highlight of our past. Moving forward, it is better than it has ever been but as I said, we still have huge improvements that need to be made.

In regard to incorporation, I don't really care because I don't believe it will ever happen. I think its extremely selfish and a huge waste of time and resources.

What I do care about is the "donor community" mentality, particularly by those who have lived here 10 years or less and think of North Walton as the bane of their existence and believe the beaches are there exclusively for them and they are the only ones who have the right to decide how to protect and nourish them. As you so eloquently stated, NoWal has been nourishing those beaches long before the fancy million dollar homes/condos along 30A and elsewhere. Many of us remember when it was nothing but untouched beauty, not bottle necked traffic jams, over development and the host of problems associated with it.

P.S. Please tell us those were not your clothes left on Rosemary Beach...the mental image is disturbing. LOL!

I think Rep Drake still lives in Walton. If he lives in Niceville he would live outside his District as I understand it.

Some of the small FL 20 communities in Walton County like Choctaw Beach and Villa Tasso do have a Niceville postal address. (I've gotten misdelivered Choctaw Beach mail in the past.) Not sure where Freeport PO picks up- maybe Portland?

Could be the source of some slight confusion.

I doubt NoWal would give up their beaches without a fight. IMHO an attempt to create a SoWal county would be a form of gentrification run amok.

Ding, ding, ding....with a slight correction. I don't consider them "NoWal" beaches, I consider them "OUR" beaches!

Community property!

Representative Drake's House of Representatives info lists Eucheeanna as his place of residence.

I stand corrected about who lives where.

Walton County’s legislative delegation — Sen. Don Gaetz and state Rep. Brad Drake