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BeachSiO2

Beach Fanatic
Jun 16, 2006
3,294
737
I'm confused about #12 on that list. Unless I'm misunderstanding official court documents, the Sugar Cliffs Beach Access across from Cassine was "privatized" a couple of months ago. It had been public since it was built years ago, but the owners of the property adjacent to the access found a loophole in Walton County recording documents challenged the County and Cassine Village; from what I'm understanding, they won and the access is no longer public. A letter was sent to Cassine owners by the association advising them of that fact that told they were no longer allowed to use the walkover. I guess the next step will be that the public can no longer use the beach in front of that walkover either. :bang: The nearest walkover now is One Seagrove. The document can be found at http://clerkofcourts.co.walton.fl.u...px?Request=navResult&IID=20942263&RecordID=11 I'm hoping what I'm understanding is wrong, and that your list is still accurate. The Sugar Cliffs Access was a popular walkover for Cassine Village. I hate the fact that a private homeowner can seize a public access.

I think you are correct on that one too. I looked at the date on their map and it is from January so I bet it will be updated. I agree that is bad news.
 

seacrestkristi

Beach Fanatic
Nov 27, 2005
3,538
36
It's at the access not up at 30 A.

The map worked for me but the short answer is there is no county maintained access from Seacrest Drive and Winston Lane due to all the land along 30-A in that area being privately-owned. The other accesses in Inlet Beach, are the main Inlet Beach Regional Access, an access at the end of Wall St., Winston Lane, and Phillips Inlet. There are also two other accesses in Seacrest

The beaches belong to everybody still.
Seems like there might be a little sign directing one to the public access off the main thoroughfare, no?
 

rapunzel

Beach Fanatic
Nov 30, 2005
2,514
980
Point Washington
I'm confused about #12 on that list. Unless I'm misunderstanding official court documents, the Sugar Cliffs Beach Access across from Cassine was "privatized" a couple of months ago. It had been public since it was built years ago, but the owners of the property adjacent to the access found a loophole in Walton County recording documents challenged the County and Cassine Village; from what I'm understanding, they won and the access is no longer public. A letter was sent to Cassine owners by the association advising them of that fact that told they were no longer allowed to use the walkover. I guess the next step will be that the public can no longer use the beach in front of that walkover either. :bang: The nearest walkover now is One Seagrove. The document can be found at http://clerkofcourts.co.walton.fl.u...px?Request=navResult&IID=20942263&RecordID=11 I'm hoping what I'm understanding is wrong, and that your list is still accurate. The Sugar Cliffs Access was a popular walkover for Cassine Village. I hate the fact that a private homeowner can seize a public access.

WTF? The privatize movement has actually succeeded in seizing a right of way that has been traditionally used by the public? And it happened quietly?

If all the beaches are privatized, we might as well repeal the four story restriction so that all of us can be gulf front. To heck with the guys behind us. Who wants charming beach communities when you can have head shops and condo towers that provide beach access? :angry:
 

ktmeadows

Beach Fanatic
Jun 21, 2005
759
24
WTF? The privatize movement has actually succeeded in seizing a right of way that has been traditionally used by the public? And it happened quietly?

If all the beaches are privatized, we might as well repeal the four story restriction so that all of us can be gulf front. To heck with the guys behind us. Who wants charming beach communities when you can have head shops and condo towers that provide beach access? :angry:

It had something to do with a loophole the homeowners discovered and used to their advantage; somehow the access didn't get properly recorded by the county when it was built. The homeowners next to the access challenged the county and Cassine (who helped pay for the access).
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
It had something to do with a loophole the homeowners discovered and used to their advantage; somehow the access didn't get properly recorded by the county when it was built. The homeowners next to the access challenged the county and Cassine (who helped pay for the access).

Those homeowners are poo-heads! Why is it so freaking hard to share a patch of sand around here?
 

tistheseason

Beach Fanatic
Jul 12, 2005
1,072
93
53
Atlanta, GA
Where is the public access in Rosemary Beach please?

I've always heard (and I may be incorrect) but Rosemary's biggest concern is parking. They really don't have enough parking for people to come in and stay put all day while enjoying the beach. Without access to short term parking, the restaurants and shops can't survive! So, it's provide beach parking or retail. I vote for retail. There are other places to go to the beach!
 

Darwin

Beach Comber
Jul 8, 2007
16
0
Downtown Atlanta
A representative of Beaches of South Walton responded to my email. Someone within the group asked me to post the reply so here it is. No one else responded. Below is their response and below that is my response to them. We are looking into going to Seabrook SC on vacation next year. Anyone have any contacts in Seabrook?

Beaches of South Walton Response:
I'm not sure if anyone has replied to you yet, but wanted to let you know the status. We are empathetic to those beachgoers who have been asked to move. I have personally been one of those people, I completely understand your feelings of frustration and we are working diligently to direct visitors to regional public beach accesses where there is plenty of room to enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches. Here's the status of your questions:

1) Walton County is in the process of addressing this issue. The county attorney has been conducting extensive amounts of research and will be presenting his findings to the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 9.
2) Yes, as of right now, the wet sand portion of the beach is public, in addition to the public beaches at Inlet, Santa Clara, Gulfview Heights, Ed Wallin, Dune Allen and Miramar.
3) I do not know the exact width of the easement at the Pelayo Beach Access. Many times if you stay within the access area neighboring beach front owners will not take issue. However to ensure you're safe, I would recommend heading down the street to the west to the Santa Clara Public Beach Access just a short walk or bike ride away.

You may even want to plan a trip here this fall. Fall is a quieter, more sophisticated season in Beaches of South Walton. Cooler temperatures, warm water, shorter lines, discounted rates and the natural fall beauty of the area provide a greater sense of tranquility than is typically experienced during the spring and summer months. In addition the beaches are very quiet this time and it is very relaxing. We also celebrate the migration of the Monarch butterfly and weekends are filled with Autumn Tides events and festivals that celebrate this unforgettable season.

My Repsonse:

thanks for the only reply, but after nearly 20 years of vacationing between Seaside and Seagrove, we made our decision last night to give up on South Walton as a vacation destination. South Walton (Seagrove and Seaside) has lost its friendly laidback personality. Below are the top 5 reasons for our decision:
  1. Wet sand only public beach use. What a ridiculous policy, who ever made that decision should lose their job.
  2. Useless public beach access. Access is only for a 5 foot wide path to the "wet sand".
    [*]Walton County deputies remove children and families from beaches within 50 feet of a public access. Tourist have actually been arrested, fined, and put on probation, for peacefully sitting on the beach. Nice going sheriff!
    [*]No trespassing signs installed ON beaches. Previously we walked along the beach to Bud and Alleys and the other Seaside business's, but now Seaside signs say that's trespassing. Seaside, what a stupid business plan and eyesore!
  3. Dangerous 30-A traffic: Walton County deputies remove children from their sandcastles but allow speeding automobiles to terrorize pedestrians.
Does South Walton sound like a place you want to visit and spend money?


 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
I've always heard (and I may be incorrect) but Rosemary's biggest concern is parking. They really don't have enough parking for people to come in and stay put all day while enjoying the beach. Without access to short term parking, the restaurants and shops can't survive! So, it's provide beach parking or retail. I vote for retail. There are other places to go to the beach!

That's because you can't sell parking space land for millions an acre! Don't know who said it, but basically "poor planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on mine". ;-)

Or if it's such a problem, you just make parking spaces near the restaurants & retail short term parking only. Pay for any enforcement costs by writing tickets to folks who park there all day.
 

Miss Kitty

Meow
Jun 10, 2005
47,011
1,131
70
Good luck, Darwin. Hope you come back someday. We were in Seabrook many years ago and at some periods of the day there was no beach. :dunno: I do love Charleston!
 
Last edited:

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
Beaches of South Walton Response:
I'm not sure if anyone has replied to you yet, but wanted to let you know the status. We are empathetic to those beachgoers who have been asked to move. I have personally been one of those people, I completely understand your feelings of frustration and we are working diligently to direct visitors to regional public beach accesses where there is plenty of room to enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches. Here's the status of your questions:

1) Walton County is in the process of addressing this issue. The county attorney has been conducting extensive amounts of research and will be presenting his findings to the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 9.
2) Yes, as of right now, the wet sand portion of the beach is public, in addition to the public beaches at Inlet, Santa Clara, Gulfview Heights, Ed Wallin, Dune Allen and Miramar.
3) I do not know the exact width of the easement at the Pelayo Beach Access. Many times if you stay within the access area neighboring beach front owners will not take issue. However to ensure you're safe, I would recommend heading down the street to the west to the Santa Clara Public Beach Access just a short walk or bike ride away.

You may even want to plan a trip here this fall. Fall is a quieter, more sophisticated season in Beaches of South Walton. Cooler temperatures, warm water, shorter lines, discounted rates and the natural fall beauty of the area provide a greater sense of tranquility than is typically experienced during the spring and summer months. In addition the beaches are very quiet this time and it is very relaxing. We also celebrate the migration of the Monarch butterfly and weekends are filled with Autumn Tides events and festivals that celebrate this unforgettable season.

I think the response you got was quite nice and did a good job of trying to find a happy medium until the issue is resolved for good. Not the "dem, we're running off our livelihood" response we were hoping for, but better than most responses.

I'll certainly be waiting to hear the official word on Oct 9th!

As far as "speeding cars on 30-A terrorizing pedestrians", while I've seen some idiots unaware of pedestrians, I think it's more of an issue of people blithely wandering into traffic. (yes, folks, it's a road - you drove on it to get here remember?) I have been caught unawares many times in Seaside by folks stepping into the road from next to a SUV where you can't see them - worst is when they do so pushing a low stroller in front of them.

I certainly agree that ticketing bad drivers is a far better use of resources than arresting beachgoers for "trespassing."
 
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