Beach vehicle permit ordinance changes

[miznotebook]

The attorney said she would be drafting proposed revisions to the existing "driving on the beach" law. One commissioner had suggested expanding the number of permits, and others had suggested special provisions for the disabled and reducing the number of permits available to charter boat operators from 20 to 15. Other suggestions included capping the number of permits at 900 and deleting the requirement for a property owner applying for a permit to have a habitable residence on their property. Last summer the number of existing permits was reported to be 772 issued to individuals and 11 to charter boat operators. A public hearing on the proposed revisions has been set for Dec. 14 at the South Walton Annex.

 

[Elephant Child]

A proposal has been made to cap permits at 900. To be discussed further in a public forum.

Would this be a first come first serve situation?

Kurt, i was at meeting last night...no proposal...a "suggestion" was made about a cap of 900. The Commissioners asked their legal advisor to write up a new draft to include some of the concerns that they had received about the Driving on Beach permits. They had said that they would revisit it in October last year and that's why the new draft. The draft hasn't been even written yet. There was a date set up for the draft to be completed and a public hearing to be held on Dec. 14th at the South Walton Annex.

 

[Kurt]

Is it really worth having a beach permit ? Trying to move to seagrove
beach, still in Atlanta. Should I purchase permit any way ?

New permits are not available. Seagrove Beach is just as nice as Grayton Beach with the added bonus of no vehicle vs. sunbather incidents.

 

[TreeFrog]

The attorney said she would be drafting proposed revisions to the existing "driving on the beach" law. One commissioner had suggested expanding the number of permits, and others had suggested special provisions for the disabled and reducing the number of permits available to charter boat operators from 20 to 15. Other suggestions included capping the number of permits at 900 and deleting the requirement for a property owner applying for a permit to have a habitable residence on their property. Last summer the number of existing permits was reported to be 772 issued to individuals and 11 to charter boat operators. A public hearing on the proposed revisions has been set for Dec. 14 at the South Walton Annex.

I seems simple enough that 900 is a little more than the actual 772, and 15 or 20 is a little more than the actual 11. Allow for a little growth, but don't overload things.

Any idea on what the thought is behind allowing property owners without a residence to get a permit?

 

[TreeFrog]

Is it really worth having a beach permit ? Trying to move to seagrove
beach, still in Atlanta. Should I purchase permit any way ?

One person's view - I live near Eastern Lake and had a beach permit for one year. It was fun to have and got used a number of times, but I have gotten along without, too. Wouldn't mind having one again sometime, but won't stress over it if I can't. SoWal is a great place and there's so much to do, that the experiences that come from having a beach permit, for me, aren't essential to enjoying being here, just nice optional pluses.

 

[scooterbug44]

I think 900, one per property/person, and requiring you to own a residence in Walton County is good.

 

[miznotebook]

Any idea on what the thought is behind allowing property owners without a residence to get a permit?

It wasn't explained, but my guess would be that people who own a lot in Walton County but have not built their home yet may have asked for this change.

 

[TreeFrog]

It wasn't explained, but my guess would be that people who own a lot in Walton County but have not built their home yet may have asked for this change.

Yeah, that was my first thought, too.

But, with politics being politics, I figured someone might have had an angle. For instance, there is plenty of commercial property that will never have a residence on it. Should businesses be allowed beach permits?

 

[wrobert]

Any idea on what the thought is behind allowing property owners without a residence to get a permit?

To bring the law into compliance with the full faith and credit, as well as equal protection clauses in both the State and Federal Constitutions would be my guess.

 

[miznotebook]

Yeah, that was my first thought, too.

But, with politics being politics, I figured someone might have had an angle. For instance, there is plenty of commercial property that will never have a residence on it. Should businesses be allowed beach permits?

Interesting points, Treefrog and Wrobert. In the driving on the beach ordinance (posted on the tax collector's Web site), no distinction is made regarding residential or commercial property, although of course there is now the requirement for a habitable residence on the property. Also the ordinance does provide an additional requirement for property owned by a business or by multiple owners. The person applying for the permit must have a controlling interest in the property.