From Claire Bannerman:
Some thoughts on the South Walton Tourist Development Council ruckus over creating a new building on State Park land:
The mission statement of the Walton County TDC states that it is an industry organization that takes a “leadership” role in addressing “issues” that affect tourism and the “quality of life” in Walton County.
Robert Davis and his team have succeeded in securing Seaside on a list of walkable communities. Seaside has grown into one of the most successful residential and tourist attractions in Walton County.
Davis brought Dan Burden — the executive director of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, the nationally recognized authority on bicycle and pedestrian programs, friendly design, street corridor and intersection design, traffic flow and traffic calming — to our planning charrettes and forums. He enlightened us and guided us, reminding us of the amazing, fragile island environment in which we reside — and our need to protect it. I recall some of our county commissioners were present at these workshops.
Decision-makers are visionary, communicative and forward-thinking. They listen and respond to the most engaged, involved and broad-minded residents. They build policies, practices and codes to make their towns pleasant — reinvesting in the town center, disinvesting in sprawl.
We residents attended the charrettes and open forums to better our South Walton beaches, state parks and coastal dune lakes. We learned that towns and neighborhoods have a vision — master plans that provide direction, build ownership of residents, engage diverse people and create opportunities for implementation. A well-thought-out master plan gets past sticky issues and deals with the most fundamental, necessary decisions and commitments.
We paid for Dr. Dan Burden to describe intact town centers with shops open for business a minimum of eight hours a day. County buildings would be downtown, the town hall in the town center, the library open for business at least 10 hours a day, a post office located downtown.
Public spaces are all part of the master plan, giving people many places to assemble, play and associate with others. Key streets are controlled for speed. Streets and trails are well linked. Design is properly scaled. The town is designed for people. The town and neighborhoods have a vision.
Over the years, we have participated vigorously in saving land for state parks, various town centers, Eden State Park, our unique coastal dune lakes, our bike trail and walk trails, and County 30A, our scenic highway. Local citizen groups, such as Beach to Bay, Peach Creek Alliance, Three Arts Alliance, Cultural Arts Alliance, Walton County Taxpayers, Friends of Eden, South Walton Community Council, etc., as well as individual resident leadership efforts, have safeguarded a vision for the beaches of South Walton.
We have protected and kept watch over the world’s most beautiful beaches, reminding our Planning Department and our county commissioners every step of the way. So many nights our residents drove to DeFuniak Springs to attend county meetings so we could defend against developer invasions of our beaches and parks. We always asked for responsible development and business operations.
Our county commissioners began to realize that engaging residents in practicing environmentally sound land management results in continued support and commitment. Public awareness, involvement and collaboration increase stewardship. Utilizing public support with government agencies can solve specific problems.
We are aware that Walton County is increasingly dependent upon revenue from beach-going tourists and vacationers. Engaging residents to practice sound land management will result in a wonderful quality of life.
The TDC needs to reflect on the master plan for South Walton and involve residents to solve specific problems that will make a positive change in our environment for the long term. We need all the state park land we can get; keep the TDC building in the town center. Review our goals to protect our beach environment from sprawl. Do not snag our parkland.
Have the TDC Advisory Board ambassadors reconnect with the people and gain their input. Build the new TDC center on private land near the administrative center along State 331. To find it, simply put up a “wayfinding sign” on State 331. We, the people, have recommendations on our “quality of life” also.