New vendor sign posts in Grayton

[Teresa]

Other beach towns in Florida have experienced similar vendor issues over the years and find ways to control and limit access by vendors to the beaches so that the beach remains OPEN to visitors with their own chairs. Protecting the experience of a wide open, natural place to visit and spend the day is very important especially here where our beaches are so beautiful and once very pristine.

This is just one more critical issue that comes with growth of our town, tourism, infrastructure for visitors and residents and we have no leadership to deal with it. It's a free for all that effects us all. Local business is vital throughout our community but there should be strict rules about any business operating directly on our beaches. I believe it should be very limited to registered/approved vendors who take orders by phone and deliver to someone who is waiting for their setup - and pick up set up immediately when no longer in use.

How many chair set ups remain on the beach all day until sunset - with NO ONE using them whatsoever. Signs and empty chair set ups should not be part of the scenery on a public beach. If you want to walk onto the beach and choose your set up then stay in WaterColor, Seaside, Sandestin, Rosemary Beach, and other resorts or large condos where your chair awaits. At least the one vendor on the scene will make sure you are comfortable and not taken over by multiple vendors.

 

[Danny Glidewell]

Why can't the county sell franchises for each regional access and prohibit vending elsewhere unless the upland property owners contract for it? Make the county some money and clear the beaches of the clutter. Have a kiosk at each regional access and individuals rent beach accessories from the vendor in the kiosk. Use the franchise fees to improve amenities at the regional accesses. No pre-placement of chairs and such allowed.

 

[miznotebook]

What is sometimes not understood is that the vendor zone sets a limit for vending area in the public accesses. All of the beach access area, including the vending zone, is open to the public, including people who don't rent a chair from a vendor.

 

[Jimmy T]

The majority of the public is not going to get up at 5:30 AM and claim their turf before the vendors show up.

 

[BeachArkie]

Why is the solution to everything around here more signs? How about just ENFORCING the rules?

Sure hope the position of these ugly ass posts has been noted, my guess is that they will move as the season continues.

 

[miznotebook]

The majority of the public is not going to get up at 5:30 AM and claim their turf before the vendors show up.

OK, but without the vendor zone, you might have to get up at 5:30 to get on the other 50 percent of the beach that's outside the vendor zone...

 

[Jimmy T]

The post next to Western Lake seems to indicate that the vendors have 100% of the outfall.

 

[Teresa]

The beach vendors are hard workers and no doubt good folks. What I don't understand is how or why vending on the beach was ever permitted. I realize there have always been vendors but they were few and they were respectful for the most part - chairs set ups were not lined up anywhere unless at a private resort which is an entirely different situation where you have one vendor taking care of that resort beach. Public beaches need protection.

 

[jkmason]

What everyone needs to understand is that the beach vendors are renting OUR beach more so than just chairs. It reminds me of an old style land grab. Just look at all the empty chairs as evidence.

Government usually defends the common interest with appropriate regulations and enforcement, but not in this case.

 

[Jimmy T]

I emailed Cindy Meadows and Cecila Jones about this since Jones is he representative on the TDC Council this year. No response from Jones yet, but Cindy forwarded my email on to the TDC. Here is the TDC response from Brian Kellenberger. I will be following up on it next week. Note the attached PDF for the new vendor zones in Grayton:

Jimmy,


Appreciate your inquiry about the vendor zone markers on the beach at Grayton Dunes Public Beach Access. The Beach Operations Dept., Beach Code Enforcement division of the Walton County TDC is responsible for the posts. The new design/material was developed in an effort to better the 2 post system we used last year. The 2 post system, while effective, did receive a few complaints so we came up with the one post/arm system in effort to resolve the complaint issues of placement on the beach and marker color (lack of or hard to see against white sand).


Last year we had one vendor zone at Grayton Dunes (approx. in the middle of the park). This year recognizing that the outfall is a popular place for all beach visitors (beach equipment rentees and non-rentees), and as an issue identified in our 2015 Beach Code Enforcement post season assessment, we felt It necessary to allow for some commercial vending on or adjacent to the lake outfall. The marker you referenced adjacent to the lake outfall is the western side of one of the vendor zones (see attached diagram of Grayton Dunes). The zone was set up so that the zone’s west boundary line bisected the western side of the outfall as the outfall meanders in a south- westerly direction. This allows for commercial vending on the upper portion of the western side of the outfall and reserves the lower portion of the western side of the outfall for the beach visitor that does not want to rent beach equipment. We understand the post may have to be adjusted slightly east and west as the outfall moves and will assess on a periodic basis. However, as with all vendor zones on public beaches the zones only restrict the commercial vendor. The general public can set up on 100% of the public beach.


Please contact me if you have any questions/comments.