I think the article unjustifiably sensationalized the dune damage, but was dead-on right about the car issue. I stayed several times at Seaside over the years, even b/f the south side of 30A was developed (it was much much nicer then). There are two major, fundamental problems that impede it reaching its vision in my view, neither of which can be fixed:
1. The basic design totally ignores treatment for cars. And, what you have are SUVs lining the narrow streets. So, instead of relaxing on your front porch listening to the crickets or watching the children play in the street you are treated to someone's SUV in your front yard. Drove me absolutely nuts. They should limit the number of cars people can park to one, or ban cars entirely. The traffic on 30A is tight, but the cars on the side streets are incredibly unaesthetic. I don't want to spend 4k a week to stare at some person's Jeep Cherokee.
Watercolor initially designed around this problem, but caved in to the touristas and now have parking spots in the front of houses--right in front of those much talked about screened porches. Alys Beach from what I hear is doing it completely right--cars are going to be in walled group parking areas.
But, my view is that there should be a two car maximum for any unit, anywhere on 30A.
2. The second failure is that Seaside's vision contemplates a summer residential community, and now the vast majority are trasnsient weekly renters. Instead of greeting your loved neighbors back for the season year after year, your neighbors might be an LLC, and the people next door transients who blast the stereo too loud, whatever.
So, if you judge architecture by whether it attains its stated goals, Seaside has ultimately to be considered as a failure. I love its concept tho, and the design, and avail myself of the place as much as possible.