A judge decides that Walton County Commisson violated its own zoning when it approved replacing Seagrove Villas with the Nature Walk Beach club:
In Walton, judge sides with development opponents | seagrove, county, beach - News - Northwest Florida Daily News
I went to the meeting when they approved this, and I think that they approved it in spite of staff recommendations that it should be denied due to non-compliance.
I do remember Scott Brannon saying that the zoning was "unclear" and "vague" and that the vote was unanimous. I read the zoning myself, and a six-year old could have understood that it was means to grandfather in the commercial use for Seagrove Villas, and made it clear that if the existing buildings were torn down that any new construction should either fit the existing footprint or revert to the residential density of the surrounding property.
Not that it matters, though, since Nature Walk....walked.
In Walton, judge sides with development opponents | seagrove, county, beach - News - Northwest Florida Daily News
I went to the meeting when they approved this, and I think that they approved it in spite of staff recommendations that it should be denied due to non-compliance.
I do remember Scott Brannon saying that the zoning was "unclear" and "vague" and that the vote was unanimous. I read the zoning myself, and a six-year old could have understood that it was means to grandfather in the commercial use for Seagrove Villas, and made it clear that if the existing buildings were torn down that any new construction should either fit the existing footprint or revert to the residential density of the surrounding property.
Not that it matters, though, since Nature Walk....walked.
Walton County commissioners should not have approved a large development in Seagrove Beach because the land was zoned only for residential purposes.
Circuit Judge W. Howard Laporte has issued that ruling after reviewing a lawsuit filed by several Seagrove Beach residents opposed to Naturewalk Beach Club.
"We prevailed and the judge agreed with our position," said attorney Gary Vorbeck. "Our clients are happy that the judge recognized the issues and problems with the development."
In April 2007, county commissioners approved the project, which was an extension of NatureWalk at Seagrove. The 155-acre subdivision is located on Walton County Road 395, about two miles north of Seagrove Villas.
The plan involved tearing down Seagrove Villas and replacing them with 18 condominiums, a restaurant, underground parking and a private beach club for NatureWalk homeowners and their guests.
However, many nearby residents said it was too large, did not fit in with the surrounding area and would cause overcrowding at the beaches.
In May 2007, several residents sued the county and Seagrove at the Beach LLC, which owns the property.
Vorbeck said in an e-mail that the residents believed the project "was not in compliance with the Walton County Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
LaPorte agreed. He ruled last week that Walton County did not follow its own laws when it approved the project.
Attorneys for the county were not available for comment.
George R. Miller, an attorney representing Seagrove at the Beach LLC, said he had not read the order, but knew what it said.
"(The order) is contrary to what we argued and we respectfully disagree," said Miller, who added that Seagrove at the Beach had likely "put their options on hold because there are not many options" in the current economic climate.
He said he did not know if an appeal is planned.