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WaltonIsOne

Beach Lover
Nov 14, 2009
88
40
Walton County, FL
Hey everyone, after the recent defeat of the proposed Certificate of Land Use Compliance Certificate and Short Term rental legislation in the last BCC meeting, it seems that the issue is back in front of the Walton County Planning Commission for consideration. Many of your know this as the Wedding Ordinance.

The measure was voted down as it was not seen as a valuable tool to stop the violations of the noise, parking and disturbing the peace ordinances by visitors to our county who are having wedding events and parties in rental properties.

Once again, all of you who value property rights, property values and the economy of Walton County should consider voicing your opposition to the legislation that will be under discussion at the Planning Commission meeting to be held at the Walton County South Annex this Thursday 5-12-11.

Many Walton County residents and property owners believe that the Sheriff should be enforcing the existing laws on the books, versus taking away property rights that will result in a negative impact on our county's economy.
 

WaltonIsOne

Beach Lover
Nov 14, 2009
88
40
Walton County, FL
Our commission has never saw an ordinance they did not like. If the public balks they will go underground and then try again.

You are so right, especially when an ordinance reduces what a property owner can do with their property, only for the County to later allow the owner to use their property in a way that was previously legal by acquiring a "permit" and paying a fee of $300.

There are thousands of property owners who purchased rental property with certain usage rights and the county is not going to "Grandfather" these current rights into any legislation that prevents rental owners from renting their properties for wedding events.

Walton County Commissioners and the Planning Department have a well documented track record of taking away property rights from property owners without reducing their taxes by an amount that is consistent with the amount of revenues or property value lost as a result of economically damaging legislation.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,732
3,330
Sowal
What do we need to change so that the Sheriff/Code Enforcement CAN actually address the real problem issues?

These wedding houses are becoming more and more of a problem - they are profiting from not following the rules and by infringing on others' property rights.
 
What do we need to change so that the Sheriff/Code Enforcement CAN actually address the real problem issues?

These wedding houses are becoming more and more of a problem - they are profiting from not following the rules and by infringing on others' property rights.

Simply apply the laws already on the books. What good does it do to pass more laws when you will not enforce those already in existence? All you do is harass those who abide by the laws while the lawbreakers thumb their nose and keep right on.
 

WaltonIsOne

Beach Lover
Nov 14, 2009
88
40
Walton County, FL
But exactly HOW? The sense I was getting is that enforcement of existing was not currently possible.

After speaking to property owners who have been offended by the noise, parking and disturbing the peace issues, I was told that the Sheriff's department is often called, a deputy arrives at the scene only to not issue a ticket to the property renters for violating the law. Then the deputy simply drives away from the scene.

The Sheriff has a constitutional duty to enforce the law mandated by the state constitution. That means all laws. The Sheriff technically can not decide which laws to enforce and which ones not to enforce.

County government needs to ensure that the Sheriff has the resources to operate the department in compliance with the law, meaning, all laws are to be enforced.

Then the Sheriff's department needs to start writing tickets to those who violate the noise, parking and disturbing the peace ordinances. Then the judges can further enforce the law by fining the offenders or putting them into jail.

If the Sheriff has the necessary resources and then does not want to enforce these laws, then it is time to ditch the Sheriff we have and place a new Sheriff into the department.

This entire problem goes back to the fact that visitors to our county do not know how to act and violate the law. In this case, the Sheriff must enforce the law.
 
Many Walton County residents and property owners also believe that these wedding houses are a nuisance and disrupt the peace and enjoyment of locals and vistors alike and should be banned.

All of you who value the right to enjoy your own property without that peace being infringed upon by neighbors who care nothing about your rights, should consider voicing your support to the legislation that will be under discussion at the Planning Commission meeting to be held at the Walton County South Annex this Thursday 5-12-11.
 

miznotebook

Beach Fanatic
Jul 8, 2009
962
603
Stone's throw from Inlet Bch
It is always a good idea to attend meetings and provide input, but the Certificate of Land Use Compliance Ordinance that will be going before the planning commission on May 12 is not related to the short-term rentals in residential areas, a.k.a. the "wedding houses." You may remember that the commissioners decided to divide the previous form of the ordinance into two parts, and this is the part dealing with businesses being required to obtain a certificate from the county certifying that they are an allowable use in their land use classification.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,732
3,330
Sowal
I thought part of the problem with enforcement (and this is very general so feel free to correct it) was that violations were "civil" and the Sheriff can only enforce "criminal." Civil has to be a code enforcement issue - and of course they never work when these violations are actually occurring.
 
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