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By DOTTY NIST
Plans for a third Donut Hole restaurant presented challenges for the Scenic Corridor Design Review Board (DRB). The board met on March 7 at the South Walton Courthouse Annex.
Brent Chandler, owner of the two popular Donut Hole restaurants in Destin and Santa Rosa Beach, has submitted an application for a third Donut Hole in Inlet Beach.
The 6,559-square-foot restaurant would be located on the north side of U.S. 98, at the Wall Street intersection, across from Shades. Chandler and his architect Geoffrey Chick, Jr., presented plans for the proposal to the board members, who are tasked with review of the aesthetics-related components of new developments on the U.S. 98 Scenic Corridor.
The project site is approximately 1.3 acres.
Chick described the architecture of the proposed restaurant as a rural agrarian vernacular. Board members were complimentary about the general appearance of the plans.
On the agenda with the Donut Hole plans was a proposed deviation to allow the use of fiber cement board siding on the lower part of the restaurant building.
However, Mac Carpenter of Walton County Planning noted that the roof pitch displayed on the plans would also require the approval of a deviation from the Scenic Corridor Standards, which specify a slope of no less than 4:12 and no greater than 8:12. A steeper pitch of 12:12 was proposed for the restaurant.
Another issue was a windmill that was depicted on the plans. The Scenic Corridor Standards include as prohibited uses: “Any imitation of natural or manmade features including, but not limited to, mountains, volcanoes, gorges, animals, dinosaurs, windmills, oil derricks, airplanes or any other artificial depiction.” Many of these are items that are often associated with miniature golf courses, which are also prohitited from the Scenic Corridor.
However, Chick argued against the need for approval of a deviation for the windmill, since it would not be an artificial or decorative structure. Not only is the windmill part of the proposal’s agrarian vernacular, he explained, it would house a turbine to generate power for the restaurant.
“This is a windmill that’s being used for a purpose,” he said.
Board Chairman Greg Griffith observed that there is no provision to allow windmills in the Scenic Corridor Standards and that no specifications are provided for board members to review such structures. “You’re forging new territory,” he told the applicants.
Griffith clarified that the board’s purpose was certainly not to impede the economic climate.
Board members expressed concern that allowing this windmill could “open a Pandora’s box” for other applications with windmills not in line with the intent of the Scenic Corridor Standards.
Questioned about the placement of the windmill directly on the corner of the road, Chandler said the location had been decided on in order to catch wind coming up Wall Street from the beach.
Chick maintained that, as a green building feature, the windmill would be allowed by state law and that such law would prevent the design review board from denying permission for the windmill.
Lynn Hoshihara, serving as temporary attorney for the board, agreed to research any restriction on the authority of the board with regard to such a statute.
Approved by the board was the deviation to allow the use of the fiber cement siding. The board members also voted to approve the restaurant plans, subject to the approval of deviations from the code for the roof pitch and windmill, with the deviations to be considered at a future DRB meeting. The applicant was asked to provide at that time a photograph of the type of windmill he intended to use.
The restaurant proposal will also be required to undergo review by the Walton County Planning Commission and the Walton County Board of County Commissioners.
By DOTTY NIST
Plans for a third Donut Hole restaurant presented challenges for the Scenic Corridor Design Review Board (DRB). The board met on March 7 at the South Walton Courthouse Annex.
Brent Chandler, owner of the two popular Donut Hole restaurants in Destin and Santa Rosa Beach, has submitted an application for a third Donut Hole in Inlet Beach.
The 6,559-square-foot restaurant would be located on the north side of U.S. 98, at the Wall Street intersection, across from Shades. Chandler and his architect Geoffrey Chick, Jr., presented plans for the proposal to the board members, who are tasked with review of the aesthetics-related components of new developments on the U.S. 98 Scenic Corridor.
The project site is approximately 1.3 acres.
Chick described the architecture of the proposed restaurant as a rural agrarian vernacular. Board members were complimentary about the general appearance of the plans.
On the agenda with the Donut Hole plans was a proposed deviation to allow the use of fiber cement board siding on the lower part of the restaurant building.
However, Mac Carpenter of Walton County Planning noted that the roof pitch displayed on the plans would also require the approval of a deviation from the Scenic Corridor Standards, which specify a slope of no less than 4:12 and no greater than 8:12. A steeper pitch of 12:12 was proposed for the restaurant.
Another issue was a windmill that was depicted on the plans. The Scenic Corridor Standards include as prohibited uses: “Any imitation of natural or manmade features including, but not limited to, mountains, volcanoes, gorges, animals, dinosaurs, windmills, oil derricks, airplanes or any other artificial depiction.” Many of these are items that are often associated with miniature golf courses, which are also prohitited from the Scenic Corridor.
However, Chick argued against the need for approval of a deviation for the windmill, since it would not be an artificial or decorative structure. Not only is the windmill part of the proposal’s agrarian vernacular, he explained, it would house a turbine to generate power for the restaurant.
“This is a windmill that’s being used for a purpose,” he said.
Board Chairman Greg Griffith observed that there is no provision to allow windmills in the Scenic Corridor Standards and that no specifications are provided for board members to review such structures. “You’re forging new territory,” he told the applicants.
Griffith clarified that the board’s purpose was certainly not to impede the economic climate.
Board members expressed concern that allowing this windmill could “open a Pandora’s box” for other applications with windmills not in line with the intent of the Scenic Corridor Standards.
Questioned about the placement of the windmill directly on the corner of the road, Chandler said the location had been decided on in order to catch wind coming up Wall Street from the beach.
Chick maintained that, as a green building feature, the windmill would be allowed by state law and that such law would prevent the design review board from denying permission for the windmill.
Lynn Hoshihara, serving as temporary attorney for the board, agreed to research any restriction on the authority of the board with regard to such a statute.
Approved by the board was the deviation to allow the use of the fiber cement siding. The board members also voted to approve the restaurant plans, subject to the approval of deviations from the code for the roof pitch and windmill, with the deviations to be considered at a future DRB meeting. The applicant was asked to provide at that time a photograph of the type of windmill he intended to use.
The restaurant proposal will also be required to undergo review by the Walton County Planning Commission and the Walton County Board of County Commissioners.
