Walton County Beach Politics - Customary Use Battleground

[Beauford]

Walton County Politics post:

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO TURN WALTON’s BEACHES INTO A BATTLE GROUND? PART 1.

To our recollection, only in mid 2007 did anyone who owned beachfront property ask recreational beach users to leave the white sandy area of the beach.

An owner in Blue Mountain Beach in the Retreat told beachgoers accessing the beach that they could only stand in the water because the beach was privately owned. This was the first time the Board of County Commissioners encountered this( to our best recollection). A beachgoer decided to test the idea of private beach trespassing by setting up his chair on the Blue Mountain beach where he knew he would be reported for trespassing. Indeed, he was reported and the sheriff’s office, based on our understanding, did arrest him and the case was to go to trial. We never heard the outcome of the case. In fact, it seemed to go away with not much fanfare.

We believe this private beach trespassing issue would have accelerated but for the deep economic recession that occurred in 2008 and continued into 2012.

There was also an oil spill in 2010 that brought about some events that changed the marketing strategies of our Walton beaches. Businesses shuttered their doors, real restate agents left the area for other work, and contractors/builders were either out of work or left the area. House values dropped, in some cases by 50%, and many lost their vacation homes and lots through foreclosure. In 2008, there were 5,000 platted vacant lots on the book. Many of these subdivisions were foreclosed and banks ended up owning devalued real estate up and down the coast. Developments including Alys Beach, Watersound, and NatureWalk, Grande Point, were stopped and sat empty for years.

No one was concerned about removing beachgoers from the white sandy areas. Bringing business, renters, and buyers was the main focus. Everyone shared the beaches and was happy for the business. Vending businesses were few and far between.

British Petroleum (BP) began cash payouts to local governments, businesses, and others affected by the spill. The Tourist Development Council began an immediate marketing campaign well beyond the areas always identified as the target “drive to” markets. Television and other media ads were placed in markets including central Florida, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Kansas, Maryland, and others.

There seemed to be a sense of desperation to get vacationers to the beach. This sense of desperation never seemed to stop, even to this day. Heads in beds was the mantra. Infrastructure was not constructed to accommodate the vacationers. In fact, those developers who had paid into funds to improve roadways, drainage, parks, and bridges saw none of these improvements during the 2008-2012 timeframe. (An example of this is CR 395/30A intersection.)

It’s 2012, the recession is coming to an end and the economy is gearing up again.

Walton Politics has made every effort to be factually correct in recounting events of the past.
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[Beauford]

PART 2 -

Those who have lived in Walton County and experienced the beaches for decades always feared the damage a hurricane could cause. Little did we know that it would not be a hurricane that threatened the economy. It would be the combination of lawsuits, growth, post BP marketing, politics, and the internet that would create the biggest threat ever imagined by the citizens. These events would combine to create the perfect storm that today (2018) looms large over the future of Walton County.
This storm is now known as the fight for customary use.

The Impact of Lawsuits

Walton County adopted a Leave No Trace ordinance. The county ordinance required all items be removed from the beach after sundown. A condominium association in Miramar Beach sued the county because they did not want to remove their volley ball net from the beach each evening. They claimed the land was theirs and therefore not subject to the ordinance. Walton County lost the case and private versus public beach and the government’s right to regulate same became an issue.

Another lawsuit that furthered the private versus public good was the Hemby case. The property owner had purchased a lot on the Oyster Lake outfall and submitted a building permit. The permit was denied by the county because the lot was an outfall. The owners sued the county and prevailed. A home was built and the outfall had to be armored so it could not meander as it had historically done for decades.
The owner also wanted no trespassing signs erected in the outfall. This case drew further attention to private versus public good and other associated issues.

When the county wanted to nourish the west end beaches, beachfront owners would have to sign an “access easement” and the newly created beach area would be public. The majority of the owners would not sign the easements thereby killing the project and funding from the Federal government. A group of beachfront owners formed sometime around 2012-13 to address any issue that was discussed by the Commission pertaining to beach property rights.

Attorneys began to advise owners to protest any and all actions that threatened their beachfront properties. Signs, chairs, barriers and other forms of boundary demarcations began to proliferate on the west end beaches. Another lawsuit was filed pertaining to the issue of the no trespassing signage and the owner’s rights to post boundaries.

Growth

With the recession ending, many foreclosed properties including the 5,000 platted lots were being sold at foreclosed prices. Lots,condominiums, and homes were sold to national home builders, pension funds, hedge funds and
Individuals. Prior to 2012, there had never been a national homebuilder presence in Walton County. Prior to
2008, the price of homes excluded many buyers from living in south Walton especially close to the beach. With the national home builders buying platted lots and entire vacant approved developments, the price of homes allowed more people to purchase in south Walton. Young families moving in began to change the demographics of the area. No one dreamed a new elementary school would be needed in south Walton.
Predictions had been that south Walton would be a second home, retiree, empty nester location.

More people moving to Walton County created greater demand for beach areas, beach parking, and
beach access.

As home values rose, contractors and builders , many new to the area, began to build large homes that could accommodate multiple families and command high rents.

Older smaller homes were demolished and mega houses were built. This generated more rental rooms creating more demand for beach space and access. Walton County Codes provide for the ability to increase densities and build out to setbacks up to 50 feet in height. Many property’s densities have been increased and more condominium projects on small plots of land are being built.