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soappedaler

Beach Fanatic
Feb 21, 2006
427
121
Cypress Lake update: We need Funding

Attorneys for Beach to Bay Connection Inc. and South Walton Community Council filed a lawsuit against Walton County and Ashwood Development on January 10, 2018. Both are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, thus all donations are tax deductible.

Beach to Bay Connection Inc. is involved due to the failure of the PUD to provide minimum buffer requirements adjacent to Topsail Preserve’s east and southern borders. The density and intensity of the development will adversely impact Topsail Preserve, one of Florida’s most environmentally biodiverse and sensitive ecosystems.

Several ways to donate:

Go to www.letitbeforest.com and donate through PayPal. Donate button is on the top of the opening page. This is the information website for Beach to Bay Connection, we also have a Facebook page let it be forest.

Mail donations to:

Beach to Bay Connection
412 Hilltop Dr
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

For more information or other ways to donate call 850-267-2227


Basis of the Lawsuit: Inconsistencies of the Cypress Lake PUD Development order with Walton Counties Comprehensive plan

PUDs are supposed to promote innovative planning and are allowed deviations to the land development code based on benefits to the public; they must be compatible with the surrounding area. The Cypress Lake PUD does not promote innovative planning, has no public benefits, and is not compatible with the densities and intensities of existing development and environmental conditions in the surrounding areas. It exceeds the maximum density and intensity standards allowed for a mixed-use project on Neighborhood Infill land.

Walton County approved 125 single-family and duplex townhomes 16 residential condominium units and 53,000 square feet of office restaurant and commercial use on 22.36 acres.

Mixed-use developments are supposed to calculate density and intensity based on the proportion of the land used for each purpose, residential or nonresidential uses. The developer has calculated residential density using 100% of the 22.36 acres as residential development. It also uses 100% of the acreage to calculate intensity, the commercial part. This is “double dipping” the land use, using it twice for calculating land use.

The real density is 12.98 units per acre. The proportion of residential land use for Cypress Lake is 9.63 acres of the total 22.36 acres, therefore the project density is 12.98 units per acre, not the 6.3 units calculated by the developer. Neighborhood infill land use category allows for 8 units per acre thus Cypress Lake exceeds residential density.

The Project is inconsistent with the much lower density developments to the east and south, and Topsail Preserve to the west and north. Estimating from county maps nearby neighborhoods are much less dense, Beachview Heights appears to be about 2 units per acre, Flamingo Village/Emerald Walk 3 units per acre, and Cypress Dunes 6 units per acre. Cypress lake at 12. 98 units per acre, and commercial, is incompatible.

Cypress Lake PUD Fails to Provide the Required CR 30A Scenic Corridor Setback

Not only does the developer fail to provide the required 20-foot scenic corridor set back they locate 80 parking spaces and turn lanes within this area.

Cypress Lake PUD Buffers incorrect and does not provide residential sidewalks.

Cypress Lake PUD has 10 foot buffers. The buffers should be 25 feet on the North and West where it abuts Topsail Preserve. They should be 20 feet on the east and south where it abuts low-density single family residences.

Neighborhood Infill parcels within the CR 30A Scenic Corridor are supposed to have sidewalks on both sides of residential streets, Cypress Lake does not have this.

Additionally, the county failed to advertise, process and review the Cypress Lake PUD correctly.

Thank you for your support

Beach to Bay Connection 501(c)(3) Registration #: CH7087

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTANED FROM THE DIVISION OFCONSUMERSERVICES BYCALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHINTHE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
 

Danny Glidewell

Beach Fanatic
Mar 26, 2008
725
914
Glendale
HAD ENOUGH?

For years Walton County citizens have been ignored and their interests subverted by those who have been elected to promote and protect them in favor of special interests and the elites who fund campaigns. North Walton citizens are ignored, and South Walton citizen’s rights are trampled, all to make a chosen few a few dollars more.

Cypress Lakes is the poster child for this problem. The deviations are granted to allow more density which allows developers to make a few dollars more and the same applies to allowing the developer to build the roads far smaller than the code. Allowing building in the right-of-way is a way to build landscaping without using the developer’s property and creates huge issues for Public Works in the future. These kinds of decisions have been the norm in Walton County for too long and create problems for our citizens that harm their quality of life and drain our available tax dollars that could be used to encourage economic diversity and development throughout the county. The current path is not sustainable, and we must stop creating future problems.

It is time to make decisions that are in the best interests of the everyday residents of Walton County instead of the elite and connected.
 

soappedaler

Beach Fanatic
Feb 21, 2006
427
121
Thank you Danny for voting against Cypress Lake at the planning commission meeting. Also thanks to Commissioner Melanie Nipper for voting against Cypress Lake at the BCC meeting. We need our leaders who understand and follow the Comprehensive plan and Land Development Code.
 

lazin&drinkin

Beach Lover
Apr 13, 2010
174
154
HAD ENOUGH?

For years Walton County citizens have been ignored and their interests subverted by those who have been elected to promote and protect them in favor of special interests and the elites who fund campaigns. North Walton citizens are ignored, and South Walton citizen’s rights are trampled, all to make a chosen few a few dollars more.

Cypress Lakes is the poster child for this problem. The deviations are granted to allow more density which allows developers to make a few dollars more and the same applies to allowing the developer to build the roads far smaller than the code. Allowing building in the right-of-way is a way to build landscaping without using the developer’s property and creates huge issues for Public Works in the future. These kinds of decisions have been the norm in Walton County for too long and create problems for our citizens that harm their quality of life and drain our available tax dollars that could be used to encourage economic diversity and development throughout the county. The current path is not sustainable, and we must stop creating future problems.

It is time to make decisions that are in the best interests of the everyday residents of Walton County instead of the elite and connected.

We can expect that come primary Election Day, Cecilia's enabler whose name rhymes with Rue will have showered her with money and found 2 or 3 people to file for the seat she unfortunately holds and for which we have a great--not good--great, candidate in Danny Glidewell. Danny's post above and his votes on Planning are ample evidence that we need him and more like him on the BCC. He and Melanie are two good people who can be counted on to vote for the interests of the citizenry, not the developers and their bag men.

Don't just post on here about this. Get out and talk to people, make a campaign donation, do all you can to can to help make Walton County government work fairly for all of us. Danny is deserving of our help, and we need him on the BCC. Time for Cecelia to find another way to grow her net worth.
 

soappedaler

Beach Fanatic
Feb 21, 2006
427
121
Make your tax deductible donation to the Cypress Lake legal defense fund. Beach to Bay Connection and South Walton Community Council are suing Walton County and Ashwood Development send a check to:
Beach to Bay Connection
412 Hilltop Dr
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Or donate through PayPal
Www.letitbeforest.com
Call 850-267-2227 for more information
 

soappedaler

Beach Fanatic
Feb 21, 2006
427
121
Cypress Lake Lawsuit update 9/9/18


Beach to Bay Connection, Inc and South Walton Community Council’s lawsuit against Walton County and Ashwood Development moves forward. The Project is located on the west end of 30A, across from Emerald Walk (Flamingo Village). It borders Topsail Preserve on two sides.


Why a lawsuit? In Dec 2017 the Walton County BCC approved 4-1 the Cypress Lake Development, Melanie Nipper was the No Vote. Violations of the Comprehensive plan are:

1. The density is twice that of the surrounding neighborhoods and is more than the comprehensive plan allows. The commercial square footage is calculated using the same acreage that was used to calculate residential density. For calculations purposes the land is counted twice. It’s very confusing and likely was meant to be.

2. Buffers on adjacent environmentally sensitive lands are 10 ft. instead of the required 25 ft.

3. Buffers to adjacent property are 10 feet instead of the required 20 feet.

4. Scenic corridor buffers are ignored.

5. No sidewalks in the development as required by comprehensive plan.


We have excellent attorneys and need to hire expert witnesses.

Depositions are set for end of September and trial dates for Nov 8-9, 12-13.



This will be a landmark case for future development in South Walton. The Walton County Board of County Commissioners and Planning Department must follow the law.


PLEASE DONATE to Beach to Bay Connection for these legal fees.

Beach to Bay Connection Inc. is a 501(c)(3) so your contribution is TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

Mail Checks to:


Beach to Bay Connection

412 Hilltop Dr.

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459


Questions or for check pick-up info@letitbeforest.com 850-267-2227.

Donate through PayPal at www.letitbeforest.com


Celeste Cobena

Beach to Bay Connection, Inc.


Beach to Bay Connection 501(c)(3) Registration #CH7087

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAYBE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVDION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLLE-FREE (800-435-7352) WITH INTHE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
 
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