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BlueMtnBeachVagrant

Beach Fanatic
Jun 20, 2005
1,305
386
@30A Skunkape , thanks for the link.

So internally, I’ve wrestled with the idea whether the county should have the authority to shut down private beaches such as Seaside and Rosemary (very dense use of the beach). Fortunately these associations stepped up and did the right thing by self-closing their own beaches anyway. I believe we’re all in support of that as it would be impossible for them to maintain the distancing policy otherwise.

On the other hand, a single gulf front home owner who is in full control of their beach property is on the other end of the density spectrum. Should they be excluded from using their own beach? Absolutely not. Remember the short term rental ban takes care of the multi-family occupation of a single beach home.

So in the ever guiding light of consistency and uniform application of the government heavy’s hand, there must be some other way to achieve the desired result without stepping on ALL private beach front property owners.

Somewhere in the middle is the appropriate answer. It truly is a tough call.

Now, my sincere belief is that the private property owners who filed the FEDERAL suit against the county and the sheriff probably would not have done so considering the seriousness of the pandemic had the county not acted in such bad faith historically speaking in more ways than one. And all the hostility exhibited to private beach owners here and elsewhere doesn’t help.
 

jodiFL

Beach Fanatic
Jul 28, 2007
2,476
733
SOWAL,FL
Well we will see tomorrow how many BFOs are really being good neighbors and taking it seriously when the short term rental ban goes away and they are allowed to let 4/5 families pack themselves into their houses and our lives.....unless our governor does some literal 11th hour announcements.

EDIT: just announced the rental ban extended until 4/30..
 
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FactorFiction

Beach Fanatic
Feb 18, 2016
494
409
@30A Skunkape , thanks for the link.

So internally, I’ve wrestled with the idea whether the county should have the authority to shut down private beaches such as Seaside and Rosemary (very dense use of the beach). Fortunately these associations stepped up and did the right thing by self-closing their own beaches anyway. I believe we’re all in support of that as it would be impossible for them to maintain the distancing policy otherwise.

On the other hand, a single gulf front home owner who is in full control of their beach property is on the other end of the density spectrum. Should they be excluded from using their own beach? Absolutely not. Remember the short term rental ban takes care of the multi-family occupation of a single beach home.

So in the ever guiding light of consistency and uniform application of the government heavy’s hand, there must be some other way to achieve the desired result without stepping on ALL private beach front property owners.

Somewhere in the middle is the appropriate answer. It truly is a tough call.

Now, my sincere belief is that the private property owners who filed the FEDERAL suit against the county and the sheriff probably would not have done so considering the seriousness of the pandemic had the county not acted in such bad faith historically speaking in more ways than one. And all the hostility exhibited to private beach owners here and elsewhere doesn’t help.

Your post goes hand in hand with my long held premise that all BPO beaches are not all the same. Just off the top of my head, we have resort beaches, planned community beaches, neighborhood beaches, condo beaches, and individually owned single home beaches. There are probably others that I haven't even mentioned. The density can vary dramatically from one kind to the next. Creating additional differentiation, there are daily rentals, weekly rentals, monthly rentals, longer term rentals, second homes, and primary homes (including homesteaded) properties.

If people don't like this array of private beach considerations, don't blame the owners because they didn't do this. There has been a long standing practice in Walton County of allowing private beach in all its various forms. It really doesn't matter who likes it or doesn't, the law will ultimately make the determination.
 

Pam Hicks

Beach Lover
Jul 25, 2018
61
62
SRB
Your post goes hand in hand with my long held premise that all BPO beaches are not all the same. Just off the top of my head, we have resort beaches, planned community beaches, neighborhood beaches, condo beaches, and individually owned single home beaches. There are probably others that I haven't even mentioned. The density can vary dramatically from one kind to the next. Creating additional differentiation, there are daily rentals, weekly rentals, monthly rentals, longer term rentals, second homes, and primary homes (including homesteaded) properties.

If people don't like this array of private beach considerations, don't blame the owners because they didn't do this. There has been a long standing practice in Walton County of allowing private beach in all its various forms. It really doesn't matter who likes it or doesn't, the law will ultimately make the determination.
FREE THE BEACH! EVERY GRAIN EVERY INCH!
 

BlueMtnBeachVagrant

Beach Fanatic
Jun 20, 2005
1,305
386
Sure seems that selective enforcement is a hot issue these days. Personally, I think the BCC will have their hands sternly slapped on Monday. They are not the only ones who have gone too far in my opinion...
DOJ: 'Expect action' on government regulation of religious services amid COVID-19 outbreak

If the BCC is so concerned about social distancing, you would think they would have certainly closed the churches as well as private beaches. But they didn’t. The blowback would have been tremendous had they shut down churches.

Yes folks, the BCC thinks it’s OK to pile into a church and have you believe you can stay safe with 6 foot social distancing but you cannot go on your OWN private property OUTSIDE and practice the exact same distancing. Embarrassing.
 

BlueMtnBeachVagrant

Beach Fanatic
Jun 20, 2005
1,305
386
From FB earlier today...

Dave Rauschkolb:
“Yes,. The problem is this lawsuit is coming from on high. They have to win it and they will because the deck is stacked. It will be swift and definitive. Just my prediction. No dragging out this lawsuit for months. Political power has been behind this from the very beginning.”

The U.S. Constitution has nothing to do with it, right? I’m not rich nor politically powerful but when the BCC recently closed private beaches after they already closed public beaches weeks before, I knew it was not legal. And worse, it was very selective, namely going after beach front private property owners - can’t even sit on their OWN property.

Again, nobody is arguing the seriousness of the pandemic. But you can’t throw out the Constitution on a “judgement call”.

Many of you reading probably don’t realize that this suit is a good thing for EVERYONE, except socialists, communists and the like. This pandemic has come and it will go. The Constitution is our ever guiding light and hopefully will be around for a long time. Let’s not support its erosion.
 

Dave Rauschkolb

Beach Fanatic
Jul 13, 2005
1,006
790
Santa Rosa Beach
If you are seeing new rentals showing up at homes near you this is the avenue to take to hold accountable the rental management agency or rental owner breaking the rules. They may lose their license or worse if they are caught. By filling out this form you are doing our Community an important service to us all.

"Executive Order 20-87 orders all parties engaged in rental of vacation rental properties to suspend vacation rental operations. Vacation rentals are prohibited from making new reservations or bookings and shall not accept new guests for check-in for the duration of the order.

If you believe any licensee is operating contrary to the Governor’s Executive Order 20-71 or Executive Order 20-87, please report the information to DBPR using the below form:"


COMPLAINTS REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH EXECUTIVE ORDERS 20-71 AND 20-87 – MyFloridaLicense.com

Screen Shot 2020-04-12 at 7.23.49 AM.png
 

elgordoboy

Beach Fanatic
Feb 9, 2007
2,513
887
I no longer stay in Dune Allen
interesting how claim to be able to identify the bias in another’s words while remaining ignorant to your own histrionic bias. “Massacre” the Constitution? What a ludicrous word to use. Besides, this whole issue is a version of “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
 
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