Nature Walk Beach Club and retail development NOT approved yet!! There is still time!
The development
Nature Walk purchased the Old Seagrove Motel Beach front property. If approved, it will include 20 gulf front condos, retails shops with minimal parking and a Beach Club with beach service, pool, alcohol etc.. The Beach Club was added in an effort to help sell the 500+ lots in Nature Walk subdivision. Anyone that is an owner in Nature Walk will be a member of the club. They are projecting that they will shuttle bus 2500 people in per day during high season. The Seagrove Motel at full capacity was 200 people per day.
The Problems
If this Beach Club is approved, it will set the standard for all developers to be able to buy a parcel of beach front property (not designated as residential) and build a beach club on it for their development regardless of the location of their subdivision. This is not just a Seagrove problem-- This is a 30-A problem. If approved, these "beach clubs" will start popping up all over 30-A whenever the right parcel is for sale.
Walton County does not have the manpower or infrastructure in place to support all the traffic, illegal parking, beach clean up and patrol required to support this many people in such a concentrated area. That is why Walton has so many public beach accesses in place. To keep people and cars spread out. Walton also has a 50' height limit on all buildings. That is to prevent the building of high rise condos. Another method of preventing a large number of people in a concentrated area. Busing in 2500 people per day to 340' of beach frontage is just like having a high rise condo!!
Who is going to pay for all the additional support/services that will be required to handle the increased head count? As this will probably cause a decrease in property value and Walton will be forced to decrease property tax, who will bear the burden of the expenses? It is clear that one piece of property//beach club itself will not generate enough revenue to cover all the expenses it creates the county and us. What if the developer has a subdivision in another county and only has to pay taxes on one small piece of property?? Are we talking decrease in property value and increase in property tax?
Everyone has the right to enjoy and use the beach but I doubt that everyone in Nature Walk would end up in the exact same area if there was not a beach club to attract them there. But, if it is "their" club, then they will come and all those that do not want to take the shuttle will drive. Imagine all the traffic with the cars and shuttle buses!!
Then there are the beaches. What kind of impact will 2500 people per day have on 340' of beach? Goodbye sea turtles and sea oats. Will dunes ever recover with that kind of traffic? Again.. this will be a 30-A problem ...not just a Seagrove problem.. Greed can cloud peoples better judgement... Beach Clubs will spring up everywhere if just ONE is approved.
Everyone needs to consider the long term impact an approval of the Beach Club will have on all of 30-A. We need to fight to preserve the charm and way of life of this precious area. There are so few coastal areas like ours left. Please help to preserve this area!!
I urge everyone to not only email all the commissioners but to also attend the PUBLIC hearing where the commissioners will decide if they are going to approve the Nature Walk Retail and Beach Club development. I beleive the meeting date is Jan 24th. You can verify this on the Walton.gov site.
Below are the commissioners email address. Please ask them to deny at minimum the approval of the Beach CLub.
meacindy@co.walton.fl.us
brascott@co.walton.fl.us
prikenneth@co.walton.fl.us
jonlarry@co.walton.fl.us
comsara@co.walton.fl.us
Best and thanks for your support!!!!!!!!
Replies
49
Beach Fanatic
S. Joe,I remember the developer offering up lot 5 to Mr. Graham. Would love if it was on tape but you and I heard it. Truely shows how they plan on throwing their weight around. Bribe,Lie and Misrepresent is a developers best friend. I thought his cross armed body language during questioning really spoke volumes about his feeling about listening to the communities concerns. IM me if anyone wants to signour petition against the beachclub.
SoWal Expert
Re: Nature Walk Beach Club & Retail Developement NOT yet approved! THere is still ti
While on the top of NatureWalk Beach Club, doesn't their seawall sit on public property, too? I have no evidence of such, but I was told by a representative of NatureWalk, that it does indeed sit on County property, but it wasn't NatureWalk's problem since it was done prior to their purchase. My understanding is that if they didn't ask the question via something like a property disclosure statement as a part of the transaction, they (NatureWalk), may be liable. If they did ask and were not told about it, they may not be liable. If they did ask and were told, again, they may be liable.
Just thought I would stir the puddin' with some new information.
While on the top of NatureWalk Beach Club, doesn't their seawall sit on public property, too? I have no evidence of such, but I was told by a representative of NatureWalk, that it does indeed sit on County property, but it wasn't NatureWalk's problem since it was done prior to their purchase. My understanding is that if they didn't ask the question via something like a property disclosure statement as a part of the transaction, they (NatureWalk), may be liable. If they did ask and were not told about it, they may not be liable. If they did ask and were told, again, they may be liable.
Just thought I would stir the puddin' with some new information.
Beach Lover
Re: Nature Walk Beach Club & Retail Developement NOT yet approved! THere is still ti
JR...watch out, your financial envy is showing!!!
those above look like atlantic city, somewhere else in jersey, two from europe, and the last one from asia. all looking quite harmonious. hey, if they can do it, surely we can. and you're right smiling joe, where are all thos people parking? maybe those are all robert davis inspired communities, and they all rode their bikes to the beach, while staying for $1000/wk.
JR...watch out, your financial envy is showing!!!
picky
Just as a side note, Cassine Station--condos and ground level mixed use--was also designed by DAG Architects.
Beach Fanatic
Maybe rename the developement NatureShuttle.
Banned
Where's the Sowal'r who started this thread?
Best I can see KATO hasn't been concerned with anything in Sowal since this issue. I don't remember seeing much opposition to the Watersound Beach Club that has no membership limits that I know of and serves 5 times as many potential member opportunities as of today.
Serious question: Was this about public policy of potential overcrowding of Walton County beaches or was this specific to only this project?
Best I can see KATO hasn't been concerned with anything in Sowal since this issue. I don't remember seeing much opposition to the Watersound Beach Club that has no membership limits that I know of and serves 5 times as many potential member opportunities as of today.
Serious question: Was this about public policy of potential overcrowding of Walton County beaches or was this specific to only this project?
SWGB
For one it's a non-issue as Nature Walk is now on the list of abandoned but not forgotten.
Secondly the WaterSound Beach Club was not smack dab in the middle of one of the most congested areas of 30A. I would assume that this person lived or owned property very close to this proposed beach club and was freaking out about having to share a beach with 2500+ people. I've been on the beach in that area and I can't imagine how horrible that would be. Saying it would be like SanDestin is an understatement. Just the trash left by that many people would be disgusting.
Although I am speaking of my own opinion and not that of the OP.
Secondly the WaterSound Beach Club was not smack dab in the middle of one of the most congested areas of 30A. I would assume that this person lived or owned property very close to this proposed beach club and was freaking out about having to share a beach with 2500+ people. I've been on the beach in that area and I can't imagine how horrible that would be. Saying it would be like SanDestin is an understatement. Just the trash left by that many people would be disgusting.
Although I am speaking of my own opinion and not that of the OP.
SoWal Expert
My opposition was because they were trying to break the Walton County Land-use Code (LUC) with this development. Also, because they were trying to dump 600 + guests and owners into an otherwise low density residential neighborhood. Seagrove Motel property is zoned for only four homes, but the current use is only a non-conforming use. According to LUC, if the improved structures on the property are destroyed by more than 50% in value, for whatever reason, and by whatever means, natural or man-made, the use will revert back to the orginal use of one single family home per lot of record (there are only four lots on that property). The developer's plans appear that they would destroy all of the buildings, and then rebuild, thereby not being able to have the non-conforming use of multi-family/commercial, according to WalCo LUC.
Banned
Is there a Public Policy on where to provide access for the eventual masses who are not so fortunate as to live in a gulf front neighborhood?
SoWal Expert
I think the TDC has some guidelines on acquiring public accesses, but not "policy." Eventually, we will need more parking at these regional accesses, but that discussion should probably be started on a new thread.
Beach Fanatic
One thing I've noticed is that a lot of people seem to totally forget about the state parks along or close to 30-A. Yes, they're pay beaches, but if you go there a lot, the annual pass is useable statewide and a very good value, IMO. Topsail Hill is huge, and I don't think I've ever seen more than about ten vehicles in the west parking lot off of 98. Same goes for Deer Lake, which is reportedly a bit more, um, family-friendly, since St. Joe started to develop the area east of there that used to be the nude beach. Have only been to Camp Helen once or twice, but it seems similarly underutilized.
SoWal Expert
Is there anyone who has actually had trouble* finding a way to access the beach? 
I know that a couple of the larger/more utilized accesses sometimes have folks parking along the road on peak days, but in general I've never heard of an actual problem.
*Trouble does not include having to walk several hundred feet OR issues because you used a private access or non-public parking space to access the beach.
I know that a couple of the larger/more utilized accesses sometimes have folks parking along the road on peak days, but in general I've never heard of an actual problem.
*Trouble does not include having to walk several hundred feet OR issues because you used a private access or non-public parking space to access the beach.
needs to get out more
what is the reasoning for reviving this thread 22 mos later to ask about a long gone poster?
Banned
I think the TDC has some guidelines on acquiring public accesses, but not "policy." Eventually, we will need more parking at these regional accesses, but that discussion should probably be started on a new thread.
The opposition to this particular DO seems to smack of hipocrisy. I'm not looking for an argument, but probably diserve it if I get one on this. I know hypocrisy comes across as a bad word. I don't know the Developer of the parcel except that I think his firm hosted Mayor Giuliani at the function we attended.
Does anyone responding to this thread know how many folks from Draper Lake or Forrest Lakes or Seacrest Beach or Watersound North or Watercolor Phase IV or Treetps etc, etc. etc. have deeded access to the Beach and use only small access easements or outparcels.
Banned
what is the reasoning for reviving this thread 22 mos later to ask about a long gone poster?
I believe time usually makes things a lot more clear and can tell "The rest of the story"
Beach Lover
What is the status of Naturewalk CDD? If the developer doesn't pay the assessments, but still technically controls the CDD, where does that leave things? At some point, the bondholders are going to get a little miffed.
Beach Fanatic
For one it's a non-issue as Nature Walk is now on the list of abandoned but not forgotten...and don't forget Hotel Veridian planned for that same congested intersection!!!!! What a mess it would be, more like Destin in high season even in off season.
Secondly the WaterSound Beach Club was not smack dab in the middle of one of the most congested areas of 30A. I would assume that this person lived or owned property very close to this proposed beach club and was freaking out about having to share a beach with 2500+ people. I've been on the beach in that area and I can't imagine how horrible that would be. Saying it would be like SanDestin is an understatement. Just the trash left by that many people would be disgusting.
Although I am speaking of my own opinion and not that of the OP.
Meow
Perhaps Nature Walk coud now become a nature walk with paved streets? Bad idea from the conception, IMO.
Banned
I like the bridge at the entry. Maybe vacant lots would be 85,000 today.
SoWal Expert
All of the sales agents for Nature Walk also liked the bridge. A visitor might believe the bridge was the best thing since Wonder Bread.
Meow
All of the sales agents for Nature Walk also liked the bridge. A visitor might believe the bridge was the best thing since Wonder Bread.
...I took that tour with Mermy. The Bridge, The Bridge, The Bridge to Nowhere!Banned
Are there homes built back there or is that Watercolor?
Beach Fanatic
I think there were a few homes built, don't know what state they were left in. Nature Walk also left a road that could be connected to 30A to ease some of the congestion from the 30A, 395 intersection. 
sj
sjSWGB
Perhaps Nature Walk coud now become a nature walk with paved streets? Bad idea from the conception, IMO.
My understanding is that it already is. Hopefully local teenagers won't figure out how to get in or it'll be blighted real soon. I'm sure anyone who owns in WC IV is thrilled to have this right behind them.
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