St. Joe's airport breaks ground May 2006

My recommendation would be to extend the current runways. It won't be nearly as expensive and would be on land already degraded.

A majority of Bay County residents voted against the new airport, but that didn't counteract the power of St. Joe.

Interestingly, the Bay County Property Appraiser's website shows that in 2001 St. Joe sold 73 acres to BH & B, Inc. for $165,100 on 4-01-2002. In 2004 this property (parcel number 05932-030-000) was sold for $1,100,100.

What is BH & B? If you check the Florida Division of Corporations, the officers are Bill Hutto, the former city attorney, Charles Bodiford, chairman of the Bay County Planning and Zoning Board, and Larry Bodiford, a judge.

Also check out parcel number 11893-020-000, which appears to show the generosity of St. Joe to BH & B. Or check out parcel number 11740-020-000,which is owned by Bay County's own Property Appraiser, Rick Barnett. While land around this latter parcel were going for $250,000 an acre, Rick managed to purchase 2.4 acres for $21,400.

I realize that the population in this area is going to rise dramatically. We need long term planning. I just don't like it when the public is ignored in favor of a private company.

This is serious -- or at least eyebrow-raising -- information. I hope it has not been saved for discussion among like-minded people and message boards. I hope that someone has tried to bring it to the attention of people that matter.

By people that matter, I mean folks in Tallahassee (who will likely ignore it unless a stink is made) and the media, which can make a stink. There may be individual reporters in the Panhandle who are worth their salt, but the newspapers in general are fairly useless. Personally, if it were me and I were concerned about major ethics violations by my local government officials I would forward this info to the St. Petersburg Times, which just completed a two-part series on Florida wetlands permitting and has also written many lengthy stories about Panhandle development issues. They do a good job covering major scandals or stories from around the state and are always interested in environmental issues. Three options for you:

Robert Trigeaux, business columnist, has written about St. Joe. Trigeaux@sptimes.com

Craig Pittman, environmental reporter. He wrote the wetlands stories which included a brief reference to the airport, and has written about St. Joe in the past. craig@sptimes.com

Lucy Morgan, legendary Tallahassee reporter, knows everybody: morgan@sptimes.com

Pittman might be your best bet.

Meantime, I still think the airport makes sense in the long term. I think that big companies can do a lot of good but get disgusted with the inside dealing/political crap. The only thing I don't have much understanding of is the wetlands issue and how it relates to that particular airport land.

Meantime, pass the popcorn. :popcorn:

And far more expensive

Why do you think that? PNS I can get a rt for about 220-250 and VPS is around 275-350

Why do you think that? PNS I can get a rt for about 220-250 and VPS is around 275-350

That's almost the exact rates for us to fly from O'hare. But I actually like flying in to P'cola and then shop at local boutiques, art galleries, etc. Much more to offer than PC. If you search around or know the area, you can find the good stuff and totally bypass the chain stores.

Why do you think that? PNS I can get a rt for about 220-250 and VPS is around 275-350

I would say VPS costing more than PNS has something to do with its proximity to SoWal (and the big bucks). I suspect once St Joe Airport opens one will be paying a premium price to fly into there compared to the other two.

I'd guess three factors:

1. PNS has an actual discount carrier-AirTran. VPS doesn't, and the discount carriers tend to push down overall prices in a market.

2. VPS has some moderate scarcity issues. New routes have to be approved by the Air Force, and only get approved if they don't impact Eglin's primary mission. They generally do approve, but it's a layer of bureaucracity that does discourage new flights on existing routes a bit, keeps capacity a bit down, and leads to higher occupancy rates on more flights (and carriers feeling less like they need to discount to fill seats.)

3. Higher percentage of business travelers than PNS or PCB. If they're getting full fares from enough of those people, then less incentive to discount restriced tickets.

Where is the new airport going to be located?

Where is the new airport going to be located?

On the Northwest side of the bay. Here is a map.

Does anyone know the proposed route of the limited access hwy from the new airport to Watersound north?

Does anyone know the proposed route of the limited access hwy from the new airport to Watersound north?

No, but it may follow the existing jeep trail, unless they cross the Intercoastal Waterway. I think the existing name of that jeep trail is "Side Camp Road."

How will the Watersound north limited access highway to/fro the new airport be limited? Will you have to have a Watersound and/or St. Joe car decal? I too assume it will follow the existing jeep trail. Crossing the intercoastal has been discussed in the past. The permitting and cost makes a bridge over the intercoastal virtually impossible for anyone except St. Joe. I think there will be a bridge over the intercoastal one day, just not in the forseeable future. Sorry for the lack of graphics. I enjoy reading and have never posted.

How will the Watersound north limited access highway to/fro the new airport be limited? Will you have to have a Watersound and/or St. Joe car decal? I too assume it will follow the existing jeep trail. Crossing the intercoastal has been discussed in the past. The permitting and cost makes a bridge over the intercoastal virtually impossible for anyone except St. Joe. I think there will be a bridge over the intercoastal one day, just not in the forseeable future. Sorry for the lack of graphics. I enjoy reading and have never posted.

No graphic required....welcome aboard! Post often!

How will the Watersound north limited access highway to/fro the new airport be limited? Will you have to have a Watersound and/or St. Joe car decal? I too assume it will follow the existing jeep trail. Crossing the intercoastal has been discussed in the past. The permitting and cost makes a bridge over the intercoastal virtually impossible for anyone except St. Joe. I think there will be a bridge over the intercoastal one day, just not in the forseeable future. Sorry for the lack of graphics. I enjoy reading and have never posted.

:welcome:

A lot of people assume it will be done.

I heard that an official announcement will be coming out on the new airport in the next week or so? Does anyone know if this is true or just unfounded rumor? :idontno:

I heard that an official announcement will be coming out on the new airport in the next week or so? Does anyone know if this is true or just unfounded rumor? :idontno:

Since the beginning of the year, reports are that the final Yes or No vote will take place sometime in November '05. If approved at this meeting, I have heard that construction could begin as early as Dec '05. Completion is expected late 2008 or early 2009. I have not heard any changes from the aforementioned for a long time.