Cypress Dunes & Breeze questions.....

Mrs SkunkApe and I went and looked at some property in Cyrpess Dunes. It is in a great spot near 98, has a flank protected by state land and seems to also be protected from endless building of retail shops as is the norm in other places. My impression was beach access would be coming. If no direct access to the beach is the price to pay to prevent big houses from being built on the cusp of the dunes, I am all for it.

It would be perfect with a walkover and that huge setback. I figure that people will find their way down to the beach through the park and over the dunes.

It would be perfect with a walkover and that huge setback.

There is already a footpath along the eastern fence line.

1) Cypress Breeze- seems to be alot (no pun intended) for sale in there, and they have been working on that crazy pool for 2 years. Any take on what's going on?

2) Cypress Dunes- if I understand this, you can SEE the beach, but cant
walk to the beach- you have to go back out on 30A and go to the state park? I would think this would not be desireable. Why not buy further inland for less $$$?

1) Cypress breeze looks completely barren to me - I cannot believe how they were allowed to completely (at least seemingly) remove so many trees. Tragic decision as the development looks completely uninteresting to me - and that pool (aie aie aie - awful!)

2) Cypress Dunes on the other hand is much more attractive, much better care seems to be taken with both landscape and architecture and is obviously more favorably sited and as SJ stated, there is a way to the beach!

1) Cypress breeze looks completely barren to me - I cannot believe how they were allowed to completely (at least seemingly) remove so many trees. Tragic decision as the development looks completely uninteresting to me - and that pool (aie aie aie - awful!)

2) Cypress Dunes on the other hand is much more attractive, much better care seems to be taken with both landscape and architecture and is obviously more favorably sited and as SJ stated, there is a way to the beach!

Illegaly and damaging to the dune system!




Dont make me pull out my naughty hat. You will not like stepping on rusty tacks.

2) Cypress Dunes on the other hand is much more attractive, much better care seems to be taken with both landscape and architecture and is obviously more favorably sited and as SJ stated, there is a way to the beach!

the developer, john willis, has had this as an issue from the getgo, and has probably suffered some sales because of it. concerned locals will need to be diligent, keeping the developer and the new property owners up to task regarding the use of the dunes as access.

jr

Illegaly and damaging to the dune system!




Dont make me pull out my naughty hat. You will not like stepping on rusty tacks.

yikes - i did not realize it was illegal....have not been there so did not know it was so.....terrible!

yikes - i did not realize it was illegal....have not been there so did not know it was so.....terrible!

Every step on the dunes causes sand to loosen. Every bucket that kids dig out them removes sand.

9 out 10 deaths in hurricanes are due to the storm surge. The 2 biggest defenses against storm surge are continuous high dunes and the beach shelf.

20 steps and 1 bucket of sand doesn't seem like much but multiply that by 50,000 or 5 million. Our dunes suffered tremendous damage last year from the storms. Experts are trying to figure out how to repair them or at least hold onto what we have left. Many of us who own here are paying high assessments to try to save our dunes.

Don't walk on the dunes or let your kids play on them. Tell people to get off the dunes if you see them on them.

We'll love you for it!

Developers have plunked communities down tantalizingly close--but with no access--to the beach, and then advertised them as "X steps to the azure gulf waters." Developers only need to get their profits and get out of town--it's not their problem as to how people get to that beach, nor do they care. Given that the majority of homes/condos in the area are vacation rentals, trying to keep a weekly parade of "changing residents and the kiddies and pets they love" off the dunes will be impossible.

So there does not seem to be a concrete (or hardy plank) answer from the developer- they say they are "working on a solution" but If I understand
what is mentioned above, you cannot legally get to the beach from there?

I agree re Cypress Dunes- was that clear cut or was the land mostly tree-less to begin with?

Look at both developments with Google Earth. The reason both have the name "Cypress", is most likely that they are both directly adjacent wetlands. If you have cypress trees, you have the moist ground.

Every step on the dunes causes sand to loosen. Every bucket that kids dig out them removes sand.

9 out 10 deaths in hurricanes are due to the storm surge. The 2 biggest defenses against storm surge are continuous high dunes and the beach shelf.

20 steps and 1 bucket of sand doesn't seem like much but multiply that by 50,000 or 5 million. Our dunes suffered tremendous damage last year from the storms. Experts are trying to figure out how to repair them or at least hold onto what we have left. Many of us who own here are paying high assessments to try to save our dunes.

Don't walk on the dunes or let your kids play on them. Tell people to get off the dunes if you see them on them.

We'll love you for it!

Agreed, agreed and agreed - I certainly do my part with my kids and hope others do too. It is one of our most valuable resources and the reason our landscape along beaches are so unique and beautiful. I live here full time and am as committed as I can be to their preservation!

not illegal here yet, but should be. too much land to enforce.

http://www.moabutah.com/Resources/cryptobioticsoil.php


jr

Agreed, agreed and agreed - I certainly do my part with my kids and hope others do too. It is one of our most valuable resources and the reason our landscape along beaches are so unique and beautiful. I live here full time and am as committed as I can be to their preservation!

:clap_1: ...and I will be returning in April to help educate those who may have not gotten the message. I was thinking there should be a flyer to hand out to uneducated parents, but guess where those would end up????

:clap_1: ...and I will be returning in April to help educate those who may have not gotten the message. I was thinking there should be a flyer to hand out to uneducated parents, but guess where those would end up????

Agreed - great idea - we find a way to educate all about the dangers of swimming and have a flag system to further clarify. A flyer about the importance of preserving dunes would be instructive as I imagine that as obvious it may be to those of us here who are somewhat ecologically minded, to many people they may just not know any better and would welcome such instruction. Others would trash and ignore and we would touch some....

Alot of great info and discussion, but to my original question....how do you
legally get to the beach from a Cypress Dunes home?

You don't.

Alot of great info and discussion, but to my original question....how do you
legally get to the beach from a Cypress Dunes home?

Leave the subdivision and go to the nearest public beach access.

Leave the subdivision and go to the nearest public beach access.

...but you better walk, take your bike or scooter, because the closest public access has only 4 parking spaces and one is a handi-capped. From the western most lot in Cypress Dunes, one would have to drive about 1.5 miles to the closest public beach access.

Just coicidence, but ran into someone yesterday with a lot in C Dunes, up against a 10 mo. build out date (can you say "caught flipping?)...never intended to build. Price dropped to $275,000. This would have never happened over the past 5 years, sure looks like there is going to be some shakeout..... I might be interested in this, I think C Dunes is a very nice
development, but what is point of seeing the beach and not being able to
get to it easily? There is a State Prison just south of Vegas on I-15...reminds of that..must be hell seeing the lights of Vegas and not being able to get over the fence...this reminds me of that. I would think the developer would put in a nice walkover...

Glad to see the mania slowing, hope I can buy into SoWal this year.... :clap_1:

...but you better walk, take your bike or scooter, because the closest public access has only 4 parking spaces and one is a handi-capped. From the western most lot in Cypress Dunes, one would have to drive about 1.5 miles to the closest public beach access.

That's the reason they're putting in the "Flintstone's Waterpark," so you don't have to go to the beach.

That's the reason they're putting in the "Flintstone's Waterpark," so you don't have to go to the beach.

Shelly, you've got your Cypresses backwards....Cypress Breeze has the Flinstones...for Cypress Dunes you need Home Depot bolt cutters for direct beach access.

Shelly, you've got your Cypresses backwards....Cypress Breeze has the Flinstones...for Cypress Dunes you need Home Depot bolt cutters for direct beach access.

Geez...the fun never ends! Next up...Cypress Borders...the new gated and walled development where you have to evade capture by gate guards and tunnel under the highway to get the beach.

Look at both developments with Google Earth. The reason both have the name "Cypress", is most likely that they are both directly adjacent wetlands. If you have cypress trees, you have the moist ground.

Cypress Breeze is 35 feet above sea level. There has never been a storm surge that could come close to flooding the community. Cypress Breeze has a paved bike trail directly to Ed Walline Gulf Front Park which is 5 blocks from Cypress Breeze. The Cypress Stands are protected and occur because of the soil hydrology. The pool is criticised by those interested in high architectural design and beloved by children. The lots are oversized on average, mine is 85 x 150. There are about 200 lots in Cypress Breeze and to date there are about 35 completed homes. There are about 22 homes that are occupied regularly. I don't know how the occupancy rate compares to other beach communities in Sowal. The new Publix on 98 is within 5 miles and Sacred Heart is within about 8 miles. Butler Elementary is within 7 minutes and South Walton High is about 9 minutes. There are 2 gas stations within 3 minutes and 3 churches in 4 minutes. There are at least 5 restaurants within 3 minutes and 10 within 10 minutes.

Homes were about 400,000 then went as high as about 1,000,000. The architectural controls are all over the board. This really is a detraction in my opinion for cohesiveness. The upside to that is that a family looking to build the home they want won't have any trouble doing so. You can buy a brand new 4 bed/3 bath with carriage house home for 399,000. There is much speculation about what the developer will be selling lots for in the future. A person may be able to buy a lot and build a new home for as low as 350,000 in the future with some patience. All the streets are paved and it is a child/family friendly community.

Disclosure: I own a home there and it is not for sale. My mother owns a home there that is for sale. Some people I know bought 6 lots in 2004 for about 170,000 each and asked me to build for them for profit, I advised them to sell all 6 lots for 250,000 immediately and be happy with their return. That's what I did with my first lot. The developer worked with Doodle and Seacrest Beach to complete Seacrest's big pool while Doodle was out of town. I bought in Cypress Breeze because I figured it may be like Seacrest Beach with the proximity to the gulf and the enormous pool. I figure when the market stabilizes lots will eventually reach 250,000. In time Cypress Breeze will fill out to be a great beach community and the HOA will organize and mature. I can hear the waves at the beach from where I am typing and yet we are surrounded by State Forest. It's o.k.

I have detailed maps and know quite a bit about the community.

Lucky Bugger!