30A Trading Company: 7,000 sf Retail in Seagrove Beach

This is on south side of 30A across from Steamboat Grill / Bow Wow Meow.

Q: What is the 30A Trading Company?
A: 30A Trading Company is an upscale coastal outfitter supplying residents and visitors access to high-end lifestyle brands. Gifts, art and jewelry from local artists will also be available at 30A Trading Company.

Q: What kind of access will the public have to the retail store?
A: Located right off the bike path on scenic Highway 30A, patrons will have convenient access off the bike path and also via a parking lot off Dalton Drive. 16 parking spaces are available in the site design and, of course, bike racks will be provided to encourage customers to hop on their bike and visit the store.

Q: What will be housed in the tower portion of the building?
A: The tower will act as storage for the retail store.

Q: What are the proposed hours of operation?
A: The retail store will be open between 8AM and 10PM, 7 days per week.

Q: The parcel of land is zoned for commercial mixed use, but how will 30A Trading Company fit into the landscape of the area?
A: A buffer of native trees and landscaping such as scrub oak and pine trees will provide a lush buffer between the residential portion of Dalton Drive and the building. The site and architectural design of the building complement the coastal style and sophistication of 30A.

Q: What is the Walton County Land Use Category for this parcel of land?
A: The parcel was designated by Walton County as Village Mixed Use (VMU) in 1996.

Q: What types of development is allowed in the VMU land use category?
A: VMU is a commercial land use district and allows a variety of uses including, but not limited to, restaurants, office, retail, limited lodging, etc. The proposed use (an upscale retail store) is significantly less intense use than other uses currently allowed in the VMU land use category.

Q: Are any additional buffering items proposed?
A: A wooden privacy fence is proposed along the eastern property line in addition to the combined 20-foot-wide natural preservation area and landscaping buffer.

Q: What does the Stormwater Management Plan for the proposed project include?
A: The stormwater runoff from this site (and a small area offsite to the east that flows to this site) shall be collected in a stormwater pipe system and will flow to an extensive underground storage and percolation system to be constructed under the parking lot. The underground storage system is designed using a special chamber section that allows for periodic inspection and clean out of collected debris. The system has been designed based on soils testing performed by a licensed geotechnical engineering firm. The Stormwater Management system has been designed to contain all stormwater runoff onsite for up to and including a 25-year return frequency storm. This design exceeds the requirements of the Walton County Land Development Code.

Q: How is access and parking being provided:
A: Access to the property will be provided for pedestrians and bicyclists by way of the shared use path (Timpoochee Trail) along CR 30A. The section of Dalton Drive adjacent to the property will be improved and used to access a paved parking area located to the rear of the proposed building.

This project passed at the planning department meeting last night. It is not compatible with this neighborhood on the south side of 30A. It will go to the BCC next- I'm looking for the date. Please let your commissioners know that this neighborhood doesn't need a beach store. Of course there are already plenty of beach stores selling beach junk in the area. Also, here is yet another project for a single business in a VMU (remember the Hampton Inn?)- where is the mix of businesses?

Looks like something you would see on 98.... IN DESTIN!!!!

Open from 8am-10pm all 7 days of the week, how is that compatible with a quiet residential neighborhood? Most restaurants have shorter hours.

And I severely question their claim that it will be high end, I have seen their other businesses and what they consider attractive and code complaint. That white building will be painted a neon color and have piles of cheap beach gear outside by the Grand Opening.

Smallmart by another name.

Yes, the hours are ridiculous. And will send lots of cars into the neighborhood.

"Village Mixed Use is a category that anticipates large “village” sized parcels of land with a mixture of uses developed to create a community or village effect within the area in which it is located."

I don't see the local community of residents wearing Spring Break Seagrove Beach t-shirts and riding around on mopeds. It's basically a dolled up Snappy Turtle. I like how Maui Waves is convieniently mentioned in lieu of Snappy Turtle.

The same guy owns Maui Waves, Snappy Turtle, St. George Trading Co, and a few others. Here is the SunBiz registered agent search on him.
Search by Officer or Registered Agent

Exactly what zoning regulations are they violating? Not saying I'm into what is being proposed/built, but what are they violating?

Village Mixed Use is suppose to be a mix of residential and commercial. They are getting around that by being slightly smaller than the threshold for that to apply. In other words, a loophole.

Village Mixed Use is suppose to be a mix of residential and commercial. They are getting around that by being slightly smaller than the threshold for that to apply. In other words, a loophole.

The Walton Countly Land Develoment Code, Chapter 2, Page 22, Section 3(b) states, "For parcels less than three acres... this mixed use requirement does not apply."
The parcel in question is 0.6 acres.
0.6 acres / 3.0 acres = 0.2
The parcel is 80% smaller than the threshold requirement for mixed use.

We are sensitive to each of your concerns related to the design of this project and are available to discuss them with you at your convenience.

Please feel free to contact me at our Grayton Beach office at (850) 403-4555 and I'll be happy to arrange a time for us to meet.

Thanks, Neill

I would rather the owner discuss why it took a lawsuit to get the stores to stop selling counterfeit 30A.com merchandise, and why they sells live turtles as souvenirs. There is nothing "upscale" about any of the businesses.

I'm no authority on the land use code, but common sense would indicate that if a parcel was VMU, but too small to reach threshold, and contiguous with residential parcels, then it should revert to residential. This is truly a residential neighborhood, complete with dirt roads and mobile homes and should remain residential.

I would rather the owner discuss why it took a lawsuit to get the stores to stop selling counterfeit 30A.com merchandise, and why they sells live turtles as souvenirs. There is nothing "upscale" about any of the businesses.

The engineer is not responsible for that and is only concerned with complying with laws and regulations.

However the issue is about compatibility with neighborhood which it is not. According to nearby residents.

If the one in Seacrest is any indication and the old "snappy turtle", compatibility with the neighborhood is going to be a major issue. Feel sorry for neighborhood residents.

The engineer is not responsible for that and is only concerned with complying with laws and regulations.

However the issue is about compatibility with neighborhood which it is not. According to nearby residents.

Never asked the engineer to address the issue of a quality business or neighborhood compatibility.

Never asked the engineer to address the issue of a quality business or neighborhood compatibility.

Although the Walton County Land Development Code does not require a compatibility analysis for projects located in the Village Mixed Use land use category, one was requested by the Planning Department and subsequently provided by Sacs and LaSeur, P.A.

The full report is available for review on our website at www.oconnellengineers.com/30atradingcompany

You are welcome to contact me at (850) 403-4555 or Lois LaSeur at (850) 231-0300 if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Neill

My question is, if a parcel labeled VMU is not large enough for the "mixed use" provisions to apply, why would it be eligible for commercial use, rather than reverting to residential use, especially if all contiguous property is residential. Can someone please explain this to me. It just seems like common sense.

My question is, if a parcel labeled VMU is not large enough for the "mixed use" provisions to apply, why would it be eligible for commercial use, rather than reverting to residential use, especially if all contiguous property is residential. Can someone please explain this to me. It just seems like common sense.

I agree. Sadly, common sense has very little to do with Walton County Planning and rules.

It's beginning to look a lot like Destin!