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I truly cannot relate to this...why someone would move here and want those things?!? Why not just stay where you came from? I'm sure you had all those things there.

Agree. All of these things [PRIVATE beaches, stealing PUBLIC beach accesses, beach CLOSED to kids at dusk, CRAZY traffic all around the 30A area, HUGE political BANNERS right on scenic {?} 30A, RAMPANT development {Thanks Joe} all over the area] only suck for locals. None of this will deter...

Really?!? Heard that this is the site for Alvin's Island in Inlet Beach (?) They're getting us from both ends....Rosemary and Gulf Place

The Walton County Sheriff's Office is suspending beach access, starting Monday night at 7 p.m. (WJHG) Beach Access Suspended

Agree. I think we still have a few more years of "one and done" visitor runout. In the meantime, "repeats" may transition from SFR rental to beachfront communities to ensure beach access

I've done extensive internet searches but haven't found any guidance on what other Florida counties are doing about customary use. In July 2022, Bay County Commissioner Phillip "Griff" Griffitts said....“Don’t come Walton County our Bay County,” This is a customary use argument and this beach...

These golf cart pullover lanes will be used as car passing lanes instead.

This Walmart represents the painful reminder that SoWal is becoming the BIG CITY we moved to get away from :dunno:

Add Deer Lake State Park to this... I've seen cars lined up on the shoulder of 30A waiting to get in.

Disappointing. Guess we're filling the gap with chain retail between Destin and PCB. :cuss:

Yep. I totally get that...."usage of property without permission". Most people would be opposed to that. But frankly I feel there should be a basic understanding that when you buy property on the beach, people are going to be on it. I suspect most people would still buy beachfront property...

Good reference. I missed this one.... HB 1159 Section 70.002 #3...The right to exclude others from your property. That should be SoWal's new motto. This Bill was pass 1 year after HB 631.

It's good to get a different perspective on customary use. You indicate above that "the county can steal private property rights from a citizen". Which private property rights are being stolen?

...and we don't need "expanded access to our beaches", we need more beach.

Probably feel that if they ignore it long enough, it will work itself out eventually, right?!? Active neglect.

Late asking this question....how are other counties addressing these issues? In the midst of the WalCo litigation, HB 631 was signed and put into effect, effectively preempting all but 2 counties with pre-existing Customary Use ordinances (Volusia & St Johns) from adopting or maintaining...

Indian Rocks Beach FL From 2018 article: "But the city of Indian Rocks Beach says their city ordinance that was in effect before state law overrides it. Their law is that all beaches in the city are public. They’ve given the homeowner 24-hours to take down his fence, or else he faces big fines."

Next step....

Would this include the TDC budget also? Would like to see less spending on "Marketing". Not sure that 24% of $62M is necessary to attract visitors. (Although I appreciate the importance of "visitor education")

Posted on: September 5, 2023 Public Notice: 30A Road Closure Clarification CR 30A will be closed later this year for a full bridge construction at Deer Lake near Deer Lake State Park. Walton County is currently in the process of selecting a general contractor for the bridge construction. The...

Maybe this will help...(?) New Golf Cart Law Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law in May that sets strict rules on who can drive golf carts. The new law goes into effect Oct. 1 of this year. It bumps the age requirement to 15. 15-year-olds must have a driver’s permit. People 16 and older...

Need a right-turn lane heading south on Watersound Pkwy on to 30A. Traffic backs up to the new WS Camp Creek entrance on incoming visitors' days.

May not get much traffic on this thread. With stabbings, fights, house break-ins golf cart flips, drownings, rescues .....we're desensitized to visitor behavior.

From $18M to $16M and now $14.9M. Getting closer to my price range! Need to cut another $14M and I may be in by Spring Break!

Excerpt from a good article.... The Secrets of Successful Small Communities Pick and Choose Among Development Projects All development is not created equal. Some development projects will make a community a better place to live, work and visit. Other projects will not. The biggest impediment...

Families come here for the "30A experience". But Destin and Panama City Beach have way more fun and safe activities for teens to keep them busy.

A little night time reading. May also want to keep a copy in your beach bag :hmm: Customary Use Settlement Agreement ...Transitory Uses in Transitory Zones within Beach Parcels owned by a Participating Intervenor by General Public ...huh?!? "The County shall strictly enforce these Conditions...

It's the near future that SoWal will "fill the gap" between Destin and PCB with a line of strip malls, gas stations, and fast food joints. Maybe even a few t-shirt shops, go cart track, and water park. It's unfortunate for some.

This article specifically mentions Santa Rosa Beach, Florida... Rental Market Shift ...but not sure if this is just a generally feeling or true reality (?) Although it seems SoWal is a bit more crowded this summer which may be a reflection of lower rental prices or more rental options. Don't...

"...ordinance, which was in effect from April 1, 2017 until July 1, 2018, represented an unconstitutional temporary “taking” of the counterclaimants’ property without compensation. Payment for damages, attorney fees, and other costs are sought by the property owners in connection with this...

So this is what we've been fighting 5 years for...?!? This settlement could have been reached on "day 2" of the lawsuit. ~80,000 residents in Walton now policed by 1,200 (1.5%) for part-time use of the beach.

Case closed. No arrests made. WaterColor House Party Adkinson said investigators located and spoke with many of the partygoers, records showing at least a majority of them minors, to figure out who the original perpetrator was. But he said because there was reportedly no to very little...

For sure. When I walk on the beach in the morning it’s crowded with canopies & chairs but no people….”reserved spots” But I do pay the neighbor's kid to stand in line for me at George's. When he gets to the front, I cut in line.

Who Moved My Stuff?!? I went out to the beach yesterday promptly at 7am. I laid out my oversized canopy in the sand then lined up my chairs along the water's edge. I then went back inside to have some coffee and watch the news. After coffee and news, I drove to get breakfast and then took a...

Awesome for sure. But I suspect that short-term landlords may not be too concerned about this if it potentially effects rental income. Active monitoring means you have to address problems (ref spring break). Probably better not to know right?

Did this kick off yesterday... Trial Set for May 16 2023 At a Friday hearing [July 29 2022] County Judge David Green set May 16, 2023, as the start date for a trial that is expected to run eight weeks on a four days per week schedule, according to Ted Borowski, an attorney representing some of...

Yep. Everything is for sale in SoWal. Nothing is permanently protected. Very unfortunate.

Seems that the last (3) County "transportation studies" propose limiting CARS in favor of other forms of micro-mobility...?!? The Mobility Plan also seeks to facilitate development of park-once environments along 30A and Scenic 98 to encourage visitors to the County’s beach communities to park...

Outstanding job!

I think I understand the beach vendor ORDINANCE for beach chair set ups at regional beach accesses where there is a defined area or zone of operation on the specific beach. So I'm looking for clarification re: the following excerpt: ORDINANCE 2022-02 Sec. 22-60. - Beach vendors. (b)(1)...A...

Yesterday..... ...anyone hear about this.... COUNTY ROAD 395 SHUT DOWN BETWEEN 30A AND WATERCOLOR IN SANTA ROSA BEACH Walton County Sheriff's Office is on scene of a traffic crash involving a vehicle versus pedestrian near the intersection of County Road 395 and Forest Drive Initial reports...

Good resource from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission [MyFWC.com] on how to "respect the beach". All visitors should get a copy of this material upon arrival to their rental. Be a Beach Hero Welcome to the Neighborhood... From sea oats to shorebirds, the beach is a diverse...

Congrats to the commissioners for taking "a step". Unfortunately, we still have to rely on the golf cart driver to use them. :dunno: Golf Cart Pull Over Lanes The board is looking at several different locations on 30A that could benefit including Deer Lake, Grayton Beach, and The Hub...

"Sign pollution" seems to becoming more of an unsightly issue (realtor signs, no parking signs etc) in general. I know that many community CC&Rs have guidelines re: realtor signs. Seems like something similar could be adopted county-wide (?). Also with No Parking signs. I understand the...

No law, but there is an ordinance... Local Florida friendly landscaping ordinance Whew. I'm feeling really good now about my all native landscape...replanted longleaf pines, Choctawhatchee sand pines, fakahatchee grass, saw palmettos, beautyberry, and of course muhly grass. No watering...

Very discouraging. St Joe still has a lot of undeveloped land north of Hwy 98 (blue). They'll want more roads to 30A as their development progresses.....

Excerpt from Ecology of a Cracker Childhood... Clearcut If you clear a forest, you’d better pray continuously. While you’re pushing a road through and rigging the cables and moving between trees on the dozer, you’d better be talking to God. While you’re cruising timber and marking trees with a...

PRIDE * PERSERVATION * CONSERVATION ?!?.... not a lot of that happening (e.g. connector road)

This is true! Who do the Commissioners really serve?!? It's more apparent that it's NOT local citizens.

FWC About Lighting Pollution The effects of night lighting on wildlife have been known for hundreds, even thousands, of years. Hunters and fishers have used torches, lamps, and other light sources to attract their quarry to them, so powerful is the effect of light on some species. Gas-lit...