The Walton County Technical Review Committee (TRC) July 5, 2023
Dotty Nist
Hidden Pines Townhomes was one of two major projects on the meeting agenda that was advanced in the process by vote of the committee. This is a proposal by Luke Williams for 42 townhomes and infrastructure on 5.79 acres on the west side of Goldsby Road, north of U.S. 98, north of Commercial Parkway and south of Rivercrest Circle in Santa Rosa Beach.
The property is in a Residential future land use area and a Neighborhood Infill zoning district. The site is currently vacant and partially wooded.
Introducing the project, Tim Brown noted that access to the site would be through another property—but that there are two existing easements through that property, one of which the applicants are proposing to utilize.
Brown also brought up that a sidewalk is shown on only one side of the road in the project plans for areas bordering wetland areas on the site. This is along Hidden Pines Drive and Conifer Court, according to the staff report.
He confirmed that there had been discussion with the applicants about, rather than doing a sidewalk buy-out for those sections, having the applicants provide an equivalent amount of multi-use path on the southern portion of the site.
Carpenter confirmed that a minimum ten-foot buffer for private development adjacent to a state forest along the property boundary in addition to applicable setback would be a requirement for the site.
The committee members approved moving the project forward to the next stage, review by the Walton County Planning Commission, on the condition of any outstanding reviewer comments being addressed.
