From Walton Sun
The Miramar Beach access will not be repaired in time for the 2006 tourist season.
The access cannot be replaced until the county?s beach nourishment project has been completed, explained Kriss Titus, Director of the Walton County Tourist Development Council.
The park?s 70-space parking lot and dune walkovers were destroyed after Hurricane Dennis in 2005, the second time in about a year. Hurricane Ivan did similar damage in 2004.
In addition to updating the storm water drainage system at the park, the county is designing a new parking lot elevated on pilings. In the event of sand erosion during a storm, the parking lot will remain intact, explained Brad Pickel, director of beach management for the TDC.
However, the TDC cannot obtain construction permits until the beach nourishment project is complete.
?It requires us to go through the entire permitting process because it?s a new structure,? Pickel said.
Beachfront eatery Pompano Joe?s owns roughly 10 percent of the parking lot.
?It will certainly affect (business) this summer. Ideally, we?d prefer to have it prepared before this summer,? John Comer, president of Southern Restaurant Group, which owns Pompano Joe?s. ?(But) we can?t continue to rebuild this access after the passage of every storm.?
Beginning Jan. 23, the nourishment project will move westward from Topsail Hill State Preserve to Henderson State Park. Miramar?s access should be completed no later than next summer, Pickel said.
?This summer, things will be a little congested. We?ll just have to work hard and get through until it will be smooth sailing,? Comer said.
The Miramar Beach access will not be repaired in time for the 2006 tourist season.
The access cannot be replaced until the county?s beach nourishment project has been completed, explained Kriss Titus, Director of the Walton County Tourist Development Council.
The park?s 70-space parking lot and dune walkovers were destroyed after Hurricane Dennis in 2005, the second time in about a year. Hurricane Ivan did similar damage in 2004.
In addition to updating the storm water drainage system at the park, the county is designing a new parking lot elevated on pilings. In the event of sand erosion during a storm, the parking lot will remain intact, explained Brad Pickel, director of beach management for the TDC.
However, the TDC cannot obtain construction permits until the beach nourishment project is complete.
?It requires us to go through the entire permitting process because it?s a new structure,? Pickel said.
Beachfront eatery Pompano Joe?s owns roughly 10 percent of the parking lot.
?It will certainly affect (business) this summer. Ideally, we?d prefer to have it prepared before this summer,? John Comer, president of Southern Restaurant Group, which owns Pompano Joe?s. ?(But) we can?t continue to rebuild this access after the passage of every storm.?
Beginning Jan. 23, the nourishment project will move westward from Topsail Hill State Preserve to Henderson State Park. Miramar?s access should be completed no later than next summer, Pickel said.
?This summer, things will be a little congested. We?ll just have to work hard and get through until it will be smooth sailing,? Comer said.