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South Walton Community Council

Community Organization
Jan 17, 2007
270
78
www.southwaltoncc.org
As of yesterday, 5/27/20, DR Horton / David Smith from Innerlight Engineering have requested that the Technical Review meeting for Draper Lake PUD which had been scheduled for June 3rd has been continued until Wednesday, June 17th.

At this point DR Horton / Innerlight Engineering have not re-submitted the revised Draper Lake PUD application to the Walton County Planning Department. We will continue to keep you informed as we learn more.

--------------------------

Please email your views on the project to Mr. Mac Carpenter, Planning & Development Director for Walton County: carmac@co.walton.fl.us. Sample email here.

If you are interested in joining the “Neighborhood Alliance Team”, please contact us. This group includes individuals willing to speak on behalf of their neighborhood, HOA, or the Community at upcoming hearings.

Email us: info@southwaltoncc.org with ideas or questions.

Email signup: Visit SouthWaltonCC.org to "Sign Up for Updates" at the bottom of the home page.

Project webpage: Draper Lake PUD webpage, including background document.

Support the project: Support this initiative by Donating to Draper Lake project. Scroll to bottom of page.

Facebook updates: SWCC Facebook page.

If you know of others who may be affected by this development, please forward this email to them.

Thank You.
 

South Walton Community Council

Community Organization
Jan 17, 2007
270
78
www.southwaltoncc.org
South Walton Community Council needs your support to call in to a zoom meeting this Monday, June 8 from 3:00-6:00.

The Zoom meeting information is:

Link: zoom.us/j/97102058774
Phone: 1 312 626-6799 meeting ID: 971 0205 8774
This is your chance to share your concerns and objections to density, incompatibility with adjacent neighborhoods, and number of variances requested.
Draper Lake is an environmentally sensitive area. There must be no impact to wetlands.

Plan to attend the meeting Your Voice counts and write your objections to: Steven Schoen schstephen@co.walton.fl.us regarding this new submittal.

--------------------------

Email us: info@southwaltoncc.org with ideas or questions.

Email signup: Visit SouthWaltonCC.org to "Sign Up for Updates" at the bottom of the home page.

Project webpage: Draper Lake PUD webpage, including background document.

Support the project: Support this initiative by Donating to Draper Lake project. Scroll to bottom of page.

Facebook updates: SWCC Facebook page.

If you know of others who may be affected by this development, please forward this email to them.

Thank You.
 

South Walton Community Council

Community Organization
Jan 17, 2007
270
78
www.southwaltoncc.org
Walton County Planning staff has requested a continuance of the Draper Lake project review to the July 15, 2020 Technical Review Committee Meeting. The Draper Lake project will not be discussed in tomorrow's (June 17) TRC Meeting.

Any objections to this project can be sent to Stephen Schoen at schstephen@co.walton.fl.us

By way of background, the Walton County Technical Review Committee (TRC) provides initial review of technical details on a project after it is submitted. Members review the plans, then submit their comments or concerns for discussion at the meeting. Then a vote is taken as to whether the project is ready to move forward to the next step, or if it needs substantial changes and is to come back to the TRC for re-review.

The following members make up the Committee: Mac Carpenter, Stephen Schoen, Kristen Shell and the following representatives:

1. Dewberry Representative

2. Emergency Management Representative

3. Health Department Representative

4. Mosquito Control Representative

5. North Walton Fire Representative

6. Public Works Representative

7. South Walton Fire Representative

More information on zoom and phone in numbers will be provided for the July 15 meeting when it becomes available.

--------------------------

Email us: info@southwaltoncc.org with ideas or questions.

Email signup: Visit SouthWaltonCC.org to "Sign Up for Updates" at the bottom of the home page.

Project webpage: Draper Lake PUD webpage, including background document.

Support the project: Support this initiative by Donating to Draper Lake project. Scroll to bottom of the webpage for donation form.

Facebook updates: SWCC Facebook page.

If you know of others who may be affected by this development, please forward this email to them.

Thank You.
 

Duchess

Beach Lover
Sep 11, 2005
118
59
Blue Mountain Beach/Reynoldstown
Good grief! How many times are they going to reschedule this? I hope this is a sign that they are re-evaluating their project,
but I have nothing to support that. Let's keep up on this so we can continue to show our disapproval of this proposed development.
 

South Walton Community Council

Community Organization
Jan 17, 2007
270
78
www.southwaltoncc.org
The Walton County Technical Review Committee meeting on the Draper Lake project review has been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2020.

Please visit the SWCC Draper Lake webpage for the latest documents related to the project, including:

  • Walton County Continuance Memo
  • Technical Review Committee Staff Report dated July 15
  • Coastal Dunes Lakes Advisory Board letter

Any objections or comments about this project can be sent to Stephen Schoen at schstephen@co.walton.fl.us

--------------------------

By way of background, the Technical Review Committee (TRC) provides an initial review of the technical details pertaining to a submitted project. TRC members review the plans and submit their comments or concerns for discussion at the TRC meeting. At the meeting a vote is taken as to whether the project is ready to move forward to the next step. If it’s deemed by the TRC that the project requires substantial changes, the project then will be re-reviewed at a later TRC meeting.

The following members make up the TRC:

  1. Dewberry Representative
  2. Emergency Management Representative
  3. Health Department Representative
  4. Mosquito Control Representative
  5. North Walton Fire Representative
  6. Planning Department Representative
  7. Public Works Representative
  8. South Walton Fire Representative

More information on zoom and phone in numbers will be provided when it becomes available.

--------------------------

Email us: info@southwaltoncc.org with ideas or questions.

Email signup: Visit SouthWaltonCC.org to "Sign Up for Updates" at the bottom of the home page.

Project webpage: Draper Lake PUD webpage, including background document.

Support the project: Support this initiative by Donating to Draper Lake project. Scroll to bottom of the webpage for donation form.

Facebook updates: SWCC Facebook page.

If you know of others who may be affected by this development, please forward this email to them.

Thank You.
 

South Walton Community Council

Community Organization
Jan 17, 2007
270
78
www.southwaltoncc.org
Draper Lake PUD - Project Update
TRC Meeting
Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020

Please use this link to join the meeting.

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

Telephone:
US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782

Webinar ID: 848 7269 0363

Please note that with social distancing, space will be limited and you may not be able to physically get into the room to attend this meeting. You will have your temp checked and asked to wear a mask.

That is why the ZOOM meeting may be a better choice. I believe you will be given three minutes to state your objections. Strength is in our numbers.

All related documents are on our website at www.southwaltoncc.org.

South Walton Community Council - SWCC Opposes Draper Lake PUD

South Walton Community Council will be discussing more specific concerns at the Planning Commission since we know the TRC will conditionally pass this project based on the zoning of Small Neighborhood and Mixed Use.

However, please use the following objections based on the staff report:

Talking Points:

  1. Environmentally sensitive lands (Coastal Dune Lake Advisory letter stating this project should not be approved. In Public Comments).
  2. Must be a MAJOR development order, not MINOR.
  3. Setback requirements have been removed.
  4. Triplex is not an unique design.
  5. Commercial space must be figured on total site area.
  6. Interior planting must not be waived.
  7. Incompatibility with adjacent areas, the surrounding neighborhood, the adjacent neighborhood and the physical relationship of the four neighborhoods on the lake.
  8. Parking is inadequate for multi-family rental community as well as commercial space.
  9. Minimum setbacks for primary structures must not be reduced.
  10. 138 family units on less than 10 acres will add at least 1,000 people to 30A without the adequate infrastructure. Traffic analysis based on document from mid-year 2000.
  11. Residential based on 35.19 acres which has an environmentally sensitive areas.
  12. 138 units (46 triplexes) on less than 10 acres is not a “small neighborhood” concept and Horton has purposely manipulated the spirit and intent of the code for their profitability.

Any Deviations (Variances) from the Land Development Code Requested with PUD must not be granted. See Deviations attachment on our webpage.

DR Horton has essentially used the PUD overlay on a sensitive area without providing a more creative approach that would result in a development that is superior to what could be obtained through the ordinary. A triplex unit that has been duplicated 400 times down the road is not a unique feature of quality design. Profitability is the only motive for this design.

Horton would have difficulties seeking to develop this property with the abundance of wetlands, proximity to the Coastal Dune lake and the extent of the scrub habitat. Using this particular 36 acre unique parcel to cluster 138 units on less than 10 acres does not qualify for a Planned Unit Development and all variances must be opposed.

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South Walton Community Council

Community Organization
Jan 17, 2007
270
78
www.southwaltoncc.org
TRC Meeting
Wednesday, 19 Aug 2020 at 8:30am
The meeting starts Wednesday morning at 8:30am.

------------------------------

Please use this link to join the meeting.

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

Telephone:
US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

Webinar ID: 835 9589 6974

The meeting will be held at Freeport Business Park for those interested in attending in person.

------------------------------

The meeting agenda is available at the link below. Draper Lake PUD is the last item #7.

Click to Download TRC Meeting Agenda

------------------------------

All related documents are on our website at www.southwaltoncc.org.

South Walton Community Council - SWCC Opposes Draper Lake PUD

South Walton Community Council will be discussing more specific concerns at the Planning Commission since we know the TRC will conditionally pass this project based on the zoning of Small Neighborhood and Mixed Use.

However, please use the following objections based on the staff report:

Talking Points:
  1. Environmentally sensitive lands (Coastal Dune Lake Advisory letter stating this project should not be approved. In Public Comments).
  2. Must be a MAJOR development order, not MINOR.
  3. Setback requirements have been removed.
  4. Triplex is not an unique design.
  5. Commercial space must be figured on total site area.
  6. Interior planting must not be waived.
  7. Incompatibility with adjacent areas, the surrounding neighborhood, the adjacent neighborhood and the physical relationship of the four neighborhoods on the lake.
  8. Parking is inadequate for multi-family rental community as well as commercial space.
  9. Minimum setbacks for primary structures must not be reduced.
  10. 138 family units on less than 10 acres will add at least 1,000 people to 30A without the adequate infrastructure. Traffic analysis based on document from mid-year 2000.
  11. Residential based on 35.19 acres which has an environmentally sensitive areas.
  12. 138 units (46 triplexes) on less than 10 acres is not a “small neighborhood” concept and Horton has purposely manipulated the spirit and intent of the code for their profitability.

Any Deviations (Variances) from the Land Development Code Requested with PUD must not be granted. See Deviations attachment on our webpage.

DR Horton has essentially used the PUD overlay on a sensitive area without providing a more creative approach that would result in a development that is superior to what could be obtained through the ordinary. A triplex unit that has been duplicated 400 times down the road is not a unique feature of quality design. Profitability is the only motive for this design.

Horton would have difficulties seeking to develop this property with the abundance of wetlands, proximity to the Coastal Dune lake and the extent of the scrub habitat. Using this particular 36 acre unique parcel to cluster 138 units on less than 10 acres does not qualify for a Planned Unit Development and all variances must be opposed.
 

Abby Prentiss

Beach Fanatic
May 17, 2007
577
123
For Immediate Release
August 21, 2020
Contact: John Harrison, 850.501.2699

Community Coalition Forms to Stop DR Horton Project on 30A

A coalition of neighbors, businesses, and environmentalists today launched the Save30A campaign to ask the Walton County Commission to deny an application by mega-developer DR Horton to pack up to 1,000 people in 138 units on a small parcel on Scenic 30A. Not only is the developer asking to avoid following existing development rules, but the company also has a history of environmental violations that can pose a risk to the adjacent Draper Lake, a pristine coastal dune lake.

“We want to ask the residents from across the county to help us in asking our elected leaders to stop this project. We want the Planning Commission and ultimately the County Commission to say no to a list of exceptions being requested by DR Horton on a project that has the potential to negatively impact scenic 30A and a coastal dune lake,” said John Harrison, a neighbor involved in the Save 30A Coalition. “If you care about our natural environment and neighborhoods, we’re asking you to join us in saying this is the wrong project for this location,” he added.

The coalition has created an informative website – Save30A.org – that explains the proposed project and its potential impacts on the community, highlights the exceptions/variances being requested by the developer, and provides information on how residents can get involved. In addition to emails, calls, and letters to county officials, the group has yard signs and signs to post in store windows in support of the community movement.

Walton County’s own Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board voted on June 17, 2020, to recommend DR Horton’s Draper Lake PUD application be denied. The advisory board listed 12 documented complaints of environmental violations by DR Horton in Walton County alone in the past five years, and numerous code complaints ranging from clearing preservation areas to illicit discharges on their property.

This week, at its August 18 meeting, the county’s Technical Review Committee (TRC) voted to forward the project to the Walton County Planning Commission for the Commission’s September 10 meeting. In the TRC meeting, County Planning Director Mac Carpenter noted that staff “does not support the deviations mentioned in the staff report,” and does not support the company paying money to allow it to eliminate more than 60 percent of the natural scrub oak trees. At the TRC meeting, a DR Horton representative said a proposed fence to keep the tourists and residents from impacting the wetlands and Draper Lake has been removed from their plans.

“At a time when so much in our world is turned upside down, we are asking residents to not let this issue slip by without their personal involvement,” said Peter Hansen, a neighbor, campaign supporter, and environmentalist. “Your emails, letters, and calls to the planning commission and ultimately the County Commission will make a difference. Our goal is to keep this issue in front of the community and provide transparent, accountable information. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and visit our website at Save30A.org, sign up to receive updates, and even pick up a yard or business window sign to help spread the word.”

For more information, visit www.Save30A.org.
 

South Walton Community Council

Community Organization
Jan 17, 2007
270
78
www.southwaltoncc.org
Per the attached memo, "The applicant has requested a continuance of the project to the October 8, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting from the September 10, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting.".

Click to download Walton County Planning Commission memo.
 

James Bentwood

Beach Fanatic
Feb 24, 2005
1,495
606
For Immediate Release
August 21, 2020
Contact: John Harrison, 850.501.2699

Community Coalition Forms to Stop DR Horton Project on 30A

A coalition of neighbors, businesses, and environmentalists today launched the Save30A campaign to ask the Walton County Commission to deny an application by mega-developer DR Horton to pack up to 1,000 people in 138 units on a small parcel on Scenic 30A. Not only is the developer asking to avoid following existing development rules, but the company also has a history of environmental violations that can pose a risk to the adjacent Draper Lake, a pristine coastal dune lake.

“We want to ask the residents from across the county to help us in asking our elected leaders to stop this project. We want the Planning Commission and ultimately the County Commission to say no to a list of exceptions being requested by DR Horton on a project that has the potential to negatively impact scenic 30A and a coastal dune lake,” said John Harrison, a neighbor involved in the Save 30A Coalition. “If you care about our natural environment and neighborhoods, we’re asking you to join us in saying this is the wrong project for this location,” he added.

The coalition has created an informative website – Save30A.org – that explains the proposed project and its potential impacts on the community, highlights the exceptions/variances being requested by the developer, and provides information on how residents can get involved. In addition to emails, calls, and letters to county officials, the group has yard signs and signs to post in store windows in support of the community movement.

Walton County’s own Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board voted on June 17, 2020, to recommend DR Horton’s Draper Lake PUD application be denied. The advisory board listed 12 documented complaints of environmental violations by DR Horton in Walton County alone in the past five years, and numerous code complaints ranging from clearing preservation areas to illicit discharges on their property.

This week, at its August 18 meeting, the county’s Technical Review Committee (TRC) voted to forward the project to the Walton County Planning Commission for the Commission’s September 10 meeting. In the TRC meeting, County Planning Director Mac Carpenter noted that staff “does not support the deviations mentioned in the staff report,” and does not support the company paying money to allow it to eliminate more than 60 percent of the natural scrub oak trees. At the TRC meeting, a DR Horton representative said a proposed fence to keep the tourists and residents from impacting the wetlands and Draper Lake has been removed from their plans.

“At a time when so much in our world is turned upside down, we are asking residents to not let this issue slip by without their personal involvement,” said Peter Hansen, a neighbor, campaign supporter, and environmentalist. “Your emails, letters, and calls to the planning commission and ultimately the County Commission will make a difference. Our goal is to keep this issue in front of the community and provide transparent, accountable information. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and visit our website at Save30A.org, sign up to receive updates, and even pick up a yard or business window sign to help spread the word.”

For more information, visit www.Save30A.org.
Save 30A!

From sign pollution. :lol:

30a.jpg
 
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