County Wants State Park Land at Topsail for Beach Access

[VoiceOfReason]

An open leter from the current residents of Beachview Heights to the Commissioners and public.

We would just like to re-cap the history of this whole thing to make sure that you, the Commissioners, have a clear understanding of what you are voting on … and possibly ask some questions along the way. Ms Meadows, Mr. Bagby please correct if we are wrong on any of this as none of us in Beachview have been involved in the development of this in any way, and as such have no first hand knowledge as to exactly what has transpierced between Meadows, Bagby, Cypress Dunes and the parks dep over the past year. Although Beachview Heights is going to be the host community for this new access, the fact is we have not been involved in any of the meetings with the parks people …Unlike the residents of Cypress Dunes (CD) and others.

First lets all understand that BV and CD are not beachfront properties… they are located ½ mile north of the beach as the crow flies and have never had any kind of beach access. Those were the terms that everyone who bought lots in Beachview and CD understood and agreed to when they bought their lots.
Also lets understand that unlike the other beach access in Walton county, the county does not own the land that this walkway will be built on .. hence this idea to use state preserve land to access the beach instead of actual county owned land. The county has never had a beach access in BV. The other beach accesses in Walton county are built on land that the county owns and has owned for a long time.

Now to the history… as we understand

About a year ago Cypress Dunes took a survey of their homeowners and their guest and found that the most requested thing CD vacation renters asked for was a beach access for CD. … so in an effort to satisfy their renters and homeowners CD asked the parks dep if they could get permission to follow a foot path originating at their pool area and walk across the ½ mile of Topsail Hill Preserve dunes system south of CD to access the beach.

The State says they would talk about it with them but it would have to be an elevated board walk and CD would have to take down their gate and open their neighborhood to the public as the parks dep could not grant an access to a gated community that the public could not use. .. …so CD thinks about it and decides to tell the parks dep they can not, or will not take down the gate and open their neighborhood to the public.

This brings us, the residents of BV, to our first question.

If CD homeowners feel it is this important to have a beach access, why did they decide not to oblige the parks dep and open their neighborhood to the public in order to obtain the access they wanted? We understand it’s a gated subdivision but why couldn’t the homeowners change that if they all thought it was in their best interest and good for their property values as they have stated.

We can only assume that the residents of CD didn’t want the commotion, traffic and parking issues that plague other public beach access in the area.

But for whatever reason CD passed on removing the gate and petitioned the state for another option,

Again, as we understand, the parks people said the next option would be to put the beach access next door in Beachview Heights. …At this point someone (medows, bagby, CD people?) must have said “that’s a great idea!!” … so a go ahead was given, and the state executed a farley extensive study on cost ,endangered species habitat invasion, construction details. .ect… all taxpayers money spent on evaluating the BV location with absolutely no input from any BV residents…
this leads us to our next question…

why, at that time 4-2-14 weren’t the residents of Beachview Heights brought into the discussion? This is at the crux of our irritation…
Indeed the total input from BV residents on this whole thing has been a grand total of 3 min each at the one and only “workshop” held by the County… By the way the count was 17 people for and 47 against.

One can only surmise that residents of BV were intentionally left out of the discussion because bagby and meadows knew there would be opposition from the BV residents.

So we have a county commissioner and the head of the TDC pushing through an agenda to satisfy the wants of a small group of people, namely the CD homeowners who started this whole thing to begin with.

To walk from Flamingo Village, the largest of the neighborhoods that this thing is supposed to serve, to the beach via this access will be over a mile. It will take at least an hour or more for a tourist carrying a cooler (remember there is no water to drink or bathrooms) and dragging he wife and two kids along with their umbrella and beach chairs to get to the beach via this access.… the fact is that no one is going to make this kind of walk.

That same family could instead just load everything in their car and drive ¼ mile from Flamingo, or CD or BV to the already established entrance at Topsail. They could park in the 120+ car parking lot. From there they could let the kids play on the swings and teeter-totter at the already built playground, they could use bathrooms and get a drink of water… then they could get on the tram and ride to the beach access already built. When they get to the beach walkover they could use the bathrooms, get a drink of water at the fountain, have lunch at a picnic table… and go to the beach.

Cypress Dunes, you had a pipe dream… its over… BV doesn’t want it … naturalist from here to Oklahoma City don’t want it …a clear majority of local residents at the one and only workshop don’t want it… Commissioners, move to drop this whole idea today.

This sounds like the typical BS that goes on. The people who want the beach access don't want to deal with the consequences so they try to push it off on their neighbors. So hypocritical

 

[DaleDalbey]

VoiceOfReason, you are only 3+ months behind the times on an issue that has already been reviewed and dropped.

 

[Sun Chaser]

So...was part of a conversation recently with a Cypress Dunes homeowner and they said that there is a walkover in the works, "approved but it's hush hush". "Want to keep the riff raff" out...

Any truth to this, or is a walkover from Cypress Dunes into Topsail a permanent no-go?

 

[John G]

Most of us remember this nonsense the first go around, thankfully it failed.

I too have heard rumblings this may resurface again, but not to the extent of your comment.

Perhaps they just tipped the hat and it will give those opposed (many), more time to fight it.

I wonder how either of the two new BCC Members felt about it the first time and if they've changed their minds. Good question for an interview from a paper.

I'd also like to know the stance of A Better South Walton on this.

Perhaps having the prior park ranger now working at the TDC has opened new doors...

 

[Sun Chaser]

It's my understanding from a Cypress Dunes resident that the beach walkover into Topsail is approved by the state and construction will start within a month. Can anyone corroborate this? Or is it just wishful thinking on the part of the resident?

 

[John G]

It's my understanding from a Cypress Dunes resident that the beach walkover into Topsail is approved by the state and construction will start within a month. Can anyone corroborate this? Or is it just wishful thinking on the part of the resident?

I hope its wishful thinking...

No Walkover into Topsail!!!

Do you know the residents name or anyone claiming to have accomplished this? Perhaps they have Emails sent in to the TDC and State that are public record? If so Private Message me, don't post on here. Not cool.

 

[John G]

I wonder what the park specialists/rangers at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park think about this plan? They know the land so well...

One is now the Director of Administration at the TDC...

Does SoWal site get any funds from the TDC?

Fair question. Please don't delete post.

 

[FactorFiction]

Interesting. I still hear talk about this, but nothing to suggest that it will fly. Just the desire to have it happen. Around here, though, who knows?

 

[jjnole04]

It's my understanding from a Cypress Dunes resident that the beach walkover into Topsail is approved by the state and construction will start within a month. Can anyone corroborate this? Or is it just wishful thinking on the part of the resident?

This subject will be back soon, unfortunately for the residents of Cypress Dunes there is no way around the public process. Despite their attempts to work in the shadows to make it happen. The unit management plan for Topsail is due to be updated this year and that's how they would have to get it "approved." However there is a public comment period in that process. So I encourage everyone to be aware and attend the meeting and/or give input to park planning when it comes back up. When it happens details will be posted on this site among other places.

 

[James Bentwood]

One is now the Director of Administration at the TDC...

Does SoWal site get any funds from the TDC?

Fair question. Please don't delete post.

Don't think it does but how is it relevant?