kathydwells
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
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Cuchens' ethics to be questioned if found
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update
The DEP has denied the "after the fact" application for a seawall in this case.
The DEP has denied the "after the fact" application for a seawall in this case.
What will happen to the wall now?
Interesting to see Cuchens and ethics used in the same title.
i saw the thread title and asked myself "how can there be a question regarding ro's ethics?"
There is an article in the Sun paper today regarding the seawall. Interesting!
Key part of this article:
(because it contains DEP's "out" to allow this wall to remain) I paraphrase, but "vegetation was found growing on the sand covering the wall".
As the writer tried to note, this is a TOTAL fabrication. There is not, nor has there ever been, any vegetation on that wall. Of course, I'm sure the landowner is out there as we speak planting some. Best money he will ever spend.
(because it contains DEP's "out" to allow this wall to remain) I paraphrase, but "vegetation was found growing on the sand covering the wall".
As the writer tried to note, this is a TOTAL fabrication. There is not, nor has there ever been, any vegetation on that wall. Of course, I'm sure the landowner is out there as we speak planting some. Best money he will ever spend.
I bet the property owner is also ordering truckloads of sand to cover that long seawall's presently uncovered top 4' +.
Here is the article from the Walton Sun:
DEP orders homeowners to remove unauthorized seawall
By Gabriel Tynes
April 28, 2007 5:31 AM
The seawall at 59 Pelican Circle in Seacrest Beach appears the same today (above)
At least one South Walton County seawall will have to be pulled from the sand after the Department of Environmental Protection denied its state permit request.
The wall, located at 59 Pelican Circle in Seacrest Beach, has been under particular scrutiny since it was determined to be unauthorized in May 2006. The homeowners, Dr. James and Michelle Spires of Mobile, Ala., never obtained county permission for the wall.
Subsequently, Terry Anderson, a Walton County engineer, attempted to acquire an after-the-fact state permit on behalf of the homeowners. As a part of that process, former county commissioner Rosier Cuchens issued a letter of approval in the county?s name, bypassing normal planning department procedures, something he was not authorized to do.
In a letter dated April 17, Michael Barnett, chief of the DEP Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, concluded that the structures on the property were never eligible for shoreline protection. Even if it was, the letter said, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines would recommend its denial based on ?significant adverse impacts? to turtle nesting sites.
?Based on the forgoing facts and law, the DEP denies the request for a permit for the construction of a seawall and orders its removal after Oct. 31, 2007, and before May 1, 2008,? the letter states.
In a confusing bit of language, the letter does provide a manner for prolonging the seawall?s existence ?since [it] is presently covered with sand fill and native dune vegetation.?
On April 24, the wall did not appear to have changed since November 2006. There is as much as four feet of vertical exposure and it is barren of any vegetation, native or otherwise.
?We came to that conclusion upon our last inspection of the site,? said DEP Press Secretary Sarah Williams. ?Our inspector noted sand coverage and native vegetation.?
Williams said she did not know if the absence of either the sand fill or the vegetation would affect the special stipulation, which would allow the wall to stay until it is exposed or undermined. ?Everything we have on the case is current with that letter,? she said. The homeowners were given 15 days from the receipt of the letter to ask for the seawall to remain temporarily. They have 21 days from the receipt of the letter to file for an administrative hearing to dispute the denial.
Here is the article from the Walton Sun:
DEP orders homeowners to remove unauthorized seawall
By Gabriel Tynes
April 28, 2007 5:31 AM
The seawall at 59 Pelican Circle in Seacrest Beach appears the same today (above)
At least one South Walton County seawall will have to be pulled from the sand after the Department of Environmental Protection denied its state permit request.
The wall, located at 59 Pelican Circle in Seacrest Beach, has been under particular scrutiny since it was determined to be unauthorized in May 2006. The homeowners, Dr. James and Michelle Spires of Mobile, Ala., never obtained county permission for the wall.
Subsequently, Terry Anderson, a Walton County engineer, attempted to acquire an after-the-fact state permit on behalf of the homeowners. As a part of that process, former county commissioner Rosier Cuchens issued a letter of approval in the county?s name, bypassing normal planning department procedures, something he was not authorized to do.
In a letter dated April 17, Michael Barnett, chief of the DEP Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, concluded that the structures on the property were never eligible for shoreline protection. Even if it was, the letter said, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines would recommend its denial based on ?significant adverse impacts? to turtle nesting sites.
?Based on the forgoing facts and law, the DEP denies the request for a permit for the construction of a seawall and orders its removal after Oct. 31, 2007, and before May 1, 2008,? the letter states.
In a confusing bit of language, the letter does provide a manner for prolonging the seawall?s existence ?since [it] is presently covered with sand fill and native dune vegetation.?
On April 24, the wall did not appear to have changed since November 2006. There is as much as four feet of vertical exposure and it is barren of any vegetation, native or otherwise.
?We came to that conclusion upon our last inspection of the site,? said DEP Press Secretary Sarah Williams. ?Our inspector noted sand coverage and native vegetation.?
Williams said she did not know if the absence of either the sand fill or the vegetation would affect the special stipulation, which would allow the wall to stay until it is exposed or undermined. ?Everything we have on the case is current with that letter,? she said. The homeowners were given 15 days from the receipt of the letter to ask for the seawall to remain temporarily. They have 21 days from the receipt of the letter to file for an administrative hearing to dispute the denial.
Ro's Ethics?? And, he's running again?
Was this seawall ever removed?
At least one South Walton County seawall will have to be pulled from the sand after the Department of Environmental Protection denied its state permit request.
The wall, located at 59 Pelican Circle in Seacrest Beach, has been under particular scrutiny since it was determined to be unauthorized in May 2006. The homeowners, Dr. James and Michelle Spires of Mobile, Ala., never obtained county permission for the wall.
Was this seawall ever removed?
At least one South Walton County seawall will have to be pulled from the sand after the Department of Environmental Protection denied its state permit request.
The wall, located at 59 Pelican Circle in Seacrest Beach, has been under particular scrutiny since it was determined to be unauthorized in May 2006. The homeowners, Dr. James and Michelle Spires of Mobile, Ala., never obtained county permission for the wall.
