First the ugly blue signs now golden arches. Say it isn't so or maybe Just say NO
Do We Desperately Need Drive-Thrus?
- Thread starter rapunzel
- Start date
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Just say "NO" to fast-food drive thru's........................
:angry:If I want to go to places like Atlanta, Ft.Walton, Destin etc...... I'll drive there!
Don't loose the "SRB" feel, which is why I moved from Atlanta.
Thanks!
:angry:If I want to go to places like Atlanta, Ft.Walton, Destin etc...... I'll drive there!
Don't loose the "SRB" feel, which is why I moved from Atlanta.
Thanks!Commissioners: If you are lurking--please pay attention to the above!
Probably because the ratio of on the go to eat-in customers has changed a lot over the past 10-15 years. It's like how about 75% of the Pizza Huts I can think of have gone from being normal-sized sit down standalone restaurants to essentially take out-delivery only stores in strip mall spaces that are about a quarter the size of the previous restaurants.
i enjoy garbage food as much as the next hog...but we do not want them HERE...we, as a community can shoot this one down.
I don't feel the need for a drive thru on 30-A. Not just because I hate fast food and drive-thrus (I usually go inside because it's faster and if I eat there I'm on a road trip and need to use a restroom), but because we already have many businesses that cater to people who don't want dine-in eating.
If for some reason I need food fast, I can place an order for pizza, burger, salad, fried chicken, shrimp, or anything else I want and go pick it up.
If for some reason I need food fast, I can place an order for pizza, burger, salad, fried chicken, shrimp, or anything else I want and go pick it up.
Drive thru thoughts
I don?t agree with drive thru establishments on 30a but Hwy 98 is a US HWY and it is not that scenic at the moment. It hard for me to believe you prefer run down antiquated or abandoned buildings along the road rather than proper development. Would a drive thru pharmacy on 98 be the worst thing in the world? Would a few fast food chains destroy the appearance of a four-lane highway where people are often traveling at 60+mph? Pier Park has proved to be a success and it is not ugly. It has brought many jobs and visitors to an area that was pretty much abandoned 10 years ago. People that live in South Walton often travel to Destin or Panama City for shopping and convenience. Does it make sense to send tax revenue to other counties? I own several of the old buildings on 98 and when I purchased the property it was a basic dump. I would have like to do more to improve the property but current Scenic Highway regulations, impact fees, etc. have made it cost prohibitive. I encourage responsible development and feel our area will benefit tremendously from the proposed changes. South Walton?s Hwy 98 is a unique strip of highway and a majority of the property is state forest so the only opportunity for development is between 30a west and 331, the Peach Creek area and Watersound North to Inlet beach. 2 of those properties are owned by St.Joe and everyone has been pretty pleased with their developments. The remaining property is pretty much locally owned and could use some upgrades (my property included).
I don?t agree with drive thru establishments on 30a but Hwy 98 is a US HWY and it is not that scenic at the moment. It hard for me to believe you prefer run down antiquated or abandoned buildings along the road rather than proper development. Would a drive thru pharmacy on 98 be the worst thing in the world? Would a few fast food chains destroy the appearance of a four-lane highway where people are often traveling at 60+mph? Pier Park has proved to be a success and it is not ugly. It has brought many jobs and visitors to an area that was pretty much abandoned 10 years ago. People that live in South Walton often travel to Destin or Panama City for shopping and convenience. Does it make sense to send tax revenue to other counties? I own several of the old buildings on 98 and when I purchased the property it was a basic dump. I would have like to do more to improve the property but current Scenic Highway regulations, impact fees, etc. have made it cost prohibitive. I encourage responsible development and feel our area will benefit tremendously from the proposed changes. South Walton?s Hwy 98 is a unique strip of highway and a majority of the property is state forest so the only opportunity for development is between 30a west and 331, the Peach Creek area and Watersound North to Inlet beach. 2 of those properties are owned by St.Joe and everyone has been pretty pleased with their developments. The remaining property is pretty much locally owned and could use some upgrades (my property included).
Frankly, my preference would be to tear down or restore the old buildings and plant more trees. I like the fact that we do not have a drive-in pharmacy...fast food establishments, or anything else on Highway 98.
Pier Park may be nice, but I have not seen any drive through fast food places there or any pharmacy either for that matter. The rest of Back Beach Road where the drive throughs, big box stores like Lowes' and Home Depot, and all the other little businesses is not nearly as pleasant a drive as Highway 98 in East S. Walton is. And with all those businesses comes more intersections, more traffic signals, so no longer would one be able to drive 60 mph.
I realize that mine may be a minority opinion and my preferences are not likely to be accepted, but I would love it if the entire drive was like the portion from Inlet Beach to 331...almost empty, just the open sky and beautiful pine trees and a few cypress swamps...
could you maybe open a Tree Farm on your property?;-)
Pier Park may be nice, but I have not seen any drive through fast food places there or any pharmacy either for that matter. The rest of Back Beach Road where the drive throughs, big box stores like Lowes' and Home Depot, and all the other little businesses is not nearly as pleasant a drive as Highway 98 in East S. Walton is. And with all those businesses comes more intersections, more traffic signals, so no longer would one be able to drive 60 mph.
I realize that mine may be a minority opinion and my preferences are not likely to be accepted, but I would love it if the entire drive was like the portion from Inlet Beach to 331...almost empty, just the open sky and beautiful pine trees and a few cypress swamps...
could you maybe open a Tree Farm on your property?;-)
I tried a community garden years ago but, everyone was busy developing 30a and did not have time. I would be open to it again if there was interest.
You may not notice all the drive thrus east and west of Pier Park because they are all behind a line of trees due to responsible growth but I can assure you they are there.
The one thing that does save South Walton Hwy 98 is most of the property was/is Preservation 2000 land. Unfortunately, last year the state started to sell off some of those parcels such the property between Cano Square and The Community Church. The loss of that protected land will cause more damage to 98 and the trees than a drive thru.
As for tearing down the old buildings it is just not cost effective unless tenants are secured and the only tenants interested are the national chains.
Have a wonderful day!
You may not notice all the drive thrus east and west of Pier Park because they are all behind a line of trees due to responsible growth but I can assure you they are there.
The one thing that does save South Walton Hwy 98 is most of the property was/is Preservation 2000 land. Unfortunately, last year the state started to sell off some of those parcels such the property between Cano Square and The Community Church. The loss of that protected land will cause more damage to 98 and the trees than a drive thru.
As for tearing down the old buildings it is just not cost effective unless tenants are secured and the only tenants interested are the national chains.
Have a wonderful day!
Don't drive-thrus result in less business for places like pharmacies? Like pay at the pump reduces profit for gas stations? 
I thought that was why places like Walgreens & CVS put the pharmacy at the back - so you had to walk through the store full of "impulse item" displays to get to it.
I thought that was why places like Walgreens & CVS put the pharmacy at the back - so you had to walk through the store full of "impulse item" displays to get to it.