Hello Kurt,
Thanks for posting the plans for this proposal. As part of the community of property owners in the immediate Walton Dunes access area, I can tell you that there is much opposition to the proposal. Part of the charm of 30A and Seagrove is the natural environment which is the reason many of us purchased in the area and is the reason vacationers select our homes/condos as rentals. This proposed parking lot will drastically take away from the very thing that makes Seagrove and 30A so attractive to tourists and property owners alike - which, in the end, will actually be counterproductive to the goals of the TDC and Walton County:
1. Our properties will become less attractive to vacationers which will bring our rental rates down - for some it will be a large decrease - result: less bed tax revenue for the county
2. Our property values will decrease - result: less property revenues for the county
3. Tourism could suffer - many of us have solicited the countless number of guests who have stayed at our properties over the years - the overwhelming response has been a negative one because the very reason they visit is the "quiet, natural surroundings" that this area offers. result: obviously, this will hit everything from sales tax to bed tax.
4. Maintenance costs - this particular area is low lying and when a tropical storm or higher comes through, the waves flood the entire area where the proposed restroom, dune walkover, and south parking lot is in the drawing. This was evident from the last storm that came through when the waves reached the current street. result: these structures will require reconstruction conservatively every 2-3 years.
The above are just some of the issues from a financial perspective, but there are also environmental issues to consider which I know many of you hold very dear being so dedicated to this area.
It has been surprising to us (as property owners) that the immediate community was not made aware and solicited for feedback prior to the TDC expenditures of ~50K on feasibility studies and designs. It seems that the number 1 priority of our county elected commissioners should be to express "the voice" of the community, and I can tell you the property owners in the entire surrounding area are disappointed in the TDC and are/will be expressing their concerns and opposition to this proposal.
My apologies for getting on a soap box, but your timing on this post couldn't have been better as we are all assembling to ensure the concerns of the community are heard and considered. The "Big Yellow Taxi" Joni Mitchell song comes to mind - "They paved PARADISE and put up a PARKING LOT" - seems very fitting for the issue at hand.
Thanks again for bringing attention to this matter.
Marina