If you live on or care about any Scenic Corridor in South Walton County, you need to be concerned about the proposed comp plan/land use changes that will be heard tomorrow (Wed., Aug. 25th) at the Planning Commission meeting.
Sowal Scenic Corridors: all of Hwy. 30A, all of the roads connecting Hwy. 98 to Hwy 30A (395, 283, 83, 393), the road leading into Grayton from 30A (DeFuniak St.), the road leading into Blue Mountain Beach from 30A, the road going to Point Washington from 98 (395 North).
As the proposed language stands, ANY piece of property abutting ANY intersection on a Scenic Corridor will have the opportunity to apply to convert to a new category called "Neighborhood Commercial," which allows commercial uses as intense as restaurants and 25-room hotels. Without this new proposed language, such a conversion would not be an option for any property in the Residential Preservation category.
Changes will be granted on a "case by case" basis.
Furthermore, outdoor music ?may be allowed? in this Neighborhood Commercial designation.
This proposed change is far-reaching and will have major implications on future development of South Walton.
Think about it - every single intersection along 30A, every intersection in Grayton Beach on DeFuniak Street, and every intersection on Hwy. 395 North will now have the possibility of being converted to "neighborhood commercial."
This certainly isn't neighborhood friendly and will do nothing but introduce new conflicts between neighbors and instability in our historic and existing residential neighborhoods.
If you are concerned about these potential changes, you should attend the meeting tomorrow at the Courthouse Annex at 5 p.m. If you would like to read my letter to the planning commission, please pm me and I will be happy to forward it to you.
Sowal Scenic Corridors: all of Hwy. 30A, all of the roads connecting Hwy. 98 to Hwy 30A (395, 283, 83, 393), the road leading into Grayton from 30A (DeFuniak St.), the road leading into Blue Mountain Beach from 30A, the road going to Point Washington from 98 (395 North).
As the proposed language stands, ANY piece of property abutting ANY intersection on a Scenic Corridor will have the opportunity to apply to convert to a new category called "Neighborhood Commercial," which allows commercial uses as intense as restaurants and 25-room hotels. Without this new proposed language, such a conversion would not be an option for any property in the Residential Preservation category.
Changes will be granted on a "case by case" basis.
Furthermore, outdoor music ?may be allowed? in this Neighborhood Commercial designation.
This proposed change is far-reaching and will have major implications on future development of South Walton.
Think about it - every single intersection along 30A, every intersection in Grayton Beach on DeFuniak Street, and every intersection on Hwy. 395 North will now have the possibility of being converted to "neighborhood commercial."
This certainly isn't neighborhood friendly and will do nothing but introduce new conflicts between neighbors and instability in our historic and existing residential neighborhoods.
If you are concerned about these potential changes, you should attend the meeting tomorrow at the Courthouse Annex at 5 p.m. If you would like to read my letter to the planning commission, please pm me and I will be happy to forward it to you.