Seagrove Villas Commercial, again

two words would settle all of this ... Transect Planning

I just saw a funny but true quote by a friend on Facebook-

"Nothing says 1950's America like 30 miles of highway zoned for anything".

I am sure we can all think of many areas that fits this description!

No, you are wrong. The court decision dealt with whether or not the deed restrictions, or lack thereof, meant that something could be developed that conflicted with the code. The ruling made it clear that these lots are subject to the LDC and the Comp Plan. The judge said that a reading of the language on the deeds indicated no specific covenants or restrictions, and that the county misinterpreted this and departed from established legal principles.

If I understand correctly, the court decision was based on the little known House Bill known as MRTA, which extinguishes covenents or deed restrictions which are older than 30 years. In this case, the land use category of Residential Preservation in the Land Development Code recognizes existing covenants or platted subdivisions which have been substantially built out, etc., but the MRTA act virtually takes precedence over this provision. Furthermore, one must look at the definition of 'Schrivenor's Error' as it pertains to land use. Also, land use cannot be changed by resolution, only by ordinance.

Seagrove Villas - Experience

My husband and I spent a GLORIOUS week at Seagrove Villas recently, before the deluge. I was looking for a place within walking distance of the rest of our family. The main house, which our family has enjoyed renting since 1969, just can't hold us all anymore. Once I read here that The Villas had reopened, it was the obvious and delightful solution. Delightful because I always liked them, the view, the cool architecture of the cottages and their sunrooms, the family atmosphere, the rompable green grass, grills, hammocks and the pool (which the original owner kindly used to let me as a kiddie swim in when the Gulf had spinach in it). Obvious because they were only 50 walking steps from the rest of the family and because I feared this might be our last chance to stay there, from what I have read on this site.

Now I am going to preach to the choir. We loved it. It was perfect for our needs - old time Florida. Now, like a lot of people, I'm a fan of over the top luxury accomodations with all the bells and whistles when we can (rarely) afford it, but cottages at The Villas, as is, are way cool. I had a smile on my face and on the inside the whole time. No kidding! From what I have read here and researched, I think the Bank owns it or must have a forbearance agreement with the Nature Walk developer so that it will not foreclose. Somebody decided to spend some money to spruce up the place and get it running again. We thank you. Keep The Villas. Any other neighborhood would be lucky to have such a cool place. All destination neighborhoods need a place like this. Let your commissioners know that out of towners LOVE The Seagrove Villas. There are oodles of nice lookalike and feelalike places on 30A now, but this is a unique property.

Now, having said all that I sure hope this scrivener's error argument gets quashed and squashed. Zoning fights are hard and mind numbingly tedious and, as the plaintiffs in the initial round surely know, cost big bucks to win, and even to lose. I hope those in the local community who would like to see this kind of special place preserved and improved (as is) will have the time, energy and the opportunity to voice their opposition to this sorry argument at the September 22 meeting, and at all points thereafter. Do be sure and let us know what we might could do to help.

Is this matter on the 9/22 BCC agenda? Hmmmm???? I see that the Commission Minutes for the 8/11 meeting (where this resolution was introduced) are not yet posted (but those for the subsequent meeting are).

Missing Seagrove. :roll:

Seagrove Villas hearing postponed

For anyone who is following this issue, the hearing on it did not take place on at the Sept. 22 BCC meeting in DeFuniak as planned. Someone in the county legal department said staff were not able to get the required legal notice about the hearing placed in time. The hearing is now planned for Oct. 13 as part of that county commission regular meeting. The location is the South Walton Annex.

Seagrove Villas Oct 13 BCC meeting

Thank you MizNotebook. Where does BCC post its legal notices? In our neck of the backwards woods a public hearing usually precedes a body decision. The decision may be delayed a time or two but eventually it occurs. One previous poster said that a zoning change is not effected by resolution but rather by ordinance. Curious as to what the public hearing is for. Does the "correction" (aghast) of an alleged scrivener's error rise to the level of a zoning change, or is it just "administrative housekeeping"? What is the Peach Creek story referenced prior?

I'm sorry I didn't include this in my previous post but please know that in our crowd we had opinions from people of all ages and from points far and wide who came to see our private quarters at Villa 2 at Seagrove Villas Motel: 86 years of age to 25, from California, Oregon, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia who ALL were smitten with the Villas. Most all opined that they could live in Villa 2 full time. I'm all about the property being enjoyed as-is, or being improved as-is (though our unit required nothing; I felt like we were in a movie set), but being replaced by a fancy fancy: not so much. Did I mention how it melted my heart to walk by another villa's sunporch and see a mother spoon feeding her baby in the warmth of the sunshine one morning? How on Sunday before Labor Day all the grills were fired up at twilight with families preparing a feast? We were so lucky!

Thanks again for a letting us long time fans and appreciative tourists catch a glimpse of your life in SoWal. Special place.

MRBS, maybe someone else can draw from their memory bank and knowledge of quasijudicial proceedings and provide a better response to some of your questions than I seem to be coming up with right now, but I can answer part of what you are asking. The legal notices appear in The DeFuniak Herald/Beach Breeze, a local newspaper. If you live out of the area, it is possible to get a mail subscription or you can view the legal notices on the newspaper Web site, www.defuniakherald.com. One way to go there is by clicking on the newspaper's link on Sowal at the bottom of the new posts on the right hand side of the home page.
On the Peach Creek reference, I do recall that the owner of some property in that area made the argument that there had been a scrivener's error on the county future land use map affecting his land. This was part of an effort to get approval to put an asphalt plant on the property. His request was for a land use change, I believe, and the county commission turned him down. However he later appealed and won in federal court, which led to a reversal of the BCC decision.
I've never had the chance to stay at Seagrove Villas but always admire the view of that property and its uniqueness when I go by. It's great to hear you had such a good time on your recent visit. I think quite a few people in the community and other visitors are fans of the property as well.