Tents On The Beach

[Kurt]

I haven't heard much this year. Has it been a problem? This article about problems to the east makes me think we need to continue our efforts to keep our beaches clutter free.

The mass of tents causes problems for vendors who rent beach equipment. Fights have nearly broken out between vendors and visitors who refuse to move their tents, said city code enforcement officer James Tindle.


“The last thing you want is to fight with someone over tents,” Tindle said. “This problem is not going away until something is done.”


Tindle said the tents have become so inexpensive that some parts of the beach look like a “metal recycling yard” because of the aluminum tent poles left behind. Baby sea turtles emerging from their nests at night “get tangled up in that spider web of tents,” he said.


The city grappled with the problem in summer 2009 and crafted an ordinance requiring removal of all personal property overnight, a proposal mirrored after a “Leave-No-Trace-Behind” ordinance in South Walton County.


The measure was abandoned in February 2010 because of the expense of tagging and storing the left-behind stuff, including tents and other “tangible personal property” such as cabanas, volleyball nets, beach chairs, floats and other watercraft.

Read more: http://www.newsherald.com/articles/beach-95424-panama-shadowing.html#ixzz1SjVZiom2
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[justhavinfun]

In the Seagrove area , tents do not seem to be a major problem on the beach but these portable canopies are all over the place. The county does not seem to be enforcing the ordinance at all as many of these structures stay on the beach overnight with the guests just removing the canvas tops until the next day.

 

[Kurt]

In the Seagrove area , tents do not seem to be a major problem on the beach but these portable canopies are all over the place. The county does not seem to be enforcing the ordinance at all as many of these structures stay on the beach overnight with the guests just removing the canvas tops until the next day.

Good input - I guess tents mean all manner of structures with poles, including canopies.

 

[30A Skunkape]

I am seeing fewer now than before. It used to piss me off so much to see all the beach crap lazy slobs would leave out for those of us up and about before 7AM to enjoy. God only knows how many turtles died.

 

[NotDeadYet]

If you read the caption for the photo in the News Herald article, it shows a picture of a "canopy" but refers to it as a "tent." I think we are talking about the same thing here, just using a different word.

I wonder what people are thinking they accomplish when they remove the top for the night, but leave the metal poles?

I saw some enforcement earlier in the summer. Code enforcement was tagging and removing stuff, but I think there is only one person working the entire beach. I'd say overall in Seagrove there is less stuff but still far too much left overnight. Seems like as the season progresses the amount of stuff starts creeping back.

Does all that aluminum get recycled?? It isn't just the canopy poles. Chairs are so cheaply made lots of them get thrown out every year.

I would also comment that, like the beach service chair placement issue, and the so-called "private" beach signs, it's too many people wanting to be in the same place at the same time. We still have quite a lot of vacant lots and undeveloped land in SoWal. The closer we get to build out, the worse these problems are going to get. Best thing would be to work as many of them out now.

 

[Miss Kitty]

WaterColor has BANNED them on their beaches! Hallelujah!

 

[tistheseason]

Great point NYD -- these issues will be much harder to solve 10 or even 5 years from now. In our area (seacrest) I've seen more people taken their entire canopy down at sunset than in years past -- but the beach chair setups are so closely packed all the way down the beach, it's driving me crazy!!

 

[Lake View Too]

I happened to meet the "Tent Tagger" this morning near Eastern Lake, and he was diligently doing his duties. He said there was only one person from Code Enforcement delegated to giving out warning tags on all items left on the beach overnight (tents, canopies, canopy frames,etc.) for the 26miles of SoWal. He said his job was greatly hampered by the fact that most of the lakes have broken out, and he was having to do most of the patrolling by foot rather than by Jeep. They (he) is on the case.

 

[tsutcli]

As far as I know and I am in Seacrest, the turtle folks do have a number to call to have tents, chairs and umbrella's removed if they are not taken up at the end of the day and stay on the beach over night. And I also believe there is only one person covering the beach but I hear he is doing an awesome job. It is possible in some locations they are not tagging or calling in about items left behind. Items will be picked up if they are reported after they are tagged. Sorry, just saw the above and was typing when item was posted.

 

[NotDeadYet]

I happened to meet the "Tent Tagger" this morning near Eastern Lake, and he was diligently doing his duties. He said there was only one person from Code Enforcement delegated to giving out warning tags on all items left on the beach overnight (tents, canopies, canopy frames,etc.) for the 26miles of SoWal. He said his job was greatly hampered by the fact that most of the lakes have broken out, and he was having to most of the patrolling by foot rather than by Jeep. They (he) is on the case.
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Thanks, LVT. I had heard there was only one person. Poor guy must feel like Sisyphus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus