Transect Based Planning

[organicmama]

Bay Elementary is another good example, they say that in order to keep it from being destroyed, it must be used as a school, and modernized. The building was built in the 30's, and my opinion is that it should be used as a museum.

What is wrong with Bay Elementary being used for what it was built for? Should they have made it a museum and then built another super-modern school that would have not had the charm of Bay somewhere else in Point Washington or on 30-A? Would you not be complaining about the growth that caused something else to be built? I totally do not get your reasoning.

My children have been to both Butler and Bay. I LIKE the fact that it is an old school that is still used today. It is a lovely little school that I enjoy taking my kids to each day.

 

[Susan Horn]

My children have been to both Butler and Bay. I LIKE the fact that it is an old school that is still used today. It is a lovely little school that I enjoy taking my kids to each day.[/quote]


Organicmama, both my boys went to Bay too, and before that, I was a Chapter One Aide/substitute teacher there (Dist 5 Commissioner Cecilia Jones was teaching kindergarten there at the time). I LOVE that place. Back in the day, it was the main gathering place for the entire South Walton community -- the only place big enough to hold us all. In return for allowing the community use the auditorium for meetings and such, the entire community was an enormous support to the school, raising funds, volunteering, painting the fence, whatever. Tom Stein always did auctions, and hay rides for the Halloween Carnival. I remember one year in particular, we did a Gong Show fundraiser for the school and it was hilarious! Stand up comics (Tyrone McCarthy?), acrobatic tricks by a retired but still quite young and vivacious exotic dancer (vavoom), a real goofy night of fun.

It was such a sweet time, and I for one am delighted we've managed to keep it in use as a school. Love it that the kids can walk down to Eden for picnics, science, nature, etc.

Since those sweet days at Bay, it seems like all kinds of liability issues and who's - gonna-clean-up-and-lock-up issues have made it so community can't use any of the public school spaces any more. At least, last time I checked that was the default policy. Wish we could find a way around that so those publicly owned facilities could be used for more than school months/hours. Especially since we still don't have a community center down here. I must stop rambling, LOL.

 

[Susan Horn]

Walton County, Florida Online

For anyone who's interested, there's another Planning Commission meeting about proposed Comp Plan amendments this Wednesday at 5 p.m., South Walton Annex. Elements to be considered at this meeting are:

Economic Development
Housing
Coastal Zone Conservation

To view these and other elements, contact the Planning Department and ask to receive them via e-mail. 267.1955. Or go in person and request hard copies (there may be a small charge). Or go in person and read the copy they put out for public viewing.

I've had a look at Housing and Economic Development, but just got my hands on the Conservation one. It's 27 pages. All three seem to be very important and inextricably interrelated with each other and all other elements I've looked at so far.

Would love to hear comments from any sowallers who take the time to review these documents.

Dates, times and locations of this and all other Plannig Commission, BCC, etc., meetings are legally noticed in the DeFuniak Springs Herald-Breeze, and are also posted on the county's website. Very often, meeting agendas, and documents to be considered/discussed at these meetings are usually available on the county website a few days prior to the meetings. f not available online, they are available at the Planning Department office.

 

[Kurt]

Added to SoWal.com home page.

 

[Chandra]

SWCC Forum on Transect Planning

A citizen-based process that could result in a Transect Planning Code for Walton County will be explained and illustrated in a slide show when the South Walton Community Council presents its monthly public forum, May 28, at 7 pm at the Coastal Branch Library.

The presentation of Transect planning, urban design and smart growth will be given by Mark Schnell, urban designer and planner based in Seagrove Beach. He provides visioning, design codes and design review for both public and private sector clients. This program is very timely as the county is in the process of amending and revising many elements of the Walton Comprehensive Plan which affects everyone who lives, works and plays in the community.

Schnell has worked nationally and internationally to create sustainable places, with an emphasis on walkable mixed-use communities. The presentation was created by a group of concerned citizens with expertise in architecture, planning and the environment.

This forum is one of the monthly series sponsored by SWCC and is open to the public at no charge. SWCC will also display the documentary sea turtle protection films they have had made for television public service announcements and other uses. For more information call Ella Caro, 231-6038.

 

[Jdarg]

Looking forward to this- thanks for the reminder, Chandra!

 

[Busta Hustle]

How did the presentation go?
Mixed use and walkable? Where do the visitors park? Or are the commercial props sustained from inside community? If visitors allowed have developer's found a way to keep the parking space cost under say $20,000 a piece?

The Point Washington State Forest lands and Eglin have left developers with only so much land to work with. Is this movement just a way to justify more units per acre? I think we already call .07 acres a buildable lot. The old land use and density rules were much more sustainable, environmentally.

We could do a great service to the ecco of the area by reducing speed limits on North-South roads in SOWAL to 35mph and the sections of 30_a that are above that speed limit. That would then make the bay to beach roads legal for electric vehicles. (Gem Cars, golf carts)

Also this seems like a really great idea in reclaimed urban areas like abandoned downtowns in Cleveland , Detroit, New Orleans etc. I am just not sure it relates well to undeveloped piney woods in the panhandle

 

[Andy A]

In fairness to the presentation by Mark Schnell, there is no way to reiterate what transpired last night, BH. You had to be there. The presentation was one of the best I have ever seen on community planning. It was set up in such a way as to be very easy to follow and understand. The crux of the matter is transect planning definitely has a place in the future development of Walton County as an enjoyable and pleasant place to live.
To accomplish it or even a quasi-version of the concept will not be easy, but then the proper development of any land area is never so. It does appear to be on the right track for our needs and desires here in Walton County, IMO.
To sum up, the presentation was excellent, informative and very well presentated. Kudos to Mark Schnell for a very productive and useful evening.
Oh, and BTW, all your questions would have been answered had you been there.

 

[Busta Hustle]

In fairness to the presentation by Mark Schnell, there is no way to reiterate what transpired last night, BH.
Oh, and BTW, all your questions would have been answered had you been there.

Was working but thanks. Maybe be we will get lucky and Shelly was there and can give us a report. Oh wait I see post 37 so it's all good.

 

[TechPyle]

The "folks you know" are also afraid to cross the bridge because of all the rabid environmentalists down here. :roll:

Speaking for the slightly more rational Defuniak folks I know, they would love to have a more comprehensive plan and some smart planning in Sowal. Many have property, beach homes, jobs, or relatives that would be affected by these decisions.

I guess that makes me one of the less rational rednecks. South Walton Politics revolve around trying to control what your neighbor can or cannot do on thier on property. The idea to force someone to build a certain way, to force a color scheme, to require certain square footage for houses on certain lots. This is all to control what someone else wants to do on property they own. How about dealing with your own property and leave your neighbor alone. The idea of zoning allowing mixed commercial and residential areas is great until you add in the reality of noise and noise ordinances. People really working and making a living interfering with thier neighbors by waking them up. Call the police my neighbor is breaking the noise ordinance by building a boat on his property. These new urban towns are mostly FAKE. No one wants to live next to real businesses that makes real products and employees many real people and put money in thier pockets. People complain about everything noise from bands, aircraft, conjestion, drunks, neighbors having parties, in the end everyone likes the idea of a utopia where every lives and works in walking distance but the reality is if you don't incorporate real money making businesses that require extensive material, people, space, and more, then the only people that can live in your "Multiuse" invironement are people who alread have substaintial money and don't have to wory about feeding thier family. Yes on some small scales the idea will work but mostly the self sufficient town is not possible. Someone said DeFuniak was but that is not correct. DeFuniak was the town but it supplied and was supplied by the farmers, loggers, and other around the town. The stores in DeFuniak purchased wares from outside of the are and sold to locals. Some locals worked in these mom and pop stores but most people worked on farms or logging or Coke factory or Chicken Plant (and in your ideal town who gets to live next to the rendering plant at the Chicken Plant). DeFuniak could not have survived by itself any more than Seaside could today.