25 Story Condo proposed in Walton County!!!

[Beach Runner]

I will definitely write letters. This proposed project will go to the Planning Department before it goes to the Board of County Commissioners. So you need to express your concerns to Pat Blackshear, Director of the Planning Department, as well as the members of the Planning Commission. Her contact info is:

Walton County Planning & Development Services
Pat Blackshear, Planning and Development Services Director
31 Coastal Center Blvd, Ste 130
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Telephone: (850) 267-1955
Fax: (850) 622-9133
blapat@co.walton.fl.us

One thing I can't find online is the contact info for the Planning Commission members. Does anyone have that list?

 

[Smiling JOe]

That is true that it goes to the Planning Dept first, but the Planning Staff just follows the rules, and there are no rules for such buildings in NoWal. Don't let that stop you from clogging up Pat's phone lines, but make your first calls to the County Commissioners.


With Albert Parish sitting on the Planning Commission, you may be wasting your time. He owns much land in NoWal.

 

[Teresa]

I just saw the article and could not believe what I was reading. unbelievable.

jdarg, you are right, there ain't nuttin' there. at least not now. I don't get the RV and/or condo thing in jolly bay.

I do know the owners have tried to sell the acreage for quite some time. perhaps they have decided to put together the DO and sell it to a developer. there is something behind this proposal that we don't know.

 

[Beach Runner]

That is true that it goes to the Planning Dept first, but the Planning Staff just follows the rules, and there are no rules for such buildings in NoWal. Don't let that stop you from clogging up Pat's phone lines, but make your first calls to the County Commissioners.


With Albert Parish sitting on the Planning Commission, you may be wasting your time. He owns much land in NoWal.

I have found the Planning Department staff to be very helpful.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Does anyone know which particular parcel this is? Is it the old McDaniel's Fish Camp property?


BeachRunner, I know some of the Staff in the Planning Dept may be helpful, but they are going to go by the rules (usually), and in this case, they would be, unless a rule is made in limiting. They are not elected officials and usually bend over for the developer, in some shape or fashion. Pat has stated on several occasions that she is just doing her job within the means of the law, and she points out in some cases that the law is ambiguous. For this project, there is no ambiguity. There is no height restriction on buildings in NoWal.

 

[Beach Runner]

BeachRunner, I know some of the Staff in the Planning Dept may be helpful, but they are going to go by the rules (usually), and in this case, they would be, unless a rule is made in limiting. They are not elected officials and usually bend over for the developer, in some shape or fashion. Pat has stated on several occasions that she is just doing her job within the means of the law, and she points out in some cases that the law is ambiguous. For this project, there is no ambiguity. There is no height restriction on buildings in NoWal.

I think that both the Land Development Code and the Comprehensive Plan need revisiting to have the best interests of Walton County in mind ... that is, unless the goal is for Walton County to become another four-laned, high-density area like Destin has become. That would make me sad.

 

[SHELLY]

I do know the owners have tried to sell the acreage for quite some time. perhaps they have decided to put together the DO and sell it to a developer. there is something behind this proposal that we don't know.

The plot is fiendishly simple:


(1) They have a dog of a property that they can't sell, just like their neighbors

(2) They are in an area with no restrictions on high-rises

(3) There is no objection to a high-rise in that area by Eglin AFB

(4) They scratch their heads and think :scratch:

(5) They put out a story about a "25-story condo" that will get attention

(6) The proposal jars the county from its sleep to "act"

(7) County can't do a damn thing to deny their 25-story condo...but...

(8) They can slap a building height restriction so no one else can build one

(9) Presto-chango....that ubiquitous piece of dirt is now the ONLY one in the county that will allow such a monstrosity and they'll sell it some time down the road as an "exclusive" parcel to some deep-pocket developer.

I just hope someone at the meeting has the wherewithal to remind the county to tax that property correctly.



.

 

[Smiling JOe]

The plot is fiendishly simple:


(1) They have a dog of a property that they can't sell, just like their neighbors

(2) They are in an area with no restrictions on high-rises

(3) There is no objection to a high-rise in that area by Eglin AFB

(4) They scratch their heads and think :scratch:

(5) They put out a story about a "25-story condo" that will get attention

(6) The proposal jars the county from its sleep to "act"

(7) County can't do a damn thing to deny their 25-story condo...but...

(8) They can slap a building height restriction so no one else can build one

(9) Presto-chango....that ubiquitous piece of dirt is now the ONLY one in the county that will allow such a monstrosity and they'll sell it some time down the road as an "exclusive" parcel to some deep-pocket developer.

Congratulations!!! We have a B-I-N-G-O on the third row.

 

[TooFarTampa]

 

[Smiling JOe]

Brannon's word were very specific about regulating future development.

Alright, let's start digging and see who is related to whom.