More growth on hwy 98

[Smiling JOe]

Last week, I reported that Publix plans to open a new grocery store, located slightly west of CR 393. The push to the east, from Destin, is on its way. A new development, with a new and original name, "Pastels," is being planned on the NW corner of Hwy 98 / CR 393. They are hoping to include a big mix of properties, including hotel(s), multi-family units, restaurants, apartments (~225), general office, pharmacy, medical office, grocery and retail (close to 400,000 sf of commercial).

With that much stuff on less than 20 acres, I have no idea where they will find a place to put cars. I bet they will shuttle people from the hotels to the beach at Ed Walline Park -- there goes the neighborhood. Seriously, with perhaps as many as 300 hotels units in addition to the other residential units, where in the hell do they think people will park to access the beach, and on which beach will they rest -- the "public" or "private" beach?

Many of you may think we are near the end of the market in this area, but believe me, the growth is coming right now, before our very eyes. Before you know it, travel times on hwy 98 from one end to the other, will take 45 minutes.

 

[NoHall]

You say it's being planned---does that mean that it has been approved and all that nonsense? Done deal, or still brewing?

 

[Smiling JOe]

You say it's being planned---does that mean that it has been approved and all that nonsense? Done deal, or still brewing?

Not a done deal, but it passed the biggest hurdle by being approved by the WalCo Planning Comm. Now, it will go to the Board of County Comm.(BCC) for final approval. Typically, the BCC approves the projects, relying (or passing the buck) on the Planning Comm to do their job. Unfortunately, with the Planning Dept not giving a rat's @ss about where people will park at the beach, there are some aspects of this particular growth which I am against.