Beaches Of South Walton TDC agrees to support customary use of beaches

[AAbsolute]

people walk along the shore and shallows of the bay all the time, crabbing and fishing. I never ran them off or saw them run off by anyone else.

So we are all talking about the same thing then, whatever freedoms to recreate on the beach we are granting we are also going to grant the public for bays, bayous, lakes, etc.

 

[John R]

based on the above quoted law, it seems that's already happened.

 

[AAbsolute]

based on the above quoted law, it seems that's already happened.

Well I know just the guy's Burnt Pine bayfront property I'll be setting up my beach chair on this summer with my amigo's.

 

[ASH]

Something that I haven't seen come out in this thread yet is walking the shoreline versus setting up camp. I understand that there are folks that are attempting to make it illegal to even walk the shoreline for exercise where it crosses "their" property.
I personally understand the plight of those with liabilities concerned about people setting up in front of their home.

I have a big issue with someone thinking that each beachfront owner can use their own property to get down to their beach and do what they please. These same people should not be able to go for a walk anymore because 100' into their walk, they are now trespassing on their neighbors adjoining property.

Is this really what anyone wants? I pray not.

 

[scooterbug44]

I didn't mention it, because I don't think there is a difference - either you have the right to be there or you don't.................................not to mention the idiotic level of nuance we would then delve into.

Does one need to be in continuous motion, how long is an acceptable time to pause, what is the definition of walking etc. :roll:

We already have rules about littering, public intoxication, items left overnight, lights on the beach, fires, nudity - so if people are misbehaving, there are already ways to deal w/ their rude behavior.

 

[Matt J]

Something that I haven't seen come out in this thread yet is walking the shoreline versus setting up camp. I understand that there are folks that are attempting to make it illegal to even walk the shoreline for exercise where it crosses "their" property.
I personally understand the plight of those with liabilities concerned about people setting up in front of their home.

I have a big issue with someone thinking that each beachfront owner can use their own property to get down to their beach and do what they please. These same people should not be able to go for a walk anymore because 100' into their walk, they are now trespassing on their neighbors adjoining property.

Is this really what anyone wants? I pray not.

I didn't mention it, because I don't think there is a difference - either you have the right to be there or you don't.................................not to mention the idiotic level of nuance we would then delve into.

Does one need to be in continuous motion, how long is an acceptable time to pause, what is the definition of walking etc. :roll:

We already have rules about littering, public intoxication, items left overnight, lights on the beach, fires, nudity - so if people are misbehaving, there are already ways to deal w/ their rude behavior.

Who wants to help me haul a treadmill down to the beach in front of the Retreat?

Officer I'm walking!

 

[Beach Runner]

Something that I haven't seen come out in this thread yet is walking the shoreline versus setting up camp. I understand that there are folks that are attempting to make it illegal to even walk the shoreline for exercise where it crosses "their" property.
I personally understand the plight of those with liabilities concerned about people setting up in front of their home.

I have a big issue with someone thinking that each beachfront owner can use their own property to get down to their beach and do what they please. These same people should not be able to go for a walk anymore because 100' into their walk, they are now trespassing on their neighbors adjoining property.

Is this really what anyone wants? I pray not.

There is a huge difference between walking the shoreline and camping out. Is anyone advocating that people cannot walk the shoreline in front of a property they don't own? I hope not.

 

[AAbsolute]

There is a huge difference between walking the shoreline and camping out. Is anyone advocating that people cannot walk the shoreline in front of a property they don't own? I hope not.

I'm with you on that. When I lived on the bay people would gig flounder at midnight just 10 feet off the shoreline with their water lights and it's natural. I'm having a hard time squaring up that ScooterBug is advocating that people should be able to set up their blankets, chairs and picnic in someone's backyard just because they live on the water. She's not being hypocritical though in saying gulf or bay is the same rules so I have to give props for that much.

I feel pretty sure that most people think the access rules should be different for gulf front landowners than the bay and bayou properties.

 

[Matt J]

There is a huge difference between walking the shoreline and camping out. Is anyone advocating that people cannot walk the shoreline in front of a property they don't own? I hope not.

I'm with you on that. When I lived on the bay people would gig flounder at midnight just 10 feet off the shoreline with their water lights and it's natural. I'm having a hard time squaring up that ScooterBug is advocating that people should be able to set up their blankets, chairs and picnic in someone's backyard just because they live on the water. She's not being hypocritical though in saying gulf or bay is the same rules so I have to give props for that much.

I feel pretty sure that most people think the access rules should be different for gulf front landowners than the bay and bayou properties.

No ones saying that yet, however if we start setting in stone that certain beach is private then you are going to empower the "property rights" people to move onto the next step until they have completed the ultimate task of keeping those who aren't fortunate enough to own or rent gulf front off the beaches all together.

 

[30A Skunkape]

I'm with you on that. When I lived on the bay people would gig flounder at midnight just 10 feet off the shoreline with their water lights and it's natural. I'm having a hard time squaring up that ScooterBug is advocating that people should be able to set up their blankets, chairs and picnic in someone's backyard just because they live on the water. She's not being hypocritical though in saying gulf or bay is the same rules so I have to give props for that much.

I feel pretty sure that most people think the access rules should be different for gulf front landowners than the bay and bayou properties.

It is all about customary use. I used to be a part-time bayfront dweller and I never saw anyone make the silty banks a final destination. The same can't be said about the beach, however-the simple fact is that our community is tourist dollar driven, and tourists come here to go to the beach, not the bay, museums, restaurants or Club LaVela. Tourists on the beach are our lifeblood. The TDC recognizes that screwing up this nucleus will result in dire consequences for the area. Rent-a-cops, rickety 'GO AWAY' signs and hypervigilant beach 'owners' are an afront to the nucleus. In the end, customary beach use will prevail.