Airport receives final permit

[GoodWitch58]

Chickpea, I pretty much agree...I found myself feeling really sad the other day that the quaint little PCB airport that I so enjoy (after many years of travel all over the world through long security lines, and crowded parking areas, etc. etc.)would be gone and in its place would be another huge airport with long lines...however, that is not the most difficult part for me.

I wonder why, with all the land St Joe owns, that the 2000 acres of wetlands surrounding West Bay is the spot they chose to destroy.....it seems we could have both the wetlands and the Bay and the airport with a bit more thought given to balance.

But, it doesn't seem to work that way here....

 

[Rambunkscious]

Mr Goodwitch, you might (just for kicks) do a little ANALYSIS on what you are talking about. St. Joe has the blessings of the national audubon society AND the local environmental experts in this matter. The only objections are the folks from New York & Tampa, who display their ignorance with every editorial or news story they publish, & are frankly very, very careless with the facts of this project. True, st joe is giving away 4000 acres (a gift from st joe) and ALSO giving away another 9 thousand acres land that joe also owns but has chosen to give it away, to placate the drainage into west bay issue. The project holds enormous economic potential for the area, this was bound to happen with the growth of the area, the peninsula has grown exponentially over the years and I dont see why all the crying when the panhandle choses to do the same thing. Remember its st joes land; if there were not an airport, they could do whatsoever they wanted to with this 13,000 acres without any controls, epa, environmental issues whatsoever. Please consider the facts not the editorials.

 

[TooFarTampa]

I almost never disagree with Howard Troxler -- he's one of the fairest, smartest writers in the state, and his columns are always thoughtful.

I think he's too harsh here, though I do understand his perspective because I grew up along the beaches of Pinellas County, and even as a young child I was disgusted by what was done to the barrier islands in the 70s and 80s in the name of "progress." We've all seen what has happened to Orlando. It is disturbing. The Panhandle has so much natural beauty and to drive along quiet Highway 79 and think of the airport there ... well, that's OK, but what about the loads of gas stations that will pop up, the hotels, the Mickey D's, and what's going to happen to the people who live in Ebro? Of course as a property owner I'm thrilled that potentially we will be able to take a quick, fairly cheap flight up there, but then I ponder a theme park in Bonifay, office parks popping up here and there, wider roads, congestion ...

I really don't have a beef with St. Joe. Haven't read as much as I've been meaning to about the company, but their developments are well done and I think they are going about most things in the right way -- understanding of course that they are entirely motivated by profit. It's the infill developments that concern me, the little guys trying to pack too many units onto an acre and the commissioners that give them permission. And the thought of so much new density along the coastline doesn't seem very smart either.

As Beachmouse and others have pointed out, this will not be another Miami because there is so much conservation land. It is what I and others love most about 30-A. But people in Florida's largest population centers, who don't have a vested interest in anything that's happening in the Panhandle, are going to shake their heads at the thought of why the area feels the need for so much "progress." Because once you get there, you can't go back.

 

[Rambunkscious]

Too Far Tampa, if you agree with the above editorial by Troxler, I think you should reconsider. Its wildly subjective at best. It just isnt true. I dont think I could agree with anything he says based on the above column just written. What is his motivation??? It seems he does not have even a remote handle on this subject. Is it a factual omission or commission, I think both but mostly omission. (you can misrepresent easily by omitting some of the critical facts)

 

[Rambunkscious]

Wow, I read that troxler article again ....what a fine bs specimen.

 

[TooFarTampa]

As I said, I thought it was too harsh in regards to the airport approval. But you'll also see that the airport is merely his jumping off point for a larger rant. And it's a valid, if pessimistic, one:

"In darker hours, I fear that we are just kidding ourselves by worrying about the future of Florida at all. The future was decided a long time ago.

It consists of building something on every vacant piece of land in this state as long as there is a dollar to be made."

We really don't know exactly how the Panhandle is going to look in 25 or 50 years. (The only thing we do know is there will be proportionally more conservation land than in other parts of the state.) But we CAN see, looking back, what has happened elsewhere in Florida, and for the most part it isn't pretty. With proper planning, maybe the Panhandle will be the exception. I think there still is the possibility of that, which is why I think Troxler was too harsh.

 

[Rambunkscious]

Too Far Tampa, yes it was all about the larger rant, which at this point in history is a little late. I agree that central & south florida is ruined & that the panhandle is our only hope; I think the airport has been as carefully planned as possible & all sensitivities are in place. This was not the case in the development of Orlando, Tampa, Miami et al. Joe however was not a factor in those cities, if so things might not have turned out so harshly there.

 

[elgordoboy]

Hey now, this has nothing to do with divine intervention, does it?

Deserves a chuckle

 

[PalmBeach]

When the airport relocates and the sector plan is implemented, 41,000 acres ? more than 60 square miles ? will be designated for conservation forever, protecting the entire West Bay watershed.