By DOTTY NIST
This month, 14 land use proposals cleared the Walton County Technical Review Committee (TRC), either moving to the development order stage or to review by another committee or board.
The actions took place at the TRC’s May 6 regular meeting at the South Walton Annex. Approvals were subject to any outstanding comments and concerns brought up by TRC members regarding the proposal being addressed by the applicants.
The TRC provides initial review of technical details of project proposals submitted to the county. TRC members include the county director of planning and development services, county planners, other county staff, and representatives of other entities such as the Walton County Health Department, county fire departments, the South Walton Fire District, South Walton Mosquito Control, the Walton County School Board, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Eglin Air Force Base, and utility companies.
Final consideration for some proposals, generally including those considered minor developments, takes place at the TRC, followed by approved projects being issued development orders. Other proposals, generally those considered major developments, are required to proceed to the Walton County Planning Commission and Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC). Projects proposed for the U.S. 98/U.S. 331 (south of the bay) Scenic Corridor are required to be reviewed and considered by the Scenic Corridor Design Review Board (DRB) after clearing the TRC and before proceeding to the planning commission.
Among proposals getting a green light on May 6 was a 2,474-square-foot building that would be constructed and leased long-term for use as a Hardee’s restaurant. To be located at 3010 U.S. 98 in Santa Rosa Beach, the building would replace the South Bay Marine and Pool Supply business, which is just east of the Chevron Station and “The Caf” restaurant at the northeast corner of the U.S. 98/CR-393 intersection.
The project site is approximately two-thirds acre and is in a Village Mixed Use (VMU) land use area. According to a staff report, there would be an entrance and exit to the restaurant along U.S. 98 and also ingress and egress via an existing road to the north of the building connecting with CR-393.
Deteriorating conditions on the latter road were referenced in engineering comments that were part of the staff report. The applicants were asked if the road had been surveyed for these conditions and if any improvements were planned in connection with the road.
A representative of DH Development Company, project applicant, stated in response to an attendee’s question that a drive-through window was part of the project plans.
According to information provided by planners at the TRC meeting, drive-throughs are an allowable use in Village Mixed Use, Coastal Center, and General Commercial land use areas.
The next step for the Hardee’s application is to be the DRB, since it is proposed for the U.S. 98/U.S. 331 Scenic Corridor. DRB members are tasked with reviewing proposals to ensure that they comply with specific aesthetics-related code standards applying to the corridor, including those related to architecture, paint color, landscaping, site planning, lighting and signage.
The Hardee’s proposal is expected to be on the agenda for the June 4 DRB meeting.
Also clearing the TRC and proceeding to the DRB will be another restaurant proposal, a major development involving an addition to an existing restaurant building on U.S. 98 in Inlet Beach.
“Oystr Bar,” a 3,276-square-foot addition to the Spicy Noodle restaurant, was approved to move forward in the approval process.
According to discussion at the TRC meeting, a previous proposal to tear down and replace the Spicy Noodle building had previously been approved but did not take place. Plans are now to keep the existing building and construct the addition.
Another Inlet Beach proposal, Inlet Beach Commons, was also approved to proceed to the DRB. This is a major development proposal for a 7,192-square-foot commercial retail center planned for a one-acre site at the northeast corner of U.S. 98 and North Wall Street.
In other action, Stock & Trade Design Company, a 57,347-square-foot furniture store proposed for the north side of U.S. 98 1,100 feet west of Veterans Road, was approved to move forward to the DRB.
Another major development business proposal, L and L Marine, will be proceeding to the planning commission. This is a 4,900-square-foot marine service and retail store proposed for 55427 U.S. 331 S. in DeFuniak Springs.
A business proposal considered a minor development was approved to move to the development order stage. This was a 1,170-square-foot addition to the Sunshine Shuttle building at 323 Lynn Drive, in the Neally Business Village.
A number of mixed-use proposals also got nods from the TRC to move forward. The first of these was the Rosemary Beach Parcel A Mixed Use Building, a 5,896-square-foot major development planned to house 5,896 square feet of retail and five condominium units. The location is a one-third-acre parcel at the southeast corner of CR-30A and New Providence Lane in Rosemary Beach.
TRC approvals were garnered for two minor development mixed-use proposals. The first of these was Urban Grace Interiors, a live-work development with two multi-family units and 2,830 square feet of commercial space planned for a half-acre site at the southwest corner of Bay Drive and Little Canal Drive intersection.
Later Arbor Lane Home and Salon, a single-family residence combined with 2,376 square feet of commercial space, received TRC approval. This is to be located on a one-third-acre parcel at 147 Arbor Lane in Santa Rosa Beach.
Residential proposals were not lacking at the meeting. The first of those approved to move forward was WaterSound Origins Phase 2B, a single-family subdivision proposed by the St. Joe Company, consisting of 107 lots on 49.42 acres within the WaterSound North Development of Regional Impact (DRI). The next step for the subdivision will be the planning commission.
Approval, subject to all TRC comments being addressed prior to advertising for the planning commission, was granted for The Woods Subdivision Phase III. This is for 30 single-family subdivision lots on a 15-plus-acre site on the South Side of East Point Washington Road, about one mile east of CR-283.
A 132-space parking lot, proposed as a minor development for the north side of Grand Boulevard on 1.42 acres, was approved to move to the development order stage.
A pool, pool house, and restrooms applied for by the Paradise Cove homeowners’ association were approved as a less-than-minor development.
A proposed replat of a lot into two lots at Alys Beach was approved to move forward to be considered by the BCC. This is Lot 17, Block E, Alys Beach Phase 1A-1 and is located north of CR-30A, one mile west of the U.S. 98/CR-30A intersection.
Three proposals on the meeting agenda were continued. The first of these was Empyrean Place, consisting of four residential lots on 0.607 acres on the east side of Woodward Drive, approximately half a mile north of CR-30A. Questions were raised on the amount of acreage contained in the project site by an attorney representing neighbors of the development. The proposal was continued to the next TRC meeting, which is scheduled for June 3. If all issues and outstanding comments are resolved at that time, it may be heard at the July 9 planning commission meeting.
Also continued was the Ann Thompson Abandonment proposal, which calls for abandonment of a portion of the east 33-foot government easement of Government Lot 73, which is located on the south side of Spooky Lane at 66 Spooky Lane in Santa Rosa Beach. According to discussion at the meeting, the applicant is not asking for the abandonment of a public beach walkover that is contained in the easement.
In addition, a 6,050-square-foot metal warehouse proposed for the end of Lynn Drive in Neally Business Village was continued, as well, due to a request by the property owner to reverse the building and the parking on the plans. It was determined that the owner would have to resubmit with the revised layout.
TRC meetings are regularly held at 8:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the South Walton Annex. These meetings are open to public attendance.
