By DOTTY NIST
The county commission will have the chance to discuss and consider recommendations for public parking in south Walton County and hear from the public on the topic at three upcoming public meetings.
The commissioners voted on the scheduling of the three meetings at the May 27 Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting at the Walton County Courthouse.
AVCON had been tasked by the county with studying and making recommendations on public parking along the CR-30A and Scenic Gulf Drive corridors, with an emphasis on beach access parking. Company representatives presented their recommendations an April 23 public meeting. The presentation indicated the possibility of the addition of more than 400 new parking spaces within five to 15 years, with “formalization” of existing parking space used by the public accounting for part of that increase.
The meeting format was one of formal presentation and then listening to comments from the public rather than one of question/answer and discussion. At that time it was announced that follow-up meetings would be scheduled for discussion and consideration of the recommendations.
The final recommendation document by AVCON, with comments from the April 23 meeting, along with later input, incorporated, is scheduled to be delivered to the BCC on June 4.
Each of the three upcoming meetings is scheduled to be devoted to a specific study segment. As approved on May 27, they are set up as follows: Scenic Gulf Drive to CR-83 – June 10; CR-83 to CR-395 – July 8; and CR-395 to the CR-30A/U.S. 98 intersection on the east end – Aug. 12.
All three meetings are to begin at 3 p.m. preceding regularly-scheduled BCC meetings at the South Walton Annex.
