By DOTTY NIST
The possibility of banning alcohol on the beach during spring break has fizzled out in the face of public opposition, along with a statement from Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) leadership that adequate measures are already in place for maintenance of law and order on the beach.
The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance at the Sept. 8 regular meeting at the South Walton Annex.
After Bay County took action banning drinking and alcohol possession on the beach during spring break 2015, the BCC decided to take a look at following suit. There was concern among commissioners and the public about the possibility of spring breakers shifting west to Walton County as a result of the Bay County action.
County staff had been directed to consult with the WCSO on the potential ordinance.
Addressing the BCC at the Sept. 8 meeting, Maj. Joe Preston commended the BCC for taking a look at the ordinance but made the recommendation not to add another ordinance. Preston explained that the WCSO’s position was that they had all appropriate and necessary measures in place in county ordinance and state law to allow for the enforcement of ordinances against alcohol on the beach.
The WCSO has been very aggressive in recent years in enforcement and the making of arrests in connection with underage drinking. During spring break 2015 the WCSO made 580 arrests for possession of alcohol under the age of 21, the highest number across 28 Florida counties.
Walton County District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander commented that she had originally been in favor of the alcohol ban ordinance but now was of the opinion that what was currently “on the books” might be sufficient. Comander said she would like to see more deputies on the beach. “I would be satisfied with that,” she said.
District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows suggested that the WCSO put together information on any additional deputies they expected to be needed during spring break.
Comander brought up the issue of paying for extra deputies during spring break with TDC funds. Clay Adkinson, attorney for the TDC, commented that two Florida Attorney General (AG) opinions had indicated that law enforcement services, as services that a county is obligated to provide, would be required to be funded through the county’s general fund or from ad valorem taxes. However he observed that other counties have used bed taxes to fund law enforcement for specific purposes apart from general law enforcement.
Walton County Attorney Mark Davis noted that it is important to pay attention to the specific question asked to which the AG opinion is a response.
Comander suggested a look at using the sheriff’s posse and/or beach ambassadors for assistance on the beach, at least in the capacity of contacting law enforcement officers when needed.
Preston said the WCSO has been planning for the next spring break and that they are currently unsure what the impact of Bay County’s action will be. He said contingencies will be put in place for the situation. He agreed to put together the information that Meadows had suggested.
The commissioners discussed the impact of the proposed alcohol ban ordinance on private property, including beachfront lots that are deeded to the gulf. Davis confirmed that the ordinance as drafted would apply to both public and private property.
District 1 Commissioner Bill Chapman recalled that the last time the ordinance had been discussed he had expressed concern that it would have prevented beachfront property owners from having a glass of wine on the beach at sunset on their own property.
There had been public criticism concerning this aspect of the ordinance since the county began to discuss it.
Chapman observed that “the message” about Walton County’s enforcement of existing laws and ordinances “goes out” to spring breakers just as does Bay County’s ban on beach drinking during spring break.
He suggested making no changes for now. The BCC would be able to act later in emergency session on the matter if necessary, Chapman said.
A motion to refrain from taking the ordinance to a second public hearing was approved unanimously, resulting in failure of the ordinance.
Later, in a report on the Gulf Consortium of 23 Florida counties, Comander reported on RESTORE Act news. With $280 million coming to Florida through that measure, Walton County is expected to receive roughly $17 million, coming straight to the county commission to use as they see fit, Comander said. This is on the condition that the consortium determines that projects to be funded are viable, she explained. In response to a question, Comander clarified that these funds are separate from those overseen by the newly-formed Triumph Gulf Coast corporation.
Walton County RESTORE Act Coordinator Billy Williams noted that the agreement providing for the funding discussed by Comander had not been finalized, as the agreement still required a judge’s signature.
In other business, the commissioners took up the proposal for a Hardee’s restaurant near the northeast corner of the U.S. 98/CR-393 intersection in Santa Rosa Beach at the current location of a pool supply business. The busy corner contains a number of other businesses, including a gas station, a hardware store, and a cafeteria.
Brian Underwood of Walton County Planning and Development Services presented the Hardee’s proposal.
The Hardee’s is to have a drive-through window, which Underwood stated is allowed as a general commercial use in the land use area, which is Village Mixed Use.
Meadows said she recalled that drive-thoughs were only allowed in Coastal Center land use categories. She also expressed concern about access to the restaurant property and other businesses on the corner and with traffic circulation on the site with cars lining up for the drive-through.
Upon hearing that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) was examining at options for improvements in the area of the site and the intersection, Meadows suggested delaying a decision on the proposal until the next meeting in order to obtain information on DOT’s plans. A motion to do so carried with all aye votes.
The commissioners also took approximately 1 1/2 hours of testimony and public comment on the Gulf Place Lots 19 and 20 proposal, which calls for 40 multifamily condo-townhome units, a 50-room hotel, and 2,5000 square feet of retail space on a 2.2-acre site in the Gulf Place PUD, north of CR-30A and adjacent to the west side of CR-393.
The proposed hotel in particular has attracted criticism from neighboring residents and property owners, a number of whom addressed the BCC in opposition to the proposal. Most objection has focused on its potential impacts on traffic, parking, and stormwater drainage.
Due to confusion as to whether the proposal was to be heard at the Sept. 8 meeting, the commissioners put off a decision and continued the item to the 5 p.m. Oct. 13 regular BCC meeting at the South Walton Annex.
Continued to that meeting, as well, at the request of the applicant, was the Artisan Square Planned Unit Development (PUD), which calls for five residential lots and 15,456 square feet of commercial and restaurant use of a 3.024-acre site at the northeast corner of CR-395 and Eden Drive in Point Washington.
The possibility of banning alcohol on the beach during spring break has fizzled out in the face of public opposition, along with a statement from Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) leadership that adequate measures are already in place for maintenance of law and order on the beach.
The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance at the Sept. 8 regular meeting at the South Walton Annex.
After Bay County took action banning drinking and alcohol possession on the beach during spring break 2015, the BCC decided to take a look at following suit. There was concern among commissioners and the public about the possibility of spring breakers shifting west to Walton County as a result of the Bay County action.
County staff had been directed to consult with the WCSO on the potential ordinance.
Addressing the BCC at the Sept. 8 meeting, Maj. Joe Preston commended the BCC for taking a look at the ordinance but made the recommendation not to add another ordinance. Preston explained that the WCSO’s position was that they had all appropriate and necessary measures in place in county ordinance and state law to allow for the enforcement of ordinances against alcohol on the beach.
The WCSO has been very aggressive in recent years in enforcement and the making of arrests in connection with underage drinking. During spring break 2015 the WCSO made 580 arrests for possession of alcohol under the age of 21, the highest number across 28 Florida counties.
Walton County District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander commented that she had originally been in favor of the alcohol ban ordinance but now was of the opinion that what was currently “on the books” might be sufficient. Comander said she would like to see more deputies on the beach. “I would be satisfied with that,” she said.
District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows suggested that the WCSO put together information on any additional deputies they expected to be needed during spring break.
Comander brought up the issue of paying for extra deputies during spring break with TDC funds. Clay Adkinson, attorney for the TDC, commented that two Florida Attorney General (AG) opinions had indicated that law enforcement services, as services that a county is obligated to provide, would be required to be funded through the county’s general fund or from ad valorem taxes. However he observed that other counties have used bed taxes to fund law enforcement for specific purposes apart from general law enforcement.
Walton County Attorney Mark Davis noted that it is important to pay attention to the specific question asked to which the AG opinion is a response.
Comander suggested a look at using the sheriff’s posse and/or beach ambassadors for assistance on the beach, at least in the capacity of contacting law enforcement officers when needed.
Preston said the WCSO has been planning for the next spring break and that they are currently unsure what the impact of Bay County’s action will be. He said contingencies will be put in place for the situation. He agreed to put together the information that Meadows had suggested.
The commissioners discussed the impact of the proposed alcohol ban ordinance on private property, including beachfront lots that are deeded to the gulf. Davis confirmed that the ordinance as drafted would apply to both public and private property.
District 1 Commissioner Bill Chapman recalled that the last time the ordinance had been discussed he had expressed concern that it would have prevented beachfront property owners from having a glass of wine on the beach at sunset on their own property.
There had been public criticism concerning this aspect of the ordinance since the county began to discuss it.
Chapman observed that “the message” about Walton County’s enforcement of existing laws and ordinances “goes out” to spring breakers just as does Bay County’s ban on beach drinking during spring break.
He suggested making no changes for now. The BCC would be able to act later in emergency session on the matter if necessary, Chapman said.
A motion to refrain from taking the ordinance to a second public hearing was approved unanimously, resulting in failure of the ordinance.
Later, in a report on the Gulf Consortium of 23 Florida counties, Comander reported on RESTORE Act news. With $280 million coming to Florida through that measure, Walton County is expected to receive roughly $17 million, coming straight to the county commission to use as they see fit, Comander said. This is on the condition that the consortium determines that projects to be funded are viable, she explained. In response to a question, Comander clarified that these funds are separate from those overseen by the newly-formed Triumph Gulf Coast corporation.
Walton County RESTORE Act Coordinator Billy Williams noted that the agreement providing for the funding discussed by Comander had not been finalized, as the agreement still required a judge’s signature.
In other business, the commissioners took up the proposal for a Hardee’s restaurant near the northeast corner of the U.S. 98/CR-393 intersection in Santa Rosa Beach at the current location of a pool supply business. The busy corner contains a number of other businesses, including a gas station, a hardware store, and a cafeteria.
Brian Underwood of Walton County Planning and Development Services presented the Hardee’s proposal.
The Hardee’s is to have a drive-through window, which Underwood stated is allowed as a general commercial use in the land use area, which is Village Mixed Use.
Meadows said she recalled that drive-thoughs were only allowed in Coastal Center land use categories. She also expressed concern about access to the restaurant property and other businesses on the corner and with traffic circulation on the site with cars lining up for the drive-through.
Upon hearing that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) was examining at options for improvements in the area of the site and the intersection, Meadows suggested delaying a decision on the proposal until the next meeting in order to obtain information on DOT’s plans. A motion to do so carried with all aye votes.
The commissioners also took approximately 1 1/2 hours of testimony and public comment on the Gulf Place Lots 19 and 20 proposal, which calls for 40 multifamily condo-townhome units, a 50-room hotel, and 2,5000 square feet of retail space on a 2.2-acre site in the Gulf Place PUD, north of CR-30A and adjacent to the west side of CR-393.
The proposed hotel in particular has attracted criticism from neighboring residents and property owners, a number of whom addressed the BCC in opposition to the proposal. Most objection has focused on its potential impacts on traffic, parking, and stormwater drainage.
Due to confusion as to whether the proposal was to be heard at the Sept. 8 meeting, the commissioners put off a decision and continued the item to the 5 p.m. Oct. 13 regular BCC meeting at the South Walton Annex.
Continued to that meeting, as well, at the request of the applicant, was the Artisan Square Planned Unit Development (PUD), which calls for five residential lots and 15,456 square feet of commercial and restaurant use of a 3.024-acre site at the northeast corner of CR-395 and Eden Drive in Point Washington.