By BEN GRAFTON
Changes were evident at the Walton County Planning Commission of Jan.10. First, new member, Suzanne Harris, took her seat on the commission. Second, an armed uniformed sheriff’s deputy was present in the room.
The commission’s attorney presented, for guidance of the commission, overviews of the Florida Sunshine Law, the public records law and the conflict of interest law.
Commission Chairman Tom Terrell read into the meeting record a statement of appreciation for the work done by former Commissioner Greg Catalano.
The commission undertook a review of a proposed county ordinance that would amend Section 12.02.00, Civil Citations, of the Walton County Land Development Code, to delete the amount of fines specified in Section 14.01.00, Designation of Violations and Penalties, and to authorize the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to set fines by resolution. Mac Carpenter, senior county planner, reported that the proposed change has been reviewed by county judges and the sheriff’s department.
Commission members asked questions about details in the proposed ordinance as well as questions about language in other parts of the code related to the same general problem area. Subjects of interest included the amount of time an individual has to respond to a notice of violation (30 days were recommended), how and when people would be notified of what they could and could not do and other similar concerns. In the end, the commission, by three to two, voted to recommend that the BCC approve the ordinance to set fines by resolution.
A resolution of the BCC designating violations and fines for uncontested civil citations was also reviewed by the Planning Commission and returned with a recommendation for approval.
In other business:
In an application for a plat approval, after hearing that the developers of a mini storage facility, to be located north of U.S. 98 in Miramar Beach, have reduced the proposed building size to comply with setback requirements, that they will use a sand filter for handling storm water and will modify the gate design to accommodate emergency vehicles, the commissioners approved a motion to send a recommendation for approval on to the BCC.
The commission then approved motions to send the BCC recommendations for approval of the plats for these projects:
The final plat for a development of eight family lots on approximately one acre designated as NPA/Traditional Neighborhood that is located at 9581 East CR-30A.
A plat development order application requesting approval of an eight-lot residential plat on the south side of Gulfview Circle.
A plat application for a four-lot single family subdivision, with future land use of Village Mixed Use, on the northwest corner of the intersection of CR-30A and Sugar Sand Lane.
A final review of a re-plat of Hotel Palmetto on about one-half acre within the Rosemary Beach P.U.D. with a future land use of Residential Preservation. This property was previously platted as Rosemary Beach Phase 4 and as Hotel Saba.