Deforestation of Walton County

Preach Dawn.

I have to admit, I was not a preservationist until I moved to Walton County. But you arrive here, and you see the stunning beauty, especially off of the beach. The animals, birds, unique trees and plants. There is even strong indications that Ivory Billed Woodpeckers are still in the county.

It seems that the original Watersound really got it right. Also Watercolor as well. The old St. Joe.

I see it as a factor of two distinctly different counties north and south of the Bay. North sees the "South End" only as a golden goose, not a unique place to be developed intelligently so as to preserve it. Until the full time residents who live south of the Bay surpass the North, and bring in preservation-minded commissioners, the destruction will continue. I hope when that times does come, it's not too late.

Right now, Walton County is the prime example along the Gulf Coast of how not to develop a county and preserve the natural beauty that drew people there in the first place.

Preach Dawn.

I have to admit, I was not a preservationist until I moved to Walton County. But you arrive here, and you see the stunning beauty, especially off of the beach. The animals, birds, unique trees and plants. There is even strong indications that Ivory Billed Woodpeckers are still in the county.

It seems that the original Watersound really got it right. Also Watercolor as well. The old St. Joe.

I see it as a factor of two distinctly different counties north and south of the Bay. North sees the "South End" only as a golden goose, not a unique place to be developed intelligently so as to preserve it. Until the full time residents who live south of the Bay surpass the North, and bring in preservation-minded commissioners, the destruction will continue. I hope when that times does come, it's not too late.

Right now, Walton County is the prime example along the Gulf Coast of how not to develop a county and preserve the natural beauty that drew people there in the first place.

I heard Barbara Morano has filed to run for district 5 commissioner. Could be a real game changer if we can get her elected.

I heard Barbara Morano has filed to run for district 5 commissioner. Could be a real game changer if we can get her elected.

She is running. There are also two other seats that could change if some worthwhile candidates would just step up.

Preach Dawn.

I have to admit, I was not a preservationist until I moved to Walton County. But you arrive here, and you see the stunning beauty, especially off of the beach. The animals, birds, unique trees and plants. There is even strong indications that Ivory Billed Woodpeckers are still in the county.

It seems that the original Watersound really got it right. Also Watercolor as well. The old St. Joe.

I see it as a factor of two distinctly different counties north and south of the Bay. North sees the "South End" only as a golden goose, not a unique place to be developed intelligently so as to preserve it. Until the full time residents who live south of the Bay surpass the North, and bring in preservation-minded commissioners, the destruction will continue. I hope when that times does come, it's not too late.

Right now, Walton County is the prime example along the Gulf Coast of how not to develop a county and preserve the natural beauty that drew people there in the first place.

Nice post unfortunately it seems tooamy people moving here are fine with Horton cracker boxes with 15 foot setbacks and no trees. Some developers would save trees and develop responsibly and make more profit because of it. Now consumers accept s**t at ridiculously high prices.

I heard Barbara Morano has filed to run for district 5 commissioner. Could be a real game changer if we can get her elected.

The cynic in me says she will get torpedoed. If she gets elected she'll be neutered or a lone dissenter. Although one voice is better then nothing I guess. Look at the BCC recent history. The pro development faction got control and have had a stranglehold for awhile now.

Nice to see the hysterics here too.

Go buy it if you want to preserve it.

Most of the land you are upset about being "torn up" is old timber forest that was planted after stripping the natural vegetation away.

We are fortunate to have so much preservation land and many communities would be jealous to have a tenth of what we have.

Nice to see the hysterics here too.

Go buy it if you want to preserve it.

Most of the land you are upset about being "torn up" is old timber forest that was planted after stripping the natural vegetation away.

We are fortunate to have so much preservation land and many communities would be jealous to have a tenth of what we have.

Yep, you would be foolish not to develop your land to its highest and best use.

Nice to see the hysterics here too.

Go buy it if you want to preserve it.

Most of the land you are upset about being "torn up" is old timber forest that was planted after stripping the natural vegetation away.

We are fortunate to have so much preservation land and many communities would be jealous to have a tenth of what we have.

Is it safe to assume you are all about "customary use"?

How can you assume you know what land Dawn, or myself, are referring to?

The only reason there is preservation land, state forest land, is because the state preserved it. The county would love to confiscate those lands. Heck, they keep ordering $600,000 studies to "study" dissecting state forest for a St. Joe-ordered thoroughfare connecting 30A to the Hwy 98 Test Track.
Further, I don't know the details, but I know its a miracle that Topsail Preserve even exists.

Is it safe to assume you are all about "customary use"?

How can you assume you know what land Dawn, or myself, are referring to?

The only reason there is preservation land, state forest land, is because the state preserved it. The county would love to confiscate those lands. Heck, they keep ordering $600,000 studies to "study" dissecting state forest for a St. Joe-ordered thoroughfare connecting 30A to the Hwy 98 Test Track.
Further, I don't know the details, but I know its a miracle that Topsail Preserve even exists.

Do a search on this forum for Topsail and it's all here in an old thread.

Unfortunately the road through the state forest is moving forward and seems like a done deal.

Is it safe to assume you are all about "customary use"?

How can you assume you know what land Dawn, or myself, are referring to?

The only reason there is preservation land, state forest land, is because the state preserved it. The county would love to confiscate those lands. Heck, they keep ordering $600,000 studies to "study" dissecting state forest for a St. Joe-ordered thoroughfare connecting 30A to the Hwy 98 Test Track.
Further, I don't know the details, but I know its a miracle that Topsail Preserve even exists.

Is it safe to assume you'll be condescending in all of your replies?

Our state forest only exists because a developer went bankrupt after purchasing the land from the St. Joe Paper company, it's why you see their concrete property markers on state lands.

When that land went up for foreclosure auction it was purchased and then given to the state. Topsail state preserve was given that unique distinction as the land from western end of 30A extending east had never been cleared or forested so is in fact original scrub that is hundreds, if not thousands of years old.

Regarding the road through the state forest, you can thank local "environmentalist" Dave Rauschkalb who kicked off and has spearheaded this effort. I 100% oppose the forest road.

The original post incorrectly stated that JOE was careful and never clear cut. This is simply not true. Every lot in WaterColor, Watersound and the Retreat that has a home on it was clear cut to the lot lines, however JOE required replanting after construction.

The original post also never really clarified what it is in reference to.

Is this any different than saying I really enjoyed my neighbor’s exotic car collection but then he sold them all and now I’m pissed I have to look at Toyotas? If it’s private property we are griping about then make an offer to buy it and if not then who are we to dictate to others what must be done with it?

Is this any different than saying I really enjoyed my neighbor’s exotic car collection but then he sold them all and now I’m pissed I have to look at Toyotas? If it’s private property we are griping about then make an offer to buy it and if not then who are we to dictate to others what must be done with it?

Yes it is different. And your analogy is inane.

Communities have values and norms and laws to prevent stupid, uncaring, greedy people and corporations from doing whatever they want.

Thank goodness we still have people among us who care about the environment and our quality of life and protect us from callousness.

Communities typically have laws that are set by the land owners and developers who built them. Especially planned communities which are overwhelmingly what exist it South Walton.

This kind of entitlement to other people’s property is typically not associated with Florida. New York? Sure. But that’s why people are leaving in droves.

A community CAN do it right regarding preservation while allowing for a nice place to live. I always look at Hilton Head Island for a good (not perfect) example. Has anyone else visited and knows what I am talking about?

Hilton Head requires a natural barrier or "screen" of trees, foilage, etc. between the main roads and the buisnesses behind. Example would be that the Walmart on the Island is nearly impossible to find due to no signage, etc.

Walton County has become the poster child of how to do it wrong IMO.

A community CAN do it right regarding preservation while allowing for a nice place to live. I always look at Hilton Head Island for a good (not perfect) example. Has anyone else visited and knows what I am talking about?

Hilton Head requires a natural barrier or "screen" of trees, foilage, etc. between the main roads and the buisnesses behind. Example would be that the Walmart on the Island is nearly impossible to find due to no signage, etc.

Walton County has become the poster child of how to do it wrong IMO.

Hilton Head is nice - developers pitched a fit and fought it but ended up making more money than ever becuse of demand and rising values becasue of controls. Walton County is short sighted. Grab it all NOW!!!

A lot of people come here because they've been priced out of Hilton Head. When did our goal become gentrification?

A lot of people come here because they've been priced out of Hilton Head. When did our goal become gentrification?

How is deforestation leading to new development's gentrification? I thought gentrification was when new residents/investment/capital come in to an existing neighborhood and squeeze/price out the existing residents?

I was using HHI as an example of how to mostly do it right. I would also add Fairhope to that list.

HH is gorgeous. I love even going to the Publix there that is buried in what feels like a jungle of trees. But comparing that to Walton misses the point. Every area is different. South of 98 is developed beyond any point of control. Yet you still have an huge swatch of state owned park land. And north of 98, is more or less undeveloped. So I don’t get the complaints. From 395 to the bridge over Powell, there’s what? 30 Avenue, Origins, and Peach Creek with the Commerce Park buried in a pine forest. You’ve literally got miles upon miles of undeveloped land between the state parks and St Joe land. Over the next decade they want to put a traffic relieving parkway with a bridge over the Intracoastal. So what? Compare this to any other part of Florida and you guys are spoiled.

HH is gorgeous. I love even going to the Publix there that is buried in what feels like a jungle of trees. But comparing that to Walton misses the point. Every area is different. South of 98 is developed beyond any point of control. Yet you still have an huge swatch of state owned park land. And north of 98, is more or less undeveloped. So I don’t get the complaints. From 395 to the bridge over Powell, there’s what? 30 Avenue, Origins, and Peach Creek with the Commerce Park buried in a pine forest. You’ve literally got miles upon miles of undeveloped land between the state parks and St Joe land. Over the next decade they want to put a traffic relieving parkway with a bridge over the Intracoastal. So what? Compare this to any other part of Florida and you guys are spoiled.

You're new. For starters, you don't know much about the area between 395 and Inlet Beach. On this forum you can read about new development near Peach Creek and CI church with over a thousand apartments and homes. Thousands of homes and commercial coming to Watersound and an expressway over the intracoastal opening up thousands of more acres for development.

But my concern is more about areas that ARE available for development and the unwise density and the unfortunate scraping of every square inch.

Paving paradise is depressing and counterproductive to our well being spiritually, emotionally and financially.

Going through the administrative approval process is what any rational land owner would do. It can take years to even get approvals. Then you need funding. The goal for approvals is almost always maximum density.

I just think you guys are getting scared of boogeymen that aren’t really that scary, and may not even occur. It’s easy to hear 1,500 homes approved and run with it. But does anyone really understand how long that takes? Watersound Origins has existed for over a decade and just recently got to 1,000. Forest View bought the 100 acres around Dune Lakes Elementary almost 20 years ago and you have an apartment complex, some self storage, and the Walmart. Topsail/Hewett Rd has a 1000 or so home project that has been working its way through the approval process for 5 years, and if they break ground by 2026 expect to finish in….2042. Watersound Company over the next 5 years is building 200 more homes at Longleaf Park, an Art Park for the public, and a 300 unit multifamily complex. It remains to be seen whether there is even the demand for these, as the number of units seems to far outstrip the population growth. Not everything you hear about or every developers ambition is just going to sprout up out of the ground tomorrow.

Going through the administrative approval process is what any rational land owner would do. It can take years to even get approvals. Then you need funding. The goal for approvals is almost always maximum density.

I just think you guys are getting scared of boogeymen that aren’t really that scary, and may not even occur. It’s easy to hear 1,500 homes approved and run with it. But does anyone really understand how long that takes? Watersound Origins has existed for over a decade and just recently got to 1,000. Forest View bought the 100 acres around Dune Lakes Elementary almost 20 years ago and you have an apartment complex, some self storage, and the Walmart. Topsail/Hewett Rd has a 1000 or so home project that has been working its way through the approval process for 5 years, and if they break ground by 2026 expect to finish in….2042. Watersound Company over the next 5 years is building 200 more homes at Longleaf Park, an Art Park for the public, and a 300 unit multifamily complex. It remains to be seen whether there is even the demand for these, as the number of units seems to far outstrip the population growth. Not everything you hear about or every developers ambition is just going to sprout up out of the ground tomorrow.

Sorry if this offends but your mentality is a big part of the problem. The speed of change has nothing to do with my point. It is the nature of it.

Another red flag is whenever someone mentions conservation or careful planning is the typical response of "but look at all the state forest and parks". It is because people cared about the land and quality of life in the past that we have them and we should strive to continue the legacy gifted to us, not use it as an excuse to do whatever we want on private and county owned property.

"Maximum Density" and "Highest and Best Value" are developers', builders', realtors', investors' terms which are at odds with sensible regulations and planning, and often are contradictory, in that restraint and care create more value which is shown time and time again.

Alas, greed and money pressures cause shortsightedness and mistakes. It's the system we find ourselves in I understand. It takes strength to go against the flow but is worth the effort.

I don’t entirely disagree with some of that, but to me, again, as someone who’s newer and now residing rather than visiting, the area absolutely lacks critical infrastructure. The biggest problems I see, is that the economic engine is conditioned to rely on tourism and real estate related transactions or projects.

It is setup, to serve wealthy tourists, not residents. Everything south of 98 fits that bill. And that’s fine and all, many places have their niche and need to lean on their strengths to pay the bills. But it’s only with more development that the residential aspects get addressed. The schools are packed, the roads a disaster. Everything is unnecessarily expensive.

Development solves a lot of this. It’s great that pizzas cost $40 because Inlet Beach refuses to do much “big corporate” stuff. It’s great having all the local “cafes” that want $7 for a black coffee. But this isn’t really in the best interests of people who aren’t visiting for a week in June. Yet the locals rage because ONE McDonalds was given the green light over on the west side of 98. If you want more teachers you need normal people homes to get built above 98. Which means DR Horton boxes.

If the goal is to be completely off the grid amongst nature there’s plenty of that up 331. There’s beachfront options with that lifestyle in Port St Joe which will not be developed in either of our lifetimes. But South Walton is a unique place and it seems ready to become a real, year round residential area. What’s holding it back it seems is the 2nd and 3rd home folks don’t care, and too many locals want to fight everything because they feel it’s overdeveloped. But bring in anyone else from the state of Florida and the last word you’ll hear used to describe this area is “overdeveloped”. Sometimes there’s growing pains during transitions, but if it’s done right, it’s worth it in the long run. Locals need to relax, 98 is never going to be I4.

I don’t entirely disagree with some of that, but to me, again, as someone who’s newer and now residing rather than visiting, the area absolutely lacks critical infrastructure. The biggest problems I see, is that the economic engine is conditioned to rely on tourism and real estate related transactions or projects.

By problem I assume you mean a lot of service jobs that don't pay enough to make a living. But there are a lot of people making BIG money and a lot of them are recent residents.



It is setup, to serve wealthy tourists, not residents. Everything south of 98 fits that bill. And that’s fine and all, many places have their niche and need to lean on their strengths to pay the bills. But it’s only with more development that the residential aspects get addressed. The schools are packed, the roads a disaster. Everything is unnecessarily expensive.

Development solves a lot of this. It’s great that pizzas cost $40 because Inlet Beach refuses to do much “big corporate” stuff. It’s great having all the local “cafes” that want $7 for a black coffee. But this isn’t really in the best interests of people who aren’t visiting for a week in June. Yet the locals rage because ONE McDonalds was given the green light over on the west side of 98. If you want more teachers you need normal people homes to get built above 98. Which means DR Horton boxes.

Pretzel logic. We're overdeveloped and infrastructure is lacking so let's develop more.

Locals raging about McDonald's? I am not on social media so can't speak to that, but fast food has gotten very expensive and sux. Inlet Beach is wide open - but Seaside, Alys etc. does prefer local business owners and no chains. Do we need more high price tourist traps though? Chain or not?



If the goal is to be completely off the grid amongst nature there’s plenty of that up 331. There’s beachfront options with that lifestyle in Port St Joe which will not be developed in either of our lifetimes.

Areas near the beach are building like crazy and even sleepy Port St. Joe is growing. Again your timeline may be off. Just because there is available beachfront doesn't mean they don't need to protect themselves also.




But South Walton is a unique place and it seems ready to become a real, year round residential area. What’s holding it back it seems is the 2nd and 3rd home folks don’t care, and too many locals want to fight everything because they feel it’s overdeveloped. But bring in anyone else from the state of Florida and the last word you’ll hear used to describe this area is “overdeveloped”. Sometimes there’s growing pains during transitions, but if it’s done right, it’s worth it in the long run. Locals need to relax, 98 is never going to be I4.

It's already year round - witness threads in the real estate forum about thousands of apartments and homes and prices going up and up - even Horton is too expensive in Owl's Head - teachers and the like can't afford them.

All of 98 will be 6, then 8 lanes before you know it. Because of runaway development. When you can't even get to the beach or onto 30A because traffic is bumper to bumper, you'll lament the good old days, and maybe wonder why you wanted more more more.

Guess we can just agree to disagree.

The state, and even more so the county are unquestionably growing. This will not stop no matter how badly people want it to. HWY 98 is not really functional as a 2 lane highway anymore. This is going to get worse, not better, regardless of future development. Watersound Parkway and 395 functioning as pretty much the only path from 30A to 98, does not work and will only get worse. And even there, if it wasn’t for a developer, using their own land, you wouldn’t have the Parkway either.

The school situation needs to be addressed. So far, the only people whom have accelerated any material improvements as far as the schools go, are….drumroll, developers.

People wince at another Walmart being built, but the reason Publix can charge $7 for a box of cereal and $6 for a bottle of salad dressing is because they know people won’t drive 30 minutes each way east or west to the Walmart where those items are $2.99 and $2.49.

On beach traffic, it is what it is. Apparently customary use is going to kill tourism so if that overreaction comes to fruition then traffic should ease.

Guess we can just agree to disagree.

The state, and even more so the county are unquestionably growing. This will not stop no matter how badly people want it to. HWY 98 is not really functional as a 2 lane highway anymore. This is going to get worse, not better, regardless of future development. Watersound Parkway and 395 functioning as pretty much the only path from 30A to 98, does not work and will only get worse. And even there, if it wasn’t for a developer, using their own land, you wouldn’t have the Parkway either.

The school situation needs to be addressed. So far, the only people whom have accelerated any material improvements as far as the schools go, are….drumroll, developers.

People wince at another Walmart being built, but the reason Publix can charge $7 for a box of cereal and $6 for a bottle of salad dressing is because they know people won’t drive 30 minutes each way east or west to the Walmart where those items are $2.99 and $2.49.

On beach traffic, it is what it is. Apparently customary use is going to kill tourism so if that overreaction comes to fruition then traffic should ease.

Almost every sentence is wrong. Do you even live here?

98 is not 2 lanes. It is 4 lanes between west end of Panama City Beach and the newly added lanes at the west end of 30A.

Hwy 395 and Watersound parkway the only paths? Ever been on 283, 83 or 393? Plus 30A intersects with 98 twice.

Customary use doesn't harm tourism. The opposite.

No one said to stop development. Just developing with common sense instead of selling out totally like almost every other place in Florida that has been ruined over the last 100 years. Or at least develop without scraping the land. Old growth trees were almost completely removed from our landscape in SoWal 100 years ago. And just when we're starting to recover, builders are allowed to remove everything and plant non native plants and palm trees. It's idiotic.