Hampton Inn Seagrove Beach on Chateau Hotel Property

I keep seeing where there is a meeting on the 14th. Is that the planning commission meeting or the meeting of the county commission?

Planning Commission

I take it that Mr. Davis is the owner or part owner of the property? Is this the same Mr. Davis that the state "bought" a million dollar plus piece of property to "protect" Eglin AFB from development and he still owns the property? And the same guy who recently sold the school district property to build a future school? And isn't he the same guy who has contributed thousands to all of Walton County's elected officials?

:scratch: Now that this info has come to light and he is directing all correspondence to his attorney seems like some good ol" Walton county back scratching is behind all this.

Front page news in this morning fish wrapper

Normally zoning or land use code decisions are decided on a case by case basis by the planning commission and the BCC. There is no precedent set by previous court decisions. Also, decisions are not normally fought by property owners unless you have a ton of money like Jay Odom has. If Walton County had ridgid zoning codes instead of vague land use codes, Jay Odom would never have won his case if his request did not fall in a proper zoning area. Proper zoning is the difference between controlled well planned growth and helter schelter development.

I believe Mr. Davis also has a ton of money. Possibly more than Mr. Odom. And both seem to have a lot of influence with politicians. I understand Odom managed to have a highway moved to accommodate one of his developments. And since Mr. Davis is already deferring to his lawyer, I suspect that he's able to out lawyer his opponents.

I think this is a horrible idea. Worse then the dollar general. As far as density goes, Walton county has already screwed the pouch on that one. IE they approved another hotel to go into the land next to Rosemary Beach and we know how crowded that area already is. Look at the Seacrest beach beach access area that they share with Sunset. No way that can accommodate that much density. Plus Alys Beach has a ton of more growing to go. However at least they are putting in a boutique upscale hotel. A Ramada Inn is on the lower end of the hotel chains and I believe it will negatively impact property values throughout Seagrove. What's next? Walmart? Tattoo parlors? Scooter Rentals? Fast Food? Night Clubs? It just doesn't fit with the current zoning and will bring in more of the spring break crowd that has pulled down the PCB property values, which they are now having to figure out how to clean it up. I know Seaducer said something along the lines of being pro property rights but this infringes/devalues the property rights and values of the property in Seagrove and possibly the entire 30A. If you want to develop your property to the max be my guest but make sure your can account for the water drainage and have a little more class then putting in a Ramada Inn, motel 6, ect. The Chateau works, Ramada Inn doesnt

Are they building a Ramada Inn too? And I thought Butterfly already rented scooters in Seagrove Beach. I also hate what's happened to Seagrove Beach but more building and development is coming and there appears to be no stopping it. That's why I moved away from Seagrove. What we found in Seagrove Beach and 30a more than 20 years ago is gone forever.

Here is a link to the good guy's blog. Looks like some concrete opposition points are being uncovered.
http://lovemy30a.com/2015/01/10/30a-hampton-inn-development-update/

The points being made in the blog are all valid and consistent with proper land use development for the proposed area.

"spirit" of the code doesn't hold much water in the legal process. And the discretion of the county commissioners is what should worry some people. Money usually is a big influence on the discretion of politicians.

I live in the neighborhood south of where the Hampton Inn is proposed. Our street would be a main thoroughfare for hotel visitors making their way to the beach. Needless to say, I oppose the proposal.

I sent an email to my county commissioner along with other commissioners and their aides. I also copied Brian Underwood on the planning staff. There is no contact info for the planning commissioners on the county website. If someone knows let me know. Here are the points I made. Yes it is long, but there are a lot of reasons not to approve this development.

1. TRAFFIC ON 30A - If you have driven on 30A, especially during the peak season, then you will understand the current traffic situation. It is dismal. Traffic comes to a gridlock at certain times and makes it impossible to travel by car – especially in the direction Highway 98 via County Road 395. Add an additional 90+ cars to this load and you have a recipe for extreme frustration.


2. PEOPLE CONCENTRATION - A hotel places too many people in a concentrated area. Nowhere else on 30A is there a development that places this many people in such a concentrated area.


3. FUTURE NEARBY DEVELOPMENT - Additional development (another hotel I understand) is being proposed for a nearby parcel – south of Greenway Park housing development – less than 0.1 mile away. Two hotels in such a small area will create a nightmare of traffic, people walking and driving through our neighborhood, and additional pressure on inadequate traffic and beach resources.


4. DISTANCE TO HIGHWAY 98 - The location of this development if farther away from Highway 98 than just about any other parcel on Highway 30A. To the west it is about 5.0 miles to Highway 98 via two lane 30A and Country Rd. 395 and through the VERY congested intersection of 30A and County Rd 395 at Seagrove. To the east it is 5.3 miles to Highway 98, again via two lane 30A. Visitors to this hotel will have to drive further on 30A than any other visitors to the area.


5. ROUTE AND DISTANCE OF FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL – We have excellent fire protection and emergency medical personnel with the South Walton Fire District, but if the fire fighters and EMTs can’t get to you quickly, it does you no good.
To the west, the closest fire protection is 3.0 miles away at Watercolor Crossings. This doesn’t sound like very far, but there is only one route – Highway 30 through Seagrove. When traffic is at gridlock, fire trucks will not be able to make it down 30A in a timely fashion. This endangers the visiting public and existing residents.
To the east the closest fire protection is 7 miles away at Inlet Beach. Again, travel down 30A is the only route.
Heavier traffic on 2-lane Highway 30A increases response time of fire fighters and EMTs.


6. ROUTE AND DISTANCE OF POLICE PROTECTION - Again, two lane 30A creates an impediment to law enforcement personnel and increases their response time. Especially during peak periods.


7. INADEQUATE LAW ENFORCEMENT – We appreciate our Sheriffs department, but they cannot police the crowds that are currently visiting South Walton. My family uses the beach at Eastern Lake and we rarely see the sheriffs department patrolling our area. This inadequate enforcement causes “locals” to take it on themselves to “police” the tourist, which usually turns into an argument, and potentially violence.
The additional glass bottles, trash, etc. will only increase – again with little to no enforcement by law enforcement.
Beach equipment is regularly left on the beach overnight with no consequences for the violators.
The outflow of Eastern Lake is regularly dug out by tourists, which as I understand is a federal crime. Two years ago I witnessed a local individual who lives on the lake try to stop a tourist from digging out the lake. A fight ensured. The sheriff eventually arrived, but no action was taken.
Adding 360+ people (90 rooms @ 4 people a room) will only add to this problem. Law enforcement either cannot or chooses not to enforce rules on the beach. Tourists seem to be exempt for the laws.


8. NO LIFE GUARDS ON DUTY IN THE AREA – There are no lifeguards at the Eastern Lake or Ramsgate entrances. The closest lifeguard is 1.5 miles to the west. My wife and I regularly use the Eastern Lake entrance and have seen a life guard twice. Drowning deaths on the beach are bound to increase.


9. NO DEEDED BEACH OR ACCESS – A development of this size should have its own deeded beach and access. For a development of this size to rely on public beach access seems to be a poor plan.


10. DISTANCE TO BEACH ACCESS – The nearest beach access is ½ mile away from the proposed Hampton Inn, which will means most folks will drive or try to drive to the beach. This will also tempt these folks to leave their beach equipment on the beach overnight. This is illegal and currently happens everyday with NO ENFORCEMENT by county personnel.


11. INADEQUATE BEACH ACCESS - Inadequate beach access at the Eastern Lake and at Ramsgate entrances. I can provide pictures if needed.
EASTERN LAKE ACCESS - In order to get to the beach at Eastern Lake, you have to wade across the lake outflow. The outflow from the lake has caused severe erosion at the entrance and nearby homes. The erosion is so severe in fact, that the county has placed a sign at the entrance directing people to use Ramsgate. There are no bathroom facilities at the entrance, which will encourage people from ½ mile away to do their business in the lake, in the gulf, or on the sand.
RAMSGATE ACCESS – This entrance already has a concentration of houses and condos that place tremendous pressure on the beach resource. There are no bathroom facilities at the entrance, which will encourage people from ½ mile away to do their business in the gulf, or on the sand.


12. INADEQUATE PARKING AND LACK OF ENFORCEMENT – There is inadequate parking at both Eastern Lake, and at the Ramsgate beach entrances. Illegal parking goes un-policed at the Eastern Lake entrance.


13. INCREASE IN CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD - A hotel in this area will increase foot traffic through our neighborhood, which will increase crime. We currently have a nice quiet neighborhood, other than the occasional speeding car, and would like to keep it that way.


14. INCREASED DANGER FROM SPEEDING CARS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD – Cars already drive fast down our road, more cars will only add to this problem.


15. INCREASED WEAR AND TEAR ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD - Increased car traffic through our neighborhood will put more wear and tear on a dirt road prone to potholes that the county rarely maintains.


16. INCREASED WATER RUNOFF - A church, a storage area, and a strip mall surround the proposed development on the north, east, and west sides. A culvert on the south side directs water from the property under 30A to our neighborhood. These three areas already have a large concrete slab footprint that produces considerable runoff. An additional 2.4 acres of concrete will only increase the associated petroleum based runoff into Eastern Lake and the surrounding neighborhoods. Ask the poor folks on the north end of Brown St. about runoff and flooding. During 2013 and 2014, the north end of Brown St flooded. The county ran a pump with a hose for 1/4 to 1/2 mile from Brown to near Eastern Lake to drain the floodwaters from Brown. I imagine that more concrete will just add to that problem


17. OUT OF CHARACTER FOR 30A AND SEAGROVE - A hotel is out of character for the 30A and especially the Seagrove area. Seagrove and 30A are under tremendous development pressure but are still is unique. Adding a hotel, especially a Hampton Inn or any other chain, will take away from the unique character. Some beach areas on the gulf coast have gone down hill over the years. Some have gotten down right unsafe for families. South Walton and 30A have an opportunity to not go down that path. Even the western end of Panama City Beach has no chain hotels on the beachfront road.


18. WHAT WILL THE HOTEL TURN INTO IN 20 YEARS – Most likely the Hampton Inn will turn into a lower grade hotel in 20 years such as a Motel 6 or worse.

Everyone who plans to speak at the Thursday meeting needs to do his/her research and read the Walton County Comprehensive Plan so that your points are valid, in line with the plan, and factual.

We all own property and/or vacation in an outstanding location along Highway 30a. It is primarily a vacation destination and a desirable one at that. When we bought, we realized this and knew that vacation destinations, especially if desirable, all tend to see "paradise" "destroyed eventually by an influx of tourists and the resulting development. Look at Hilton Head, Amelia, Palm Beach, Naples, Vail, Steamboat, etc, etc. All started out as "paradise", but eventually the "masses" found these place too. Then came the McDonalds, Holiday Inns, etc. But, they are still great places to live and vacation. A Hampton Inn will not destroy 30a or turn it into Panama City. The corridor is simply to densely developed already to end up like that.

The Hampton Inn is part of the evolution of living in a wonderful vacation destination. Fight hard if you choose to, but eventually someone will find a way to build a couple of chain motels on available land along 30a.

Keep in mind that the Hampton Inn will not really be a problem in terms of future traffic headaches. Instead, you can blame the traffic on the 800 or so units going up in Alys Beach. Or the 1000 units in Watercolor. Or the 400 units in Rosemary. Or Seaside. Etc, etc. The traffic being added due to the Hampton Inn is not even relevant when compared to the traffic jams created by the development in RB, Seaside, RB, Seacrest, etc.

Also why no outcry when The Pearl was built with about 60 rooms. Or the Watercolor Inn with about 60 rooms. Together, they create more traffic than the Hampton Inn will. Hmmm.

We all own property and/or vacation in an outstanding location along Highway 30a. It is primarily a vacation destination and a desirable one at that. When we bought, we realized this and knew that vacation destinations, especially if desirable, all tend to see "paradise" "destroyed eventually by an influx of tourists and the resulting development. Look at Hilton Head, Amelia, Palm Beach, Naples, Vail, Steamboat, etc, etc. All started out as "paradise", but eventually the "masses" found these place too. Then came the McDonalds, Holiday Inns, etc. But, they are still great places to live and vacation. A Hampton Inn will not destroy 30a or turn it into Panama City. The corridor is simply to densely developed already to end up like that. The Hampton Inn is part of the evolution of living in a wonderful vacation destination. Fight hard if you choose to, but eventually someone will find a way to build a couple of chain motels on available land along 30a. Keep in mind that the Hampton Inn will not really be a problem in terms of future traffic headaches. Instead, you can blame the traffic on the 800 or so units going up in Alys Beach. Or the 1000 units in Watercolor. Or the 400 units in Rosemary. Or Seaside. Etc, etc. The traffic being added due to the Hampton Inn is not even relevant when compared to the traffic jams created by the development in RB, Seaside, RB, Seacrest, etc. Also why no outcry when The Pearl was built with about 60 rooms. Or the Watercolor Inn with about 60 rooms. Together, they create more traffic than the Hampton Inn will. Hmmm.

The Pearl and Watercolor Inn are part of communities that have dining, shopping and beach access. When guests arrive, they park their car and don't have to use it for the rest of their stay. This is why the VMU zoning is so important. It creates community and promotes walking and biking as transportation. The Hampton Inn absolutely will cause traffic problems as the guests there will be reliant on their cars for their activities. Where will they eat? Where will they shop? Where will they go to the beach? They will get in their car to access these things.


I am grateful that there are so many people in this community that refuse to accept the fate of 30a as just another Destin, Hilton Head, Vail, or Palm Beach. I don't understand the mindset that paradise lost is just the way things go.

Something to bear in mind. We have land use codes, as useless as they may be, planning departments, planning commissions and a BCC to properly control growth and development. These enities do not always agree and that is fine. But to say any land use is automatically accepted is to belie the reason for all of the above agencies. Common sense and compatibility alone negate the need for a Hampton Inn in the proposed location. You can greatly protect paradise if what is proposed is not in accordance with the area, as is the case here. Let the location move to 98 where it belongs.

Joni Mitchell gets the Final Word here. http://youtu.be/XJIuP7zEVeM

We all own property and/or vacation in an outstanding location along Highway 30a. It is primarily a vacation destination and a desirable one at that. When we bought, we realized this and knew that vacation destinations, especially if desirable, all tend to see "paradise" "destroyed eventually by an influx of tourists and the resulting development. Look at Hilton Head, Amelia, Palm Beach, Naples, Vail, Steamboat, etc, etc. All started out as "paradise", but eventually the "masses" found these place too. Then came the McDonalds, Holiday Inns, etc. But, they are still great places to live and vacation. A Hampton Inn will not destroy 30a or turn it into Panama City. The corridor is simply to densely developed already to end up like that.

The Hampton Inn is part of the evolution of living in a wonderful vacation destination. Fight hard if you choose to, but eventually someone will find a way to build a couple of chain motels on available land along 30a.

Keep in mind that the Hampton Inn will not really be a problem in terms of future traffic headaches. Instead, you can blame the traffic on the 800 or so units going up in Alys Beach. Or the 1000 units in Watercolor. Or the 400 units in Rosemary. Or Seaside. Etc, etc. The traffic being added due to the Hampton Inn is not even relevant when compared to the traffic jams created by the development in RB, Seaside, RB, Seacrest, etc.

Also why no outcry when The Pearl was built with about 60 rooms. Or the Watercolor Inn with about 60 rooms. Together, they create more traffic than the Hampton Inn will. Hmmm.

When do the county commissioners decide?

When do the county commissioners decide?

Well, from previous experience with this process, depending on what is decided on Thursday, it will get shot back to planning and the developer will have to regroup or will be forwarded to the BCC and they and the developer will decide when it will be presented in a BCC meeting. Our neighborhood's process of opposition to a developer took about 6 months (if my memory serves me correctly). BTW we won.

Here's anecdotal evidence. When we were building our new house, we stayed at my sister’s house in Summer's Edge unless they were there or they were letting their friends use it. You can’t believe how many cars from outside the neighborhood parked in her yard and even in her driveway so I couldn’t park there. I’d ask them to move their cars, and they’d always say, “Oh, we didn’t think anyone was staying here, so we thought it was okay to park in the driveway.” I know that technically they can park in the right-of-way, but the driveways are private property. Then they’d trespass over the Summer’s Edge private walkover to get to the Ramsgate neighborhood walkover with no parking. Argh! Of course you know this will get much, much worse if the Hampton Inn is built because those people won't want to drive to the nearest public access with parking and bathrooms.

I can sympathize BR and predict that every parking lot and driveway will house these illegal parkers unless they are gated or have passes they will enforce. Our experience when we lived in a small unit condo (9) on the beach was that we had people using our parking lot and private walkover because they saw it wasn't gated and thought that no one actually lived there full-time to monitor traffic. We did religiously. I'm glad I don't live there anymore and sympathize with those that do.

I can sympathize BR and predict that every parking lot and driveway will house these illegal parkers unless they are gated or have passes they will enforce. Our experience when we lived in a small unit condo (9) on the beach was that we had people using our parking lot and private walkover because they saw it wasn't gated and thought that no one actually lived there full-time to monitor traffic. We did religiously. I'm glad I don't live there anymore and sympathize with those that do.

Argh! I hear ya.

BTW I meant regional access, not public access.

I imagine cars parked illegally can be towed, which would add to the cost of people staying at the Hampton Inn.

I think the planning commission members and any other Walton County officials should make plans to get to the annex in time to get a parking spot for their own meeting. Looks to be record attendance.

I think the planning commission members and any other Walton County officials should make plans to get to the annex in time to get a parking spot for their own meeting. Looks to be record attendance.

If you think people are stirred up now, wait until the very likely rubber stamping approval occurs tonight.

Since the main concern for most posters seems to be beach access for the 90 room hotel, I was curious about thoughts on beach access for the proposed 400 plus townhomes at Prominence.