Connector Road Between 30A and 98 East of Seagrove

Build another road and all it will do is bring more people in and cut the forest in two in the process. WHEN are we going to make protecting our resources a priority? Seems we are going to pay for study after study for something that has already been discussed ad nauseam. Hopefully the state forest service will protect what Walton County seems unwilling to protect.

Don't count on it. Greed will take state lands if we don't fight for them.

Build another road and all it will do is bring more people in and cut the forest in two in the process. WHEN are we going to make protecting our resources a priority? Seems we are going to pay for study after study for something that has already been discussed ad nauseam. Hopefully the state forest service will protect what Walton County seems unwilling to protect.

And that is what must be done. Emails, phone calls, a campaign to the state decision makers to stop this in its tracks. We, the people must stop this. Walton County created this mess. There are key people at the county level who are pushing their buddies in Tallahassee for this. The state lands should be sacrificed because the dimwits allowed unbridled growth with very little forethought and vision.

And that is what must be done. Emails, phone calls, a campaign to the state decision makers to stop this in its tracks. We, the people must stop this. Walton County created this mess. There are key people at the county level who are pushing their buddies in Tallahassee for this. The state lands should be sacrificed because the dimwits allowed unbridled growth with very little forethought and vision.

Meant to say "state lands should NOT be sacrificed"..

Proposed Seagrove Road Through Point Washington State Forest

Wow! Nothing like a commissioner, the sheriff, and our governor all looking to ignore the express purpose of preserved land and habitat for flora and fauna so we can dump more people into an already congested area. Build a road, they will come!

This forest road idea just won't die! Who actually supports it? Definitely not the majority of people who live here...

Wow! Nothing like a commissioner, the sheriff, and our governor all looking to ignore the express purpose of preserved land and habitat for flora and fauna so we can dump more people into an already congested area. Build a road, they will come!

I do take comfort that the article is from when Rick Scott was governor and that the road did not happen while Rick Scott was governor. Team DeSantis seems to be much more preservation minded.

I do take comfort that the article is from when Rick Scott was governor and that the road did not happen while Rick Scott was governor. Team DeSantis seems to be much more preservation minded.

I believe Governor DeSantis approved the toll road that is going to be funded even though it goes through some area that conservation minded people opposed.

I believe Governor DeSantis approved the toll road that is going to be funded even though it goes through some area that conservation minded people opposed.

He also signed a poll tax that wasn’t part of a voter approved referendum.

Unfortunately times have changed. Back in the day (not too long ago) most people who lived here were passionate about preservation. Now most people who live here are chasing the buck, or just living a "normal" American life - busy and distracted.

I urge people who are passionate about preservation to get involved and organize. There is no reason we shouldn't have a strong preservation group. Check out South Walton Community Council, which has a long legacy of preservation issues. It is an organization with everything needed already on place. We need to come together in this day and age of social media and deals behind closed doors.

The developers and politicians have gotten the upper hand. Until people band together and exert the power of the populace, with adequate work and funding, things are going to go downhill as they have everywhere else in Florida. The momentum of the development dollar has really taken hold here and I don't know if there is any stopping it.

Unfortunately times have changed. Back in the day (not too long ago) most people who lived here were passionate about preservation. Now most people who live here are chasing the buck, or just living a "normal" American life - busy and distracted.

I urge people who are passionate about preservation to get involved and organize. There is no reason we shouldn't have a strong preservation group. Check out South Walton Community Council, which has a long legacy of preservation issues. It is an organization with everything needed already on place. We need to come together in this day and age of social media and deals behind closed doors.

The developers and politicians have gotten the upper hand. Until people band together and exert the power of the populace, with adequate work and funding, things are going to go downhill as they have everywhere else in Florida. The momentum of the development dollar has really taken hold here and I don't know if there is any stopping it.

Do you have contact information for this community Council?

Do you have contact information for this community Council?

South Walton Community Council

Phone
(850) 314-3749

• Website
• Facebook

Walton County

Posted on: July 29, 2019

Meeting: South Walton Connector Road Project Development and Environment (PD&E)
South Walton Connector Road Project Development and Environment (PD&E) from County Road (CR) 30A to State Road (SR) 30 (US 98)


Walton County will hold a public meeting concerning the proposed roadway connection between County Road (CR) 30A and State Road (SR) 30 (US 98) on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at the Dune Lakes Elementary School, 6565 US Highway 98 East, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

This meeting is being conducted to provide interested persons an opportunity to review project data to date, and to express their views regarding the proposed improvements. The intent of this study is to present the conceptual design, and social, economic, and environmental effects of this proposed connection improvement between CR 30A with SR 30 in Walton County.

The meeting will begin with a brief open house, followed by a presentation to the Walton County Board of County Commissioners, and a discussion period to answer questions and obtain feedback.

Persons wishing to submit written statements, in place of or in addition to oral statements, may do so at the meeting or by sending them to Lauren Boes at the contact information listed below. All information postmarked no later than Saturday, August 31, 2019 will become part of the record of the meeting.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Lauren Boes at the contact information listed below at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.

Should you have any questions regarding the project or this meeting, please contact Chance Powell, Walton County Project Manager at (850) 892-8108, or via email at PowChance@co.walton.fl.us, or by mail at 117 Montgomery Circle, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. You may also contact Lauren Boes toll free at (866) 940-7275, or via email at Lauren.Boes@atkinsglobal.com, or in writing at 2639 North Monroe Street, Building C, Tallahassee, FL 32303.

Kurt, thanks for the heads up on this! I sent my comments to Lauren (and Chance)



The community is shaped by those that show up!

Kurt, thanks for the heads up on this! I sent my comments to Lauren (and Chance)



The community is shaped by those that show up!

You're welcome. I'm glad you found it useful and got involved.

Public Meeting held by Walton County on proposed Connector Road through Point Washington State Forest and Deer Lake State Park

Wednesday August 21, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Location: Dune Lakes Elementary 6565 US HWY 98 East

Walton County has funded a study in an attempt to fragment and negatively impact our State Parks and Forest. An Agency meeting was held on May 22 attended by all state and federal agencies responsible for the protection and management of these conservation lands. All of the federal and state agencies said NO! Several utility companies in attendance also said NO. It’s time for the public to say NO to roads through our State Parks and Forest.

Our State Parks and Forest are rapidly becoming the only natural areas in South Walton. An additional road will only bring more traffic to Seagrove/Eastern Lake. This proposed road is to funnel the people from St. Joe/Arvida’s additional 50,000 unit development north of 98 in Eastern Walton County to 30A. It will not alleviate traffic, only increase it exponentially.

Please attend this important meeting and speak, three minutes is usually allotted for public comment, you do not have to fill this time. Just go to the podium, state your name and tell them no roads through Point Washington State Forest or Deer Lake State Park! You can expand on this thought if you’d like.

In addition to attending the meeting contact the Commissioners and the project coordinator:
Bill Chapman (850) 835-4860 chabill@co.walton.fl.us
Danny Glidewell (850) 892-4020 glidanny@co.walton.fl.us
Melanie Nipper (850) 892-8474 nipmelanie@co.walton.fl.us
Trey Nick (850) 835-4834 nictrey@co.walton.fl.us
Tony Anderson (850) 231-2978 andtony@co.walton.fl.us
Lauren Boes (866) 940-7275 Lauren.Boes@atkinsglobal.com

I wasn't able to make it. Any news?

From the meeting: The engineers are contemplating about 4 alternatives. Three of them would cross through the Pt. Washington State Forest. Alternatives C and D just a little bit east of the powerline, and Alternative B would be a little further east. All three would dump onto 30-A near Eastern Lake. The Florida State Park agency totally would not allow anything through Deer Lake Park. Alternative A was four-laning 395, I kid you not. Virtually the first twenty people who talked were adamantly against any road through the state forest. I left after that.

From the meeting: The engineers are contemplating about 4 alternatives. Three of them would cross through the Pt. Washington State Forest. Alternatives C and D just a little bit east of the powerline, and Alternative B would be a little further east. All three would dump onto 30-A near Eastern Lake. The Florida State Park agency totally would not allow anything through Deer Lake Park. Alternative A was four-laning 395, I kid you not. Virtually the first twenty people who talked were adamantly against any road through the state forest. I left after that.

4 laning 395? Was that serious? Why not just make 2 lanes northbound and keep it 1 lane southbound, not going to alleviate traffic on 30a east of 395.

I was not able to make it, but I am adamantly against any roads through our state forests.

I don't understand how the county can even consider/discuss/plan on running a road through the state forest? Does a county have some sort of authority over state lands that happen to be in that county? I just assumed that state forests are protected from the "county boys".

Can someone post links where I can learn more about what can and cannot be done with and on state lands?

This is crazy. A new connector road will not relieve traffic congestion. If a road is allowed through Pt Washington St Forest, that will set a precedent that we will never recover from.

Many of us from the local high schools attended this meeting last night. We do not support this new connector road and are taking the initiative to prevent this from happening. We are here and will be here and have to deal with the economic harms that this connector road will do to our environment.

From the meeting: The engineers are contemplating about 4 alternatives. Three of them would cross through the Pt. Washington State Forest. Alternatives C and D just a little bit east of the powerline, and Alternative B would be a little further east. All three would dump onto 30-A near Eastern Lake. The Florida State Park agency totally would not allow anything through Deer Lake Park. Alternative A was four-laning 395, I kid you not. Virtually the first twenty people who talked were adamantly against any road through the state forest. I left after that.

I made a clerical error in the above post. The three alternatives were proposed to be slightly west of the power line, not east. Also, the right of way, would be 150’, most likely clear cut, not a modest two lane as most people envision it.

Go to Facebook Let it be Forest or www.letitbeforest.com for the latest information on the Connector road and other issues concerning South Walton's State Park's and Forest. This is a program under Beach to Bay Connection, Inc. 501(c) 3.
Call 850-267-2227 for more information.

No more roads through the forest. The proposal is NOT for a one way road out. Nothing good will come of putting another road through the forest. It will just make the already congested east end of 30A even more congested. Some people will never take NO for an answer. I guess Walton County will continue to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to invade or divide up our preservation areas in spite of repeated failure to gain approval of the entities that have the authority to allow it. Let's work on creating better traffic flow with the roads we have instead of wasting money on study after study that doesn't change the outcome. If things don't change soon and rapidly, we are going to need a new county seal. Maybe we already do.

I just received a spam email that appears to be from Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization with their logo




The Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization is the local, intergovernmental transportation policy board for Okaloosa County and Walton County. The board is comprised of local government officials who make decisions regarding transportation at a regional level. The Okaloosa-Walton TPO is required by state and federal law to establish a cooperative, comprehensive, and continuing planning process.



However at the bottom is says it is from "Walton Infrastructure Project" with an address for Terra Mar Apartments. No unit number just the apartment office. No such registered company or organization exists. Makes me wonder if the email is from Terra Mar apartments managment or someone who lives in a unit who is hiding their identity.

The email is asking to follow a URL for support for a SoWal connector road that is a "Desperately Needed piece of infrastructure!"

My question is - Who is behind building a NEW ROAD THROUGH STATE FOREST AND WHY ARE THEY DESPERATE TO BUILD IT?

Seems very shady and fraudulent.

And by the way I am against building ANY road through state lands, especially one that cuts valuable habitat in half.