Ferris wheel and mini golf course approved for Sandestin Resort [PREMIUM]

A WALTON COUNTY development order is pending for new amusements at Sandestin Resort, among those a Ferris wheel and mini golf course. The design of the wheel has not been revealed and is to be under the purview of the project architect, according to an engineering representative for the project applicants.

By DOTTY NIST

Sandestin Investments, L.L.C., has received the go-ahead for a Ferris wheel and a putt-putt golf course at Sandestin Resort.

With all ayes, the Walton County Technical Review Committee (TRC) approved the Sandestin Mini Golf & Ferris Wheel request to move forward to issuance of a development order. The approval was on the condition of all outstanding TRC comments being addressed by the applicants. The decision took place at the TRC’s Feb. 5 regular meeting at Freeport Commons.

The application was on behalf of Sandestin Investments, L.L.C., and Sandestin Resort developer Thomas Becnel, who are is to construct and own the amusements.

They are to be located on a 1.86-acre parcel between the existing Sandestin Marina and the tennis courts, on the north side of U.S. 98 in Miramar Beach. The parcel is within the Sandestin Development of Regional Impact (DRI), a 2,000-acre component of the 2,400-acre resort property.

Approved as part of the request, as well, was a playground area connecting the marina parking lot to Baytowne Wharf, and a parking expansion to serve the new amusements, Baytowne Wharf, and the marina.

The future land use classification of the amusements parcel is Mixed Use and the zoning category is Coastal Center. Due to the location of the parcel, the development will not be subject to development standards for the U.S. 98 Scenic Corridor.

At the Feb. 5 TRC meeting, Sammy Sanchez, South Walton Fire District (SWFD) fire marshal and TRC member, voiced concern about the SWFD’s ability to service the Ferris wheel and asked about the height of the wheel.

An engineer representing the applicants responded that he was not sure how tall the Ferris wheel would be. Renee Bradley of Walton County Planning and Development Services indicated that, based on her review of the submittals, she believed the wheel would be approximately 49 feet in height.

The request was considered as a minor as opposed to a major development. Bradley explained that there was a requirement for the Ferris wheel to be less than 65 feet in height in order for the request to be considered as a minor development.

LOCATION MAP for the putt-putt golf course and Ferris wheel at Sandestin Resort.

No specifics were provided on the design of the Ferris wheel. The applicants’ representative said this was to be under the purview of the project architect.

No member of the public in attendance at the Feb. 5 TRC meeting came forward to provide input on the development.

Included with project documents was an Oct. 22, 2019, agreement between Sandestin Investments and the Sandestin Owners Association (SOA), master property owners association for the resort, stating that the two parties agreed that Sandestin Investments would be allowed to build the Ferris wheel and putt-putt golf course within boundaries shown on an exhibit attached to the agreement. The exhibit identified property located between the existing Sandestin Marina and the Village of Baytowne Wharf. The agreement had followed a Sept. 26, 2019, SOA Board of Directors vote of approval of the amusements, subject to conditions.

The Oct. 22, 2019, agreement referenced a previous agreement in 2017 between the parties that had settled an administrative challenge by the SOA to Walton County’s approval of amendments to the Sandestin DRI. An amended version of the 2017 settlement agreement had included provisions related to the potential construction of amusements and attractions in the resort in the future, including the Ferris wheel. It had determined that Sandestin Investments would not be allowed to build any amusements or attractions within the DRI without mutual agreement of the parties. The agreement had further stated that mutual agreement of the parties would be required in writing for Sandestin Investments to construct a Ferris wheel at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Due to the Sandestin Mini Golf and Ferris Wheel’s consideration as a minor development, the TRC was the only and final county board to take up the request, with no requirement for the proposal to go before the Walton County Planning Commission and Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC).

A previous Ferris wheel proposal brought forth by Sandestin Investments approximately 6 1/2 years earlier had later been dropped by the applicants.