A yes vote was to approve the motion
Regular meeting
Citizen request by Richard Loverne to place a question on the next election ballot asking Walton County voters, “do you wish the county to have a handicap accessible recreational ocean pier fronting the Gulf of Mexico?”
Based on a recommendation from legal counsel, there was a motion to deny the request but allow the opportunity for the individual to pursue a citizen initiative to have the question placed on the ballot if the number of signatures required by law are obtained to do so.
The motion was approved unanimously: Tony Anderson-yes; Mike Barker-yes; Danny Glidewell-yes; Boots McCormick-yes; Trey Nick-yes.
Following a report by Chance Powell of Walton County Public Works Engineering on the Peters Court/Hickory Street intersection in the Choctaw Beach community and a recommendation by Powell for a three-way stop (all-way stop) at the intersection, there was a motion by McCormick to implement this recommendation.
The motion was approved unanimously, with Powell pledging to move forward with installing and bagging the stop signs and putting up a message board notifying the public that there would be an all-way stop at the intersection in two weeks, at which time the measure would go into effect.
Request by Dede Hinote, deputy county administrator, for approval to place three identified properties along Shore Drive in the Holiday Shores neighborhood on the list for potential acquisition by Walton County, with the purpose of acquisition being stormwater management.
A motion for approval by Glidewell carried unanimously.
Request by Hinote for approval for Walton County Public Works and engineering consultants Kimley-Horn to begin discussions with property owners S & L Karian Properties, L.L.C., to investigate opportunities for stormwater management on three other identified parcels in the Holiday Shores neighborhood.
A motion for approval by Glidewell carried unanimously.
Request by Hinote for approval of a lease service agreement with Vantage Tag Systems in an amount not to exceed $637 per month, funds budgeted in the Walton County Parks and Recreation budget for “kill switches” on golf carts at the county-owned Eagle Springs Golf Course and Recreation Area to keep the carts out of restricted areas.
A motion for approval by Glidewell carried 4-0: Barker-yes; Glidewell-yes; McCormick-yes; Nick-yes; Anderson-abstaining due to a conflict.
Public hearing to consider approval/renewal of the ordinances establishing the initial Tourist Development Tax (TDT) in Walton County and the third Cent Tourist Development Tax, as amended repeatedly between 1991 and 2020, which address TDT collection issues and prior tourist development plans, along with an update of the previously-adopted Walton County Tourist Development Plan with anticipated revenue expenses for a 12-month period beginning March 1, 2022.
Clay Adkinson, acting county attorney, noted that the purpose of the request was to bridge the 12-month period between what would be the expiration of the current original Walton County Tourist Development Plan dealing with TDT collection south of the bay to when the new plan enacted for the area north of the bay is to expire in 2023, with the expiration dates of the two plans to be matched up in the future.
A motion for approval carried unanimously.
Public hearing to consider approval of ordinance amending the portion of the Walton County Beach Activities Ordinance providing for changes previously directed by the BCC related to some boating activities and areas where boats are launched and including removal of the word “drone” from the definition of aircraft in the ordinance.
A motion for approval by McCormick carried unanimously.
Request by Adkinson to continue the proposed Walton County Parking Ordinance to the March 22 BCC meeting to allow time for the BCC to be provided with information on signage to be required in some areas in connection with the ordinance, to ensure that implementation of the ordinance can be coordinated with the tourism department, and to ensure that there is adherence with the Walton County Scenic Corridor Standards with the ordinance implementation.
A motion to continue the proposed ordinance to March 22 as requested carried unanimously.
Request by Adkinson to schedule, advertise and hold a 6 p.m. March 1 special joint meeting of the BCC, the city of DeFuniak Springs, the city of Freeport, and the city of Paxton at the DeFuniak Springs Community Center to discuss a potential discretionary sales tax for transportation infrastructure and also for ranking of a priority list of Walton County projects in connection with the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization.
A motion by Glidewell to schedule, advertise and hold the meeting carried unanimously.
Request by Adkinson to schedule and advertise a special meeting/executive session regarding Walton County’s customary use complaint.
A motion for approval carried unanimously.
Request by Adkinson to schedule and advertise a special meeting/executive session regarding the Inlet Beach Water System, Inc., v. Walton County et al lawsuit, case no. 2021-CA-269.
A motion for approval carried unanimously.
Request and motion by Glidewell to use $45,000 to allow county crew members to construct a link to connect the existing multi-use path around the Eagle Springs Golf Course and Recreation Area with sidewalks along Live Oak Street.
The motion was approved 4-0: Barker-yes; Glidewell-yes; McCormick-yes; Nick-yes; Anderson-abstaining due to a conflict.
Discussion on Freeport Business Park and proposed agreement with Ali Vei Salon, Inc., for lease of county-owned unit 104 of Building A in the business park to the salon owner. Previously there had been plans for a county community center to occupy the unit.
In order to make space at the business park available as needed for county departments and staff, including Walton County Human Resources, there was a motion by Glidewell not to enter into any new leases for county-owned units at the business park and to provide notice to all existing holders of leases for county-owned units other than Crosspoint Church that there would be no renewal of lease terms.
Due to the church leasing one unit from the county and privately owning another unit in the complex, the motion included having staff enter into discussion with Crosspoint Church on possible renewal of their lease with the county if the church would give the county first right of refusal and a set a price for the county to acquire the church’s privately-owned unit in the future, or alternatively for the county to go ahead and purchase the church’s unit and lease the unit back to the church for on a three-year lease.
After discussion, an exception was also provided in the motion for Stone Labs while staff evaluate whether an alternative would be available to services provided by Stone Labs in connection with the Walton County Health Department—and with a potential lease extension possible for Stone Labs upon payment of current rent and rent in arrears. The motion did not provide for approval of the lease agreement with Ali Vei Salon, Inc.
After BCC and staff discussion and public comment, the motion was approved unanimously.
Citizen request by Charles Wilson, representing the Chapel at Crosspoint, 1477 CR-393 South (not related to the previously-discussed Crosspoint Church), for a crosswalk and installation of speed bumps on Sea Croft Drive for the safety of neighborhood children and others crossing the road to a community playground on the chapel property. The request included that the chapel would pay for the speed bumps, which would be specially manufactured not to impede passage of emergency vehicles, and that county personnel would install the speed bumps per the emergency vehicle specifications, with the county to provide the crosswalk to the playground.
Approved unanimously after BCC and staff discussion and public comment was a motion for approval by Anderson.
Request on behalf of Angela Marquardt to install a memorial plaque on one of the benches at the Inlet Beach Regional Beach Access honoring her mother and father, Ron and Jaclynn Reynolds.
A motion for approval by Glidewell carried unanimously.
Request by Kristen Shell, county planning manager, to reject the one response received in connection with Walton County’s request for proposals (RFP) for a company to implement motorized scooter pilot program. Including a request to re-advertise the (RFP), the recommendation was due to the company’s submittal being technically insufficient.
A motion by Glidewell to reject the response and re-advertise the RFP carried unanimously.
Request by Shell for authorization to begin the process to amend the Walton County Land Development Code (LDC) on a number of items brought forward by Walton County Code Compliance and in connection with statutory changes from the last legislative session, along with some clean-up and clarification items.
A motion for approval by Glidewell carried unanimously.
Request by Stephen Schoen of Walton County Planning and Development Services for authorization to begin the official review process for a text amendment and Walton County Comprehensive Plan (CP) amendment to implement the U.S. 331 Economic Development Corridor Study.
There was a motion by Glidewell to allow staff to move forward with the formal authorization for the review process.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Request on behalf of Philip Krupp to change the current zoning district from Conservation Residential one unit per 2.5 acres to Conservation Residential on two units per acres on approximately 20 acres located of Nellie Drive north of Chat Holley Road.
Following presentations, BCC and staff discussion and public comment, there was a motion by Glidewell to deny the request.
The motion was approved unanimously, resulting in failure of the request.
Approved unanimously as part of the consent agenda was a $265,000 task order with Dewberry for design, permitting, bid support, and construction administration for the Grayton Beach Community Building (restroom and transit stop) project, with the item to be funded through the Walton County Tourism Department budget.
A request by Alan Adams and Todd Reeves to discuss the Tucker Bayou Dredge Project was removed from the agenda at those citizens’ request and is to brought before the BCC at a future board meeting.
Land use meeting
Request on behalf of Sundial-WSRB, L.L.C.,to change the future land use from Residential to Industrial and Extractives Uses and the zoning district from Neighborhood Infill to Light Industrial on 4.85 vacant acres located on CR-393 South, approximately 0.4 mile south of U.S. 98 in Santa Rosa Beach.
Following BCC and staff discussion and public comment, there was a motion by Glidewell to deny the request.
The motion was approved 4-1: Anderson-yes; Barker-yes; Glidewell-yes; Nick-yes; McCormick-no; resulting in failure of the request.
Request on behalf of The Golf Garden of Destin, Inc., and Davis Development, Inc. for approval of the Botanic Developer Agreement, a proposed agreement to set development controls for the proposed Botanic Miramar Beach development, a two-phase proposal consisting of 321 apartments with pool, a 5,000-square-foot convenience store with gasoline sales, a 4,209-square-foot fast food restaurant, and 16,544 square feet of retail space and infrastructure on the 25.35-acre property located on the south side of the Golf Garden golf course property on U.S. 98 in Miramar Beach.
Following presentations, BCC and staff discussion and public comment, there was a motion by Glidewell to reject the developer agreement and send it back.
The motion was approved 4-1: Barker-yes; Glidewell-yes; McCormick-yes; Nick-yes; Anderson-no, resulting in the developer agreement not proceeding.
In response to a request by the applicants to defer a decision on the Botanic Miramar Beach development request in the event that the developer agreement was turned down, there was a motion to indefinitely table the development request to allow the applicants time to move through the development approval process with any amendments they opted to propose to the application, including conditional uses, with a new developer agreement to possibly be proposed as well at a later date.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Request on behalf of William Pope for approval of Sanctuary Apartments Phase III, consisting of 96 apartment units on 14.38 acres on the east side of the U.S. 98/U.S. 331 intersection in Santa Rosa Beach.
Based on confusion over which agenda items had been continued, approved unanimously was a motion by Anderson to continue the request to continue the item to the March 22 BCC meeting.
BCC Chairman Mike Barker exited following this vote to take a family member to the doctor.
Request on behalf of Ascott Construction for approval of the Payne Street Cottages Plat, consisting of the platting of two single-family lots and infrastructure on 0.623 acre on the southwest corner of Payne Street and Emerald Haven Drive.
There was a motion for approval by McCormick.
The motion was approved 4-0: Anderson-yes; Glidewell-yes; McCormick-yes; Nick-yes; Barker-not present.
Request on behalf of The Watersound Company, L.L.C., for approval of Watersound Origins – Naturewalk Phase 3 Plat, consisting of the platting of 116 single-family lots, common area for future amenity use, and infrastructure on 38.99 acres within Watersound Origins Phase 5, on the north side of Lafayette Road in southeastern Walton County.
There was a motion for approval by Anderson.
The motion was approved 4-0: Anderson-yes; Glidewell-yes; McCormick-yes; Nick-yes; Barker-not present.
Request on behalf of Seacoast Estates, L.L.C., for approval of Seacoast Estates, a 67-single family lot subdivision proposed for 204 acres on the west side of U.S. 331 North, approximately 2.7 miles north of the U.S. 90/U.S. 331 intersection, request to include an 800-square-foot pavilion and a boat ramp (on Lake Holley) with parking area.
A motion for approval by Anderson carried 4-0: Anderson-yes; Glidewell-yes; McCormick-yes; Nick-yes; Barker-not present.
Request on behalf of James and Terry Barnes for approval of the San Juan Replat, consisting of the replatting of three lots into two lots at the corner of CR-30A and San Juan Avenue in the Gulf Shore Manor subdivision.
Approved 4-0 after presentations, BCC and staff discussion, and public comment was a motion for approval by McCormick: Anderson-yes; Glidewell-yes; McCormick-yes; Nick-yes; Barker-not present.
Request on behalf of GBOF 1, L.L.C. for approval of the Saltwater Plat, consisting of the platting of a five-lot subdivision on 5.77 acres located on the east side of CR-395 just north of the CR-30A intersection,
A motion for approval by Nick carried 4-0: Anderson-yes; Glidewell-yes; McCormick-yes; Nick-yes; Barker-not present.
Request on behalf of Fulcrum Building Group, L.L.C., for approval of Fulcrum Trust Manufacturing, a 47,250-square-foot truss manufacturing building and a 9,000-square-foot lumber building to be located on 12.49 acres within the Woodlawn Commerce Park off U.S. 331 just south of DeFuniak Springs.
A motion for approval by McCormick carried 4-0: Anderson-yes; Glidewell-yes; McCormick-yes; Nick-yes; Barker-not present.
The following agenda items were continued: the Tru by Hilton Santa Rosa Beach hotel – continued to the March 8 BCC meeting; the Bluewater Landing Plat – continued to March 8 BCC meeting; and the Christian International Developer Agreement and the Christian International Large Scale Amendment (LSA) – both continued to the March 24 BCC meeting.