Seaside...Welcome or Not - Page 3

yucarenow · 01-03-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

What's wrong with Tupelo? Is there an especially tough gang of owners in that area?

west side crypts

Smiling JOe · 01-03-2008, 11:15 AM

I think you mean East Side.

BeachSiO2 · 01-03-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yucarenow

west side crypts

Actually it would be the east side bloods

singinchicken · 01-03-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beach House 25

I heard through the Grapevine last night that the powers to be at Seaside decided after all this commotion about the privacy stuff there that as of January 15th they are closing off all access to the Seaside community and posting security guards at all entry points and have further added that they intend to wall off the community and put broken glass on top of the walls to prevent people from climbing over. 30-A will no longer be a thoroughfare and should any none resident or guest want to enter must pay for a daily pass. Now…. You heard it through the Grapevine….

Sounds like Royal Caribbean's private beach in Labadee (their PC name for Haiti...). Pretty soon we'll all be like the Hatians that climb the trees on the outside of the wall to shout at the tourists!

SWGB · 01-03-2008, 06:14 PM

Sandcastle · 01-03-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singinchicken

Sounds like Royal Caribbean's private beach in Labadee (their PC name for Haiti...). Pretty soon we'll all be like the Hatians that climb the trees on the outside of the wall to shout at the tourists!

If they can place signs on the beach, why not cyclone fences running all of the way to the high water mark? They probably wouldn’t even need dog permits to let their Dobermans poop on their own sand.

SWGB · 01-03-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandcastle

If they can place signs on the beach, why not cyclone fences running all of the way to the high water mark? They probably wouldn’t even need dog permits to let their Dobermans poop on their own sand.

Might as well, not picking up after your dog is right up there with private beaches.

JustaLocal · 01-04-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandcastle

If they can place signs on the beach, why not cyclone fences running all of the way to the high water mark? They probably wouldn’t even need dog permits to let their Dobermans poop on their own sand.

When I asked Code Enforcement about a particular sign on the beach, they told me that if it references a Florida Statute, it is a State matter and I should call DEP. There is one DEP field agent for 4 counties. It is difficult to get attention for serious infractions, much less signs.

I've decided that if the offending sign is still up when tourist season starts, I will put up my own sign right next to theirs!

Sandcastle · 01-04-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustaLocal

I've decided that if the offending sign is still up when tourist season starts, I will put up my own sign right next to theirs!

That's exactly what I put in my letter to Susan Vallee. I wonder how Seaside renters and owners would feel if they couldn't walk to the east or west of their beach.

ozbeachmom · 01-04-2008, 10:32 AM

If people in Seaside want tp continue reaping the rewards of rent their homes to tourist, they better get a handle on this. No one is going to want to spend their hard earned money in a place that doesn't make people feel welcomed. When their homes and businesses are empty maybe they will think about this situation. Sad, very sad... Great place, but it only takes a few bad eggs to spoil it.

Smiling JOe · 01-04-2008, 11:34 AM

Beachlover2 · 01-04-2008, 02:19 PM

Too bad the wind blew that one over.........

ozbeachmom · 01-04-2008, 02:53 PM

Mother Nature shows up in mysterious ways

rdelong43065 · 01-04-2008, 03:05 PM

Karma...

Smiling JOe · 01-04-2008, 07:09 PM

My guess is that a Sea Turtle knocked it over.

Sandcastle · 01-04-2008, 08:30 PM

Those turtles are tough. The Tupelo Vigilantes are probably lobbying tonight for a cyclone fence that they can bolt their signs to.

Autumn Moon · 01-10-2008, 07:39 PM

"Tupelo Vigilantes"

Sandcastle · 01-10-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autumn Moon

"Tupelo Vigilantes"

I think we should call them WOTs (Witches of Tupelo). Someone took a picture of the “Welcome to Seagrove” sign on Forest Street this afternoon using a professional looking camera. I wonder what’s up.

SWGB · 01-10-2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandcastle

I think we should call them WOTs (Witches of Tupelo). Someone took a picture of the “Welcome to Seagrove” sign on Forest Street this afternoon using a professional looking camera. I wonder what’s up.

Probably just another article in the paper to follow up a mail truck of letters to the editor.

up4golf · 01-10-2008, 09:23 PM

it is a hotel spread across 80 acres with indivigual units,hundreds to clean and make up daily. if this is new urbanism so is the sandestin hilton. the owners can do what they like it may help their business or not. is the situation with beach front homeowners just the same you can not go on their private beach unless you rent from them. it is trying to gain an advantage on the rental business that gets tougher every year.

Sandcastle · 01-10-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

Probably just another article in the paper to follow up a mail truck of letters to the editor.

The Seaside Times already has the photo. It's in their Holiday Edition. I guess we'll have to wait and see if it appears elsewhere.

SWGB · 01-11-2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by up4golf

it is a hotel spread across 80 acres with indivigual units,hundreds to clean and make up daily. if this is new urbanism so is the sandestin hilton. the owners can do what they like it may help their business or not. is the situation with beach front homeowners just the same you can not go on their private beach unless you rent from them. it is trying to gain an advantage on the rental business that gets tougher every year.

Actually both of the issues you bring up hurt rentals. Most people would rather move freely about than worry about what square of dirt they can stand/sit on.

Smiling JOe · 01-11-2008, 12:49 AM

I thought everyone had a fancy looking professional camera these days? You can buy them for around $500, unlike the old days.

Sandcastle · 01-11-2008, 10:26 AM

I’ve been praying to the “Sign Fairy” to place another one on Grove Street. So far he/she hasn’t come through.

SWGB · 01-11-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandcastle

I’ve been praying to the “Sign Fairy” to place another one on Grove Street. So far he/she hasn’t come through.

So sorry, I have been swamped.

up4golf · 01-11-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

Actually both of the issues you bring up hurt rentals. Most people would rather move freely about than worry about what square of dirt they can stand/sit on.

i believe you are correct and i agree

Waiting For · 01-12-2008, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by Sandcastle
I think we should call them WOTs (Witches of Tupelo). Someone took a picture of the “Welcome to Seagrove” sign on Forest Street this afternoon using a professional looking camera. I wonder what’s up.

Perhaps the coverage in today's Walton Sun? No witches unless they're lurking in the bushes hoping to catch Seagrove "offenders"

sunny456 · 01-12-2008, 03:47 PM

Thanks to everyone who has submitted letters about this issue to The Seaside Times!
I'm in the process of wrapping up our editorial content for the Feb. 12 edition. If you haven't shared your thoughts on the signs with me (pro or con) and would like to, please email your letter to editor@seasidefl.com no later than Jan. 18.

Thanks again!
Susan Vallee

tsutcli · 01-23-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

They can say that the "downtown" Seaside will remain public, but as parking gets even tighter, and beach accesses are cut off, the public will quickly stop shopping in the public stores, and stop dining in the restaurants.

I didn't read the article about the sign wars, but know that Seaside had a run in with the SWFD over the posts in the middle of the roads off of 30A, and the SWFD won that battle. It seems that Seaside didn't want the firetrucks to be able to access the private streets in order for them to put out a fire. They also made Seaside remove the temporary marquees at each of those roads, which stated, "Private, residents only."

Oh, Snap!

There is a public access just being completed between Seaside and Watercolor. Included, across 30A from the walkover, is a parking lot purported to hold 100 cars and a bathroom / shower building something like Ed Waline Park but larger. This land was donated by St. Joe as part of the deal to build Watercolor Resort and should relieve some of the parking problem in Seaside during summer.

SWGB · 01-23-2008, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsutcli

There is a public access just being completed between Seaside and Watercolor. Included, across 30A from the walkover, is a parking lot purported to hold 100 cars and a bathroom / shower building something like Ed Waline Park but larger. This land was donated by St. Joe as part of the deal to build Watercolor Resort and should relieve some of the parking problem in Seaside during summer.

Except it won't work. Let's look at the math here:

100 cars
4 occupants per car
400 people
2 square feet per person on the beach standing up
800 square feet needed just for these folks to stand

Now consider that these folks probably won't just mill around standing on the strip down to the wet sand. Where are these folks supposed to go since I'm sure WaterColor and Seaside will defend there land to the death?

Smiling JOe · 01-23-2008, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsutcli

There is a public access just being completed between Seaside and Watercolor. Included, across 30A from the walkover, is a parking lot purported to hold 100 cars and a bathroom / shower building something like Ed Waline Park but larger. This land was donated by St. Joe as part of the deal to build Watercolor Resort and should relieve some of the parking problem in Seaside during summer.

First, St Joe didn't donate that land. They owned it, and the County owned some Gulf Front land next to the current walkover to which you refer. WaterColor talked the County into making the exchange, or at least that is the way I hear it. New? The bathrooms and asphalt are new, but the parking lot and walkover have been there for at least two - three years. Funny thing is though, Seaside's "private" signs, like the one in the photo which I posted, are at the edge of the property where the Public walkover is located, and WaterColor's beach area is directly on the other side. Last year, Seaside and WaterColor umbrellas/chair setups, extended the full length of their properties, so good luck with dumping even 100 people on that short stretch of beach.

The bathroom facilities are much appreciated, as is the parking lot. They are a great start and we need a whole crap-load more of them.

I noticed the other day that the Private Pavillion sign at the western stairs to the Dining Pavillion behind Rolly Polly, is now removed. The post is still their but the sign is gone. I wonder if someone stole it.

NotDeadYet · 01-24-2008, 07:42 AM

I had that question about the beach at that access, and someone, I think maybe it was WaltonGOP, posted on another thread that the public's right to use the beach in front of WaterColor is in the agreement. So that would mean those 400 or so people can park, go down the access, and rightfully go west. I suspect the big sign on the beach in front of Seaside is there to make sure they do in fact go west, and not east.
If I remember correctly the whole deal and swap out was mixed up with WaterColor's take permit. It's a big thick document that came about because of beach mice habitat on WaterColor's beach.

Sandcastle · 01-24-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

I noticed the other day that the Private Pavillion sign at the western stairs to the Dining Pavillion behind Rolly Polly, is now removed. The post is still their but the sign is gone. I wonder if someone stole it.

Maybe someone needed a target to sight in their new hunting rifle.

wrobert · 01-24-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

I had that question about the beach at that access, and someone, I think maybe it was WaltonGOP, posted on another thread that the public's right to use the beach in front of WaterColor is in the agreement. So that would mean those 400 or so people can park, go down the access, and rightfully go west. I suspect the big sign on the beach in front of Seaside is there to make sure they do in fact go west, and not east.
If I remember correctly the whole deal and swap out was mixed up with WaterColor's take permit. It's a big thick document that came about because of beach mice habitat on WaterColor's beach.

Sorry but I know nothing about the beach issue. All I ever remember doing is going to the beach. Were not enough places there to worry about where someone laid out a blanket.

Do they still have those feral cat populations down there? I would think that they would have already decimated the beach mouse population.

up4golf · 01-24-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsutcli

There is a public access between Seaside and Watercolor.

isn't the access at the obe (western end of shopping/retail area) also a public access? that is in seaside also.

Smiling JOe · 01-25-2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by up4golf

isn't the access at the obe (western end of shopping/retail area) also a public access? that is in seaside also.

Not according to the signs.

Sandcastle · 01-25-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by up4golf

isn't the access at the obe (western end of shopping/retail area) also a public access? that is in seaside also.

I believe the access you’re referring to is still owned by Robert Davis and open to the public. If you check the on-line plats from the Walton County Property Appraiser, they show that the Seaside Home Owners’ Associations own to the high-water line on the east and west ends of Seaside. The beach behind the retail area appears to be owner by the developer. I hope I’m right.

Smiling JOe · 01-25-2008, 09:17 AM

What part about "Private Access for Seaside Owners and Guests" signs, indicate that access is available to the public?

Sandcastle · 01-25-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

What part about "Private Access for Seaside Owners and Guests" signs, indicate that access is available to the public?

I’m not sure of the name of each walkover in Seaside. However; if you walk out of the wine bar on Central Square and walk south across 30-A, you’ll come to a beach walkover. That walkover is owned by Seaside Community Development Corporation – unless the tax records aren’t up to date. A large section of beach, both to the left and to the right of that walkover, is also owned by Seaside Community Development Corporation.

There has never been a “Private” sign posted on that walkover. I think it’s the only walkover in Seaside that has never been posted. Even though this isn’t a designated “public” access point, I believe that Seaside Community Development Corporation allows the public to use this walkover and this section of the beach. In fact; anyone entering the beach from this walkover wouldn’t know they were on a private beach, until they reached the east or west end of Seaside and looked back over their shoulder at one of the large signs posted there.

I think there are a few Seaside home owners who convinced their homeowners’ association to post the large signs on the beach at each end of Seaside. It would be interesting to see which entity would file charges against someone accused of trespassing on “Seaside’s” beach. I’d be shocked if Seaside Community Development Corporation did that. I can understand why a judge would require an exact survey showing the precise location of an accused.

SHELLY · 01-25-2008, 04:31 PM

I can understand why the Seaside owners want to keep the public off their private beach.....afterall they paid the entire cost of clean-up and reconstruction after the hurricanes--fair is fair.

.

JustaLocal · 01-25-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHELLY

I can understand why the Seaside owners want to keep the public off their private beach.....afterall they paid the entire cost of clean-up and reconstruction after the hurricanes--fair is fair.

SHELLY · 01-25-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHELLY

I can understand why the Seaside owners want to keep the public off their private beach.....afterall they paid the entire cost of clean-up and reconstruction after the hurricanes--fair is fair.

.

Oops, forgot......

...../sarcasm off

.

NotDeadYet · 01-25-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Do they still have those feral cat populations down there? I would think that they would have already decimated the beach mouse population.

I think there are still some cats at Seaside. However, WaterColor is required to monitor and remove cats. No free roaming cats allowed in WaterColor. That is part of their "take" permit, the other part being the dune preservation and the mouse program at WaterSound. St Joe moved some beach mice from Topsail to WaterSound. No cats allowed in WaterSound, either.
Last I heard, the mice at WaterSound were doing well. I'm not sure if there are actually any mice at WaterColor or not these days.

Or at Grayton, for that matter. I know they used to be there.

JustaLocal · 01-25-2008, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHELLY

Oops, forgot......

...../sarcasm off

.

Thanks! I thought that was it.

elgordoboy · 01-25-2008, 04:54 PM

Smiling JOe · 01-25-2008, 04:58 PM

Are you referring to the obelisk beach access, which is beside Cafe Spiazza? I am pretty sure there is a private sign posted there. I know there is a private sign behind the Rolly Polly.

goodwitch58 · 01-25-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Are you referring to the obelisk beach access, which is beside Cafe Spiazza? I am pretty sure there is a private sign posted there. I know there is a private sign behind the Rolly Polly.

So, if I go to Roly Poly and buy lunch as I did today...and I want to take it on the beach to eat it; I could get arrested for trespassing......

Sandcastle · 01-25-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Are you referring to the obelisk beach access, which is beside Cafe Spiazza? I am pretty sure there is a private sign posted there. I know there is a private sign behind the Rolly Polly.

I know there's a sign behind Rolly Polly, but I haven't seen one at the access point beside Cafe Spiazza (ever).

scooterbug44 · 01-25-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodwitch58

So, if I go to Roly Poly and buy lunch as I did today...and I want to take it on the beach to eat it; I could get arrested for trespassing......

Not if you run to the wet sand at first sign of a security golf cart or real law enforcement

.

Smiling JOe · 01-25-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandcastle

I know there's a sign behind Rolly Polly, but I haven't seen one at the access point beside Cafe Spiazza (ever).

You may be right. Next time I'm over that way, I'll check. There signs on the beaches are pretty clear that none of the beach accesses are public, and that is what I am basing my answer on.