Walton developer asks for neighbors' input



Joyce Owen, Florida Freedom Newspapers

Friday January 25th, 2008

Comment on this Story | Read Comments


Jason Comer wants residents of South Walton to be the first to know his plans to develop a small neighborhood in Inlet Beach.

When Comer, Alys Beach’s town founder, announced the project this week, he said his first goal was to call the families that live in the neighborhood and talk with them about his plans for Lupin Beach.

“Our family had the great fortune of owning this property as far back as 1968, when Inlet Beach barely had six or seven homes,” Comer said. “We spent the summers here, often without another soul in sight.”

Now the Alys Beach town founder wants to develop the land with a small, upscale residential development similar to the mix of housing in the surrounding area. The project will not include any businesses or commercial uses.

“I'm told that the best way to describe the location is that it is the southeastern-most point in Walton County that borders Bay County at Camp Helen State Park and the Gulf of Mexico,” Alys Beach marketing director Mike Ragsdale said.

Comer will work with neighbors, local officials and members of the community to ensure the seven-acre development is an asset to the area. Work has already begun to restore and enhance the property’s dune system, which will help to preserve the natural habitat.

Comer is setting up a community advisory panel to holding meetings that will be open to the public. All meetings will take place prior to filing a zoning application with the county.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

? I am assuming this is Gulf Side?

I cant for the life of me picture where this is???

anyone??

__________________

It's gulf front down on the east end of Inlet Beach....where that old shack has been sitting in the middle of the dunes for years. I've been wondering when they were going to start doing something with that property.

Walton Magnolia Lane.

No Big Blue Sign??

.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

When we stayed in Seacrest Beach this past August I noticed that it was gone. That used to be my reference point to walk to in the mornings.

I drove by there when I was down for the holidays and didn't even notice it missing.

ok, that is what I thought. I used to love to play by that "old abandoned house"

good one....
you know? there is not one on the east end of Walton County and the sign that is on the east end of 30-A points inlet beach going west, AWAY from inlet beach. talk about confusing a tourist!!!!

__________________

[quote=InletBchDweller;350117]ok, that is what I thought. I used to love to play by that "old abandoned house"

That house was where Jason and his family vacationed as kids!

Somewhere, I have a photo of that old house.

__________________

Was a great wooden house that was unfortunately washed away in 2005 (if memory serves me well!)

Anyone know the latest of what's happening with Lupin Beach?

Nothing as far as I can tell.

__________________

Hasn't there been some BCC items regarding abandoning some property in that area? Might have something to do with the beach restoration. I don't know that particular area well.

__________________
Anthony

Thanks both of you. I'll keep checking a few more resources...

There is a community meeting open to the public at Camp Helen from 4-7 on 8/10/09.

That wood structure has been gone for several years, is a picture of it in my member photos on here that I took of it. To me it looked more like a lifeguard stand. I could have thrown a rock to it from where we rent. Walton Magnolia Lane already has beach houses and townhouses on it gulf front and non gulf front, starting right at the curve at Walton Lakeshore Drive and Walton Magnolia Lane.

There are expensive places there. I've spoken with the man we rent from, , he is against the development, he knows the guy who is behind it. I didn't figure there was a good deal of land available where it dead ends at the end of Walton Magnolia, but there is. That will make it too crowded down through there. We like that area because of the lack of crowds.

Is this the building you are referring to??? This is one of many pictures I took of this place.

Attached Images

Old Beach House Inlet Beach-taken 5-8-2006!.jpg (2.5 KB, 330 views)

Does anyone know how many acres there are and if there will be more property that they are going to buy up before beginning? I cannot be at the August 10th meeting so I hope someone on the boards goes and brings back a report.

I personnaly love what Jason Comer has done at Alys Beach. He has the financial wherewithall behind him to do a project right, and to completion. I will be very interested in seeing the master plan.

Here's a video I found on YouTube... this is the site isn't it?

Yes - that's the site. It is about 7 acres and no, they won't be adding any property to it.

http://www.lupinbeach.com

I was told that also by the man we rent from. He owns the place we rent and also owns a two story beach home on Walton Magnolia Ln across from the townhouse he rents. He told me no properties that existed were being bought out. He and his wife are snowbirds and spend the winter months down there, actually more than the winter months, they stay through late May, then go back home.

Coastal Construction Control Line and VE Zone, how much is there tp develop on the property?

The property appraiser website says 4.99 acres but the CCC line reduces the buildable area significantly according to the GIS website.

We just spent a week at Inlet Beach and fell in love with the privacy and peacefulness. We stayed in one of the townhouses at the end of Walton Magnolia Lane. I have avoided the Panhandle for years because of overdevelopment. We felt like we'd found a hidden gem.

Just out of curiousity, I was looking online at real estate prices in the area and stumbled upon this thread. My heart sank. I had commented to my wife that it was amazing that space where the vacant house is had not been developed. I guess should have added "yet" to that comment.

Does anyone know if anything has moved forward with this development? We were planning on going back in the spring, but if "construction" is going to be going on, I'm not sure we will.

I've often wondered how much, if any, of Camp Helen State Park land is still in Walton County. Is this property directly adjacent to state park? Very nice.