Walton County
Corridor Management Plan
50390048.06
Scenic 30-A Corridor Management Plan
Submitted to: Florida Department of Transportation District Three Scenic Highways Coordinator P.O. Box 607 Chipley, Florida 32428 850.415.9524
Submitted by: Scenic 30-A Corridor Advocacy Group Claire Bannerman, Chairperson 90 Spires Lane, 7-A Street Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459 850.622.3059
Prepared by: Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. 1725 Hermitage Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32308 850.553.3500
October 2007 Acknowledgements
The process of designating a Florida Scenic Highway relies on the volunteer efforts of local citizens, community leaders, businesses, and non-profit organizations working closely with land-management agencies, local governments, consultants, and the Florida Department of Transportation. The Friends of Scenic 30-A, along with the added support from local business owners and residents of Scenic 30-A, have committed significant amounts of time to this process. Others deserving recognition for their participation, encouragement, guidance, and financial contributions in the joint effort to make Scenic 30-A designation a reality include: FDOT District Three Friends of Scenic 30-A Laura Haddock, District Environmental Administrator Johndra Culp Shannon Foor, District Scenic Highway Coordinator Dale Foster Cheryl and William Freeze Special Thanks Mary and Bill Grubbs Walton County Board of County Commissioners Vicki Kitahara District 5 Commissioner’s Aide, Vicki Kitahara Ken Little Walton County Tourist Development Council – Kriss Titus Meg Nelson Walton County Tourist Development Council – Tracy Louthain Henry Nooe Walton County Chamber of Commerce Carole Seibert Walton County Citizen Services – Ken Little Tom Stein Shannon Porath, Attorney at Law Ken Volgel Florida State Parks Walton County Health Department Walton County Maps Scenic 30-A Corridor Advocacy Group Chairperson- Claire Bannerman Walton County GIS Scenic 30-A Corridor Advocacy Group Vice Chairperson- Cliff Knauer Scenic 30-A Corridor Advocacy Group Photography Kurt Lischka, Mooncreek Studios Special Recognition to: Walton County Tourist Development Council SoWal.com Claire Bannerman Discover30A.com Ken Little Emeraldcoast.com Chuck Huettel Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Committee Diane G. Delaney Special Acknowledgement Van Ness Butler and Staff Designation Application Tim Pauls and Staff Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. FDOT Secretary Signature Page
As Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the signature below indicates the approval and endorsement of this Corridor Management Plan and this corridor for designation as a Florida Scenic Highway. FDOT approval of this management plan represents our agreement to serve in a partnership with the Corridor Management Entity to preserve, enhance and maintain the designated scenic highway corridor. We recognize the grassroots initiative and strong local support for this corridor demonstrated by the communities involved in the preparation of this management plan. This Corridor Management Plan acknowledges that the designated corridor will be subject to the requirements of the Section 1046(c) of the ISTEA which added a new subsection (s) to 23 USC 131 precluding outdoor advertising on designated scenic highways, and the requirements of the Uniform Relocation Act. I herby designate this corridor as a Florida Scenic Highway.
X ______Date: ______
Statement of Significance “Scenic 30-A runs through long-leaf pine flat woods, along the white sand beach and sea oat covered dunes, past freshwater coastal lakes and saltwater inlets, over sand hills and coastal uplands, along wetlands and marshes, and through hammocks and coastal scrub. Our area is known for the shimmering brilliance of the Gulf of Mexico and her white sand beaches.
But it is the beauty of our landscape and its native plants and animals that are second to none. Don’t miss the centuries-old live oaks at Eden State Gardens in Point Washington State Park and the craggy, many- trunked scrub oaks in Old Grayton Beach.
Look for the huge, fragrant white blooms of Southern magnolia in early summer throughout the woods at the crest of Old Seagrove and next to the obelisk beach walkover in Seaside.
Admire the graceful arc of slash pine reflected in Western Lake. Discover the tough little sand pine that grows all along the Gulf Coast, but nowhere else in the world! Look closely at the sharp-toothed edge of the stem of a palmetto frond that gives Saw Palmetto—a palm tree that grows its trunk underground—its name!
Wildflowers bloom year-round along 30-A. Watch for the lavender blossoms of wild rosemary and Gulf Coast lupine in the spring. In the fall, the roadsides turn gold with goldenrod, woody goldenrod, golden asters and camphorweed. Sea oats, the grasses that hold the dunes in place, are a federally protected species. Enjoy the beauty of the plants, but please don’t walk on the dunes or pick the seed heads. Please do enjoy and protect the beauty of our beaches, dunes, scrub, and woodlands.”
— Randy Harelson, Pt. Washington v
Choctawhatchee Bay
Walton County Bay County
£¤331
£¤98 £¤98
$+283 $+395 $+393 $+83 $+30A $+30A
Gulf Of Mexico
Scenic 30-A Overview 2005 Aerial Photo Mosaic
Scenic 30-A £¤98 U.S. Highways
30A Scenic 30-A Spur Roads $+ County Roads . Walton County Planning and 03,000 6,000 12,000 Feet Development Services Division July 2007 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page ...... i Acknowledgments ...... ii Secretary Signature Page...... iii Designation Application Form...... iv Statement of Significance ...... v Scenic 30-A Overview Map ...... vi List of Tables and Figures ...... viii SHAC Comments and Responses ...... ix Chapters 1. Introduction ...... 1 Corridor Story 3 Corridor Vision 5 2. The Corridor...... 7 Background Conditions Analysis 9 Intrinsic Resource Assessment and Designation Criteria 25 3. The Support and Participation ...... 57 Corridor Management Entity 59 Community Participation Program 60 Local Support 62 Partnerships and Agreements 65 4. The Plan ...... 67 Goals, Objectives and Strategies 69 Protection Techniques 75 Relationship to the Comprehensive Plan 78 Funding and Promotions 84 Action Plan 88 Appendices A. SHAC Eligibility Review and Comments ...... 91 B. The Corridor ...... 135 C. Support and Participation ...... 157 D. The Plan ...... 221
vii LIST OF TABLES & FIGURES
Tables 2.1 Background Support for Action Plan...... 10 2.2 Scenic 30-A Corridor Limits...... 11 2.3 Summary of Right-of-Way Widths ...... 15 2.4 Land Use Summary ...... 17 2.5 Functional Classifications ...... 19 2.6 Traffic Monitoring Stations ...... 19 2.7 Traffic Volumes and Level of Service...... 20 2.8 Level of Service Standards...... 21 2.9 FDOT Adopted Work Programs ...... 21 2.10 CIP Parks and Recreation Projects; Walton County ...... 22 2.11 CIP Transportation Projects; Walton County...... 23 3.1 Friends of Scenic 30-A Committee List ...... 59 4.1 Scenic 30-A Goal 1 Comprehensive Plan Support ...... 78 4.2 Scenic 30-A Goal 2 Comprehensive Plan Support ...... 79 4.3 Scenic 30-A Goal 3 Comprehensive Plan Support ...... 81 4.4 Scenic 30-A Goal 4 Comprehensive Plan Support ...... 81 4.5 Scenic 30-A Goal 5 Comprehensive Plan Support ...... 82 4.6 Scenic 30-A Goal 6 Comprehensive Plan Support ...... 82 4.7 Action Plan Key ...... 88 4.8 Action Plan ...... 89 Figures 2.1 Scenic 30-A Corridor Limits...... 12 2.2 Intrinsic Resource Visibility ...... 25 2.3 Scenic 30-A Beach Communities, Managed Lands, and Water Bodies ...... 33 2.4 Scenic 30-A Trail Map ...... 43 2.5 Scenic 30-A Corridor Overview of Segments ...... 46 2.6 Scenic 30-A West Area Map...... 47 2.7 Scenic 30-A Central Area Map ...... 48 2.8 Scenic 30-A East Area Map ...... 49 2.9 Scenic 30-A Point Washington Area ...... 50 2.10 Intrinsic Resource Types...... 52
viii SHAC COMMENTS & RESPONSES
SHAC Comments and Responses SHAC Comments and Responses for Scenic he role of the Scenic Highway Advisory 30-A Eligibility Application TCommittee (SHAC) is to evaluate Florida Scenic After the SHAC review of the Scenic 30-A Eligibility Highway applications and determine if a candidate Application, comments were returned to the Scenic corridor merits eligibility and designation as a scenic 30-A CAG to be addressed within the Designation highway. This section of the Designation Application Application. The comments and responses are summarizes the comments made by the SHAC when identified below. reviewing the Eligibility Application for Scenic 30-A. Included are comments made by SHAC members and Bob Jones, Florida Department of State the Scenic 30-A CAG responses to the comments. 1. The Local Support section could include more The Scenic 30-A Eligibility Application was towns and communities along the corridor. It presented to the SHAC on February 13, 2006 for their appears that Rosemary Beach is the only town in recommendation. The SHAC voted unanimously to support of the corridor. recommend approval of the Eligibility Application. The Scenic 30-A CAG Response In general, comments from the SHAC were very complimentary of the Scenic 30-A Eligibility Support letters from additional community Application. Some of the comments that did not organizations are listed in Chapter 3, Support require responses include: and Participation Chapter and are included in the Appendix. No incorporated cities exist along “Current trends in new-urbanism area benchmark the corridor; Rosemary Beach is the only beach for development globally.” Patricia Evans, Florida community within the corridor that has an organized Department of Environmental Protection governing body.
“Coastal dune lakes are the crowning jewel of an 2. The archeological resources should be described already stellar corridor.” Kerri Post, VISIT FLORIDA in more detail.
“Great historical homes” Diane Quigley, Department The Scenic 30-A CAG Response of Community Affairs Archeological resources along with the other intrinsic resources are described in Chapter 2, The
ix SHAC COMMENTS & RESPONSES
Corridor. Indian burial mounds have been added as intrinsic resource because it is a private development an archeological resource. Archeological resource with no public access to the amenities. interpretation has been included as part of strategy 4.1.8. 5. There needs to be more support from residents and communities. Shawn Hartzer, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry The Scenic 30-A CAG Response
3. The Corridor Story should be revised to include See Chapter 3, Support and Participation, Friends of more discussion about the future of the Scenic 30-A section, and Appendix C for local support corridor and not only the current resources and documentation. residents. 6. The CMP’s relationship to the local The Scenic 30-A CAG Response comprehensive plan is weak and should be stronger. The CME should get language added The Scenic 30-A vision addresses the future of the into the local comprehensive plans that address corridor. The Corridor Story has been revised and is the goals and action of the Scenic 30-A CMP. included in Chapter 1, Introduction. The Scenic 30-A CAG Response Diane Quigley, AICP, Department of Community Affairs (Former SHAC Member) Scenic Corridor design standards currently exist for CR 30-A within the Walton County Land Development 4. Some resources (Gulf Place and WaterSound) Code. A summary of the existing policy support and should be reconsidered as resources. recommendations for amendments are included in Chapter 4, The Plan. Table 4.8 in the Relationship to The Scenic 30-A CAG Response the Comprehensive Plan section illustrates the Walton County Comprehensive Plan policies that support Gulf Place is a recently constructed mixed-use the Scenic 30-A Action Plan strategies. Action Plan development that has a growing reputation for cultural strategies 1.1.7 and 1.1.10 addresses policy support events. A description of its significance and intrinsic and related regulatory changes for Scenic 30-A. resource characteristics are included in Chapter 2, The Corridor. WaterSound has been removed as an
x IntroductionChapter 1:
Introduction Scenic 30-A Story other Florida communities. As a result, environmental 1 protection of the approximately 25,000 acres of these cenic 30-A is a series of beautiful, two-lane scenic fragile ecosystems is a priority here. Scorridors located in Walton County, blending a unique mixture of both man-made and natural In the 1890s, the combination of natural wilderness environments brimming with local history and culture. and pristine beaches enticed summer vacationers The significance of the Scenic 30-A to this area. As they returned corridor lies in the resources that year after year to their tiny transcend the typical American beach cottages, small resort driving experience, creating communities began to emerge. an immediate and compelling During the 1920s, promotion and adventure for those exploring the advertising were used to market corridor whether via automobile, these resort communities. Beach bicycle, or on foot. Picture yourself lots were offered for sale to those walking along miles of unspoiled who wanted to build permanent crystalline beaches that hug the residences. Today, 12 distinct emerald green waters of the Gulf beach communities have evolved of Mexico. You’re surrounded by along the corridor, each with its rolling beach dunes and limitless own unique history and character. blue skies. Imagine exploring Grayton Beach was not only the first quaint little beach villages or community established in the area, marveling at the lush landscapes but in 1913 was also the area’s first while hiking on scenic nature trails. resort community. Today, Grayton This all exists along Scenic 30-A! Beach continues to have small-town character with its narrow tree-lined With its location being among streets and a modest downtown with the highest points in Florida, shops, bed and breakfast inns, a this picturesque area is enjoyed for its lush natural general store, and a handful of restaurants. habitats, including sand pine scrub, longleaf pine flatwoods, cypress ponds, wet prairies, and titi Santa Rosa Beach, one of the older communities, swamps, as well as 11 rare coastal dune lakes that are borrowed its name from a thriving turpentine found in only three other locations worldwide. These plantation nearby. The abundance of slash pine trees uncommon coastal lakes set Scenic 30-A apart from made it a perfect place for such an industry.
3 Introduction 1 Settled initially in the nineteenth century, paper making eventually became the main business here.
Communities that developed later have been aesthetically planned and sport pastel colors and New Urbanism-style architecture. Some of the communities along Scenic 30-A have architecture based on the area’s rich maritime history or the warmth and hospitality associated with traditional Southern grand hotels and classic beach houses. To maintain the existing peaceful character of the area, height restrictions and design guidelines help new developments blend with old. Local organizations such as South Walton Community Council, Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Committee, Beach to Bay Connection, and Scenic Corridor Association, also those who desire a slower, simpler pace, an abundance work closely with County government to help preserve of recreational activities await hikers, bikers, bird and protect the unique character of the area. watchers, beach lovers, campers, and sportsmen. More than 200 miles of trails located on state lands are Cultural resources are plentiful along Scenic 30-A. open to the public. Explore the 19-mile Timpoochee South Walton County is known for its artist colonies Trail, a paved multi-use path that runs parallel to the and thriving local art scene. Galleries, annual Gulf. Enjoy the tranquility of kayaking or canoeing festivals, and antique stores are present along Scenic on the coastal dune lakes. Learn about nature, by 30-A. Each season generates its own special events, discovering the habitats of endangered species like beginning with ArtsQuest, a week-long event held the gopher tortoise or Red-cockaded Woodpecker, each May. During the summer, the Seaside Repertory Choctawhatchee Beach mouse or rare wildflowers, Theatre presents live shows from Memorial Day including Gulf Coast lupine and wild rosemary. through August, and the Autumn Tides celebration is always a highlight of the fall season. Spend a day, or the rest of your life, exploring Scenic 30-A. Whether wandering along sugary white beaches, Scenic 30-A is known for its world-class, certified bicycling through a vast network of greenway trails, or Blue Wave beaches; a mark of cleanliness and good exploring charming little coastal communities, you’ll management from the Clean Beaches Council. For be sure to want to return again and again…and again.
4 Introduction Scenic 30-A Vision in 2026 Visitors and residents bike down the well-manicured 1 Timpoochee Trail and pass by benches placed along wenty years have passed since Scenic 30-A was the trail for those who want only to observe. Travelers Tdesignated as a Florida Scenic Highway, and the stop at a kiosk to pick up maps, take a drink of water, vision set forth by the Friends of 30-A has been fully and visit with other trail users. The maps show the implemented. Scenic 30-A has maintained its beautiful distance and directions to the next stop, and the two-lane scenic drive, not only for passengers in location of significant resources along the way. The vehicles, but for pedestrians and cyclists alike. The beauty of a rare coastal dune lake is announced by vivid greenery of State Parks and signature planting and is framed woodlands is a natural backdrop by glistening white sandy for majestic sand dunes and rare dunes. The ocean breeze and coastal dune lakes along the Gulf the smell of the salt air consume of Mexico. one’s senses. A wooden bridge crosses the dune lake where Travelers on Scenic 30-A interpretive signs on the trail easily find their way using the explain the significance of signature wayfinding system sensitive dune lakes and their established years ago. The inhabitants. People kayaking signage is easy to read, well and canoeing skim across the maintained, and ties in with lake and wave spontaneously an overall directional sign to onlookers. A group of school- system created by the Walton age children learn about the County Tourist Development surrounding environment as they gather on the lake Council. The significance of the Scenic 30-A overlook for an outdoor classroom. corridor and its resources transcends the typical American driving experience. Local history, culture, Trail users feel safe because the pathway is separated and natural environments are clearly identified, from the vehicle travel lane. Cars cruise down Scenic creating an immediate and compelling experience for 30-A , slowing down at the clearly-marked pedestrian travelers. Education about the distinct character of crossings. The traffic on Scenic 30-A is flowing evenly, the surrounding landscapes and beach communities following well-marked traffic signs and wayfinding instills greater public confidence and a desire to signs for points of interest. A quiet, clean, and define, understand, and protect what travelers enjoy. comfortable transit system carries people along Scenic
5 Introduction 1 30-A, connecting the 12 beach hamlets with the area’s Bikes travel over the dusty trails through an area that stores, restaurants, and parks. contains hundreds of acres of preserved forest land and is home to numerous rare plants and animals. The Parking has been centrally organized in small pockets, end of the natural trail connects to the paved section and landscaped with native plants and shade trees. of Timpoochee Trail, where you find the historic Parking areas have been designed for electric golf community of Grayton Beach. A local sign provides carts, scooters, and other modes of travel. Some of a written and graphical story of the town, and directs the neighborhood streets parallel to Scenic 30-A have you to a historic district of homes and small-town designated lanes for golf cart travel. These lanes lead stores. Residents were concerned about light pollution, to designated parking areas along Scenic 30-A. Local and because of their efforts to protect the night skies, residents do not need to use their cars unless desired. sunset viewing is a common ritual to catch a glimpse Bike trails, pedestrian pathways, and electric cart of the shimmering aquamarine waters of the Gulf lanes interconnect, making it reasonable to leave your under the moonlight. Travelers can walk down the car at home, at least for local trips within and between raised boardwalk to the beach or choose another path the distinct beach communities of Scenic 30-A. on Scenic 30-A for more hidden treasures.
The scenic corridor’s roadways and trails are free of The unique characteristics and natural resources of trash and litter. Trash and recycling receptacles have Scenic 30-A were recognized early on by residents been placed at strategic locations along the scenic and guests, and as a result the entire corridor was highway. Residents and visitors recognize the natural preserved. Many generations will come to enjoy the beauty of the area and do not want to disturb it with very wonders that inspired this community 20 years litter. ago. This scenic piece of Florida is treasured by all.
As water became more scarce, the governing officials adopted a xeric landscape ordinance requiring drought tolerant native plants in common areas and public rights-of-way along the corridors of Scenic 30-A. You know you are in a special place because the vegetation is native and water is conserved by residents and guests alike.
As an additional surprise, travelers may enter a dirt trail that leads to the Point Washington State Forest.
6 Chapter 2: The Corridor
The Corridor Background Conditions Analysis Right-of-Way Description 2 Introduction • Constrained by presence of current bike path and limited right-of way widths along corridor The Background • Parking limited within right-of-way Conditions Analysis provides an overview Land Use and Zoning of the Scenic 30-A • 30-A Scenic Corridor design standards in LDC corridor and serves (13.02.00) currently exist as an inventory of • Need design standards for CR 83, CR 283, CR existing corridor 395 in LDC conditions, including • Xeric landscaping ordinance pending roadway conditions, traffic, safety issues and land • Lack of designated parking areas uses. In order to profile a scenic highway corridor, it is necessary to summarize the history, existing Signage conditions, and projected future growth anticipated • Limited directional signage for the area in relation to the corridor vision and goals. • TDC directional plan under development This analysis will concentrate on the opportunities and constraints within the corridor that have led to • Bike trailway finding under development the development of the corridor’s vision, goals, and Safety Issues objectives that are later addressed in the Action Plan. • Inconsistent speed limit along CR 30-A Summary of Findings • Traffic calming recommendations in 30-A Traffic Study An analysis of background conditions in the Scenic • Collisions at driveway access points 30-A Eligibility Application supports the findings in this chapter. These findings are summarized below. Traffic Volumes & Level of Service • New corridors may need to be considered to Corridor Limits address projected traffic • Need for application of limits consistent with • CR 30-A LOS projected to be deficient by year Scenic Corridor Design Standards in LDC 2015 (from CR 395 to US 98) • Stormwater Runoff needs to be addressed
9 The Corridor 2 Transportation Planning The Florida Scenic Highway Program Manual (2003) • Transportation options are needed requires a Summary of Findings that “should be linked to the Goals and Objectives, and to the Action • Potential for Proportionate Fair-Share funding Plan (3.6.2).” Table 2.1 is designed to combine the • Bike trail expansion is needed background research conducted during the Eligibility Roadway Improvements Phase with the corresponding Action Plan developed during the Designation Phase. • US 98 intersection improvements are funded Roadway Maintenance Table 2.1 Background Support for Action Plan • Unpaved shoulders are not maintained Background Conditions Objectives • Bike path maintenance program is ongoing Corridor Limits Landscape; Beautification; Management and Maintenance; Social and Economic Conditions Transportation; Recreation; Economic Development and Tourism; Adminstration • Panama City Airport- potential new tourist Right-of-Way Description Management and Maintenance market and resulting TDC strategies Land Use and Zoning Landscape; Beautification; Management and Maintenance; Tourism & User Facilities Transportation; Recreation; Economic Development and Tourism; Adminstration • Four State Parks with camping facilities Signage Beautification; Management and Maintenance; Transportation; • Beach access points need parking Recreation; Education and Corridor Story; Economic Development • Eden State Park improvements under and Tourism development Future Land Use Landscape; Beautification; Management and Maintenance; Economic Development and Tourism Other Programs Safety Issues Transportation; Recreation • Jail crew cleanup days are ongoing Traffic Volumes Transportation • Recycling program currently initiated Levels of Service Waste Management; Management and Maintenance; Transportation • Dune Lake monitoring program is ongoing Transportation Planning Management and Maintenance; Transportation • Maintenance agreements for landscaping; Roadway Improvements Maintenance; Beautification and Clean-up responsibility of new developments Roadway Maintenance Beautification; Management and Maintenance; Transportation • Public concern of excessive lighting from Social and Economic Conditions Economic Development and Tourism new development Tourism and Use Facilities Economic Development and Tourism Other Programs Landscape; Waste Management; Beautification; Management and Maintenance; Transportation; Recreation; Support; Education and Corridor Story; Economic Development and Tourism; Adminstration
10 The Corridor Corridor Limits The Scenic 30-A corridor was divided into segments 2 during the Eligibility Phase to organize background The Scenic 30-A corridor limits generally include CR information and intrinsic resource descriptions. Table 30-A, and connector roads CR 83, CR 283 and CR 2.2 below outlines the six segments that make up the 395; totaling 28 miles of scenic roads. The limits of the Scenic 30-A Corridor. corridor extends 400’ outside of the public right-of- way (see Figure 2.1). Corridor Overview The segments of Scenic 30-A corridor include the Scenic 30-A is a major tourist attraction and entire 18.5 mile length of CR 30-A from US 98 in the destination. The architecture along the corridor west adjacent to Topsail Hill State Preserve, to US matches each beach community’s aesthetics, from Old 98 in the east near Inlet Beach. The limits of the 9.5 Florida’s traditional two to three story homes, to the miles of connector roads include: CR 83 from the Blue cottages in Seaside with white picket fences, and New Mountain Beach public access to US 98; from the Urbanism pedestrian pathways. There are also miles of Western Lake boat ramp on Hotz Avenue to DeFuniak greenway trails connecting state parks, preserves, and Street; from CR 30-A north on CR 283 to US 98; CR residential areas. 395 from CR 30-A north to Tucker Bayou in historic Point Washington. Scenic 30-A’s beaches are naturally beautiful. All of the beaches along Scenic 30-A are certified as Blue The corridor travels past four State Parks, 27 miles of Wave Beaches, a mark of cleanliness and safety. Beach greenway trails, 11 rare coastal dune lakes, 12 beach nourishment, the formation of sand dunes, and other communities, and miles of beautiful beaches. educational programs to keep people off of the dunes
Table 2.2 Scenic 30-A Corridor Limits Segment Name Route Name From To Segment #1 Tops’l to Blue Mountain Beach CR 30-A US 98 CR 83 Segment #2 Blue Mountain Beach to Seagrove CR 30-A CR 83 CR 395 Segment #3 Seagrove to Inlet Beach CR 30-A CR 395 US 98 Segment #4 Old Blue Mountain Beach Road CR 83 Blue Mountain Rd US 98 Segment #5 Old Grayton Beach Road CR 283 Hotz Ave US 98 Segment #6 Old Seagrove to Tucker Bayou CR 395 CR 30-A Tucker Bayou
11 The Corridor 2 Figure 2.1 Scenic 30-A Corridor Limits
Choctawhatchee Bay
Walton County Bay County
£¤331
£¤98 £¤98
$+283 $+395 $+393 $+83 $+30A $+30A
Gulf Of Mexico
Scenic 30-A Corridor Corridor Limits
£¤98 U.S. Highways Scenic 30-A Other Roadways
30A $+ County Roads Scenic 30-A Spur Roads Corridor Limits . Walton County Planning and (400 ft beyond right-of-way) 03,000 6,000 12,000 Feet Development Services Division July 2007
12 The Corridor are critical to protecting the world-class beaches on There is a paved shoulder along most of the segment. 2 Scenic 30-A. Utility lines are located above ground along the entire segment, except for a small portion located There are 12 distinct beach communities along underground just west of the intersection with CR 83. the Scenic 30-A corridor. From west to east the communities include: Dune Allen Beach, Santa Segment #2 - CR 30-A (CR 83 east to CR 395) Rosa Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, Seagrove, WaterSound, Seacrest Segment 2 continues in an east/west direction along Beach, Rosemary Beach, Inlet Beach, and Alys CR 30-A from CR 83 to CR 395. Above-ground utility Beach. There are also 11 coastal dune lakes along the lines continue along most of this segment. The route corridor, known by kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts passes by the Point Washington State Forest and for their beauty and tranquility. Dune lakes are formed Grayton Beach State Recreation Area to the north and by the wind and found almost exclusively along this Grayton Beach State Park to the south. This segment portion of the Gulf Coast. passes near Blue Mountain Beach, Gulf Trace, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, and Seaside. Curb and gutter is Roadway Characteristics present near the WaterColor development. Segment #1 – CR 30-A (US 98 east to CR 83) Coastal pine forests and the century-old community of Grayton Beach border one of the largest and most This segment begins at the intersection of CR 30- scenic dune lakes: the 220-acre Western Lake. Despite A and US 98 and continues east to the intersection recent growth and new development, Grayton Beach of CR 30-A and CR 83. The roadway travels in an has maintained its small-town flavor. Grayton Beach east/west direction, and the scenic views available is home of the Grayton Beach State Recreation Park, alonga this segment a 2,228 acre park that opened in 1968. Sea turtles remainr consistent nest in the park during the summer and shorebirds throughout. are plentiful. Wildflowers include lupine, gaillardia, and golden aster. “Tread Softly” signs dot the sea oat- This part of the covered dunes and white sand beaches next to the corridor passes Gulf. through the towns of Dune Allen Located just off CR 395 on CR 30-A is Deer Lake State Beach and Santa Park, a 172-acre park managed by the South Walton Rosa Beach. County Ecosystem. Rare plant and animal species
13 The Corridor 2 found here include the Choctawhatchee Beach mouse This section of the corridor passes through and the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. The reflection WaterSound, a coastal community under development of the Gulf of Mexico can be seen in Deer Lake. The by the St. Joe Company, then on to Camp Creek Lake view combines the emerald green water of the Gulf of and the Camp Creek Golf Club. It then passes through Mexico with a sliver of white sand and the deep blue Rosemary Beach, another planned community with of Deer Lake. white stucco, bell towers, and upscale restaurants and shops. CR 30-A reconnects with US 98 at Inlet Beach. The community of WaterColor blends right into the hustle and bustle of neighboring Seaside, which Segment #4 – CR 83 (Blue Mountain Road Beach most consider the cultural and commercial center Access to US 98) of Scenic 30-A, with a small post office and a town center, complete with a stage. Seaside is the recipient The fourth segment of the corridor extends north of numerous architectural awards and was the film from the Blue Mountain Road Beach access point location for The Truman Show. Seaside also has an near the Gulf of Mexico, intersects with CR 30-A, and artists’ colony and hosts many cultural events. continues north to US 98 (Emerald Coast Parkway). This segment is generally bound on both east and west Segment #3 – CR 30-A (CR 395 east to US 98) by the Point Washington State Forest. The southern terminus of the corridor has access to Blue Mountain The third segment of the corridor begins as CR 30-A Beach. crosses CR 395. A portion of this segment just east of CR 395 contains a paved shoulder on the south side Segment #5 – CR 283 (US 98 to Hotz Avenue) of the road. Utilities are located above ground until just east of the intersection with WaterSound Parkway, This segment begins near the Grayton Dunes access where they are underground to the end of the segment point and the Western Lake Boat Ramp, on Hotz at the intersection Avenue north along DeFuniak Street to CR 30-A, and with US 98. Part of the continues to the intersection with US 98. This segment segment passes by of CR 283 includes the town of Grayton Beach to Deer Lake State Park, the south and historic Point Washington to the north between CR 30-A and at Tucker Bayou. However, Point Washington is not the Gulf of Mexico. located directly on the Scenic 30-A corridor.
14 The Corridor SegmentS #6 – CR Right-of-Way Width 2 3395 (CR 30-A to The existing and maintained right-of-way (ROW) TTucker Bayou) widths along the corridor vary according to roadway SegmentS #6 characteristics and land use. Along CR 30-A from bbegins at the US 98 to CR 83, the ROW width varies from 66 feet iintersection of CR to 100 feet. Between CR 83 and CR 395, ROW width 3395 and CR 30-A. ranges from 70 feet to 100 feet. In the section from CR It runs north/south 395 to US 98 East, it ranges from 70 feet to 130 feet. through the Point The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Washington State considers the maintained ROW to be the roadway Forest and US 98, adjacent to Eden State Park, then pavement and the width of the shoulder where the continues to Choctawhatchee Bay at Tucker Bayou. public entity has completed routine maintenance for over four years. A summary of the minimum and Heading north on CR 395 from the CR 30-A corridor maximum ROW widths for each segment is described leads to the Eastern Lake Bike/Hike Trail in Point in Table 2.3. Washington State Forest, which consists of three greenway trails where visitors can see sandhills, Table 2.3 Summary of Right-of-Way Widths cypress ponds, wet prairies, and titi swamps. Deer, coyotes, alligators, and gopher tortoises are present in Segment Route Number Right-of-Way the area. Point Washington State Park is an example #1 CR 30-A 66’ - 100’ of the sandhill ecosystem. Rare species include #2 CR 30-A 70’ - 100’ Flatwoods salamander, White-topped pitcher plant, #3 CR 30-A 70’ - 130’ and the world’s largest stand of Curtis sandgrass. #4 CR 83 70’ #5 CR 283 70’ Across US 98, the corridor continues to Eden State #6 CR 395 70’ Park and Eden Gardens, where the former Wesley Source: County Road 30-A Traffic Study Family Mansion (an example of typical Panhandle architecture) is located. It contains two stories, each with an equal number of rooms divided by a central Utility Placements hallway. The house is perched on pilings for greater On Segment #1 of Scenic 30-A, utilities are mostly air circulation and flood protection. located above ground, with the exception of a small
15 The Corridor 2 portion of CR 30-A just west of CR 83. Similarly, Zoning Segment #2 features above-ground utility lines, except for the section between Grayton Beach State Park and Walton County does not have a zoning ordinance. Seaside, where they are located underground. From Land development is regulated through the Walton CR 395 to just east of WaterSound Parkway on CR 30- County Unified Land Development Code. A, utilities are located above ground. The utility lines run underground for the remainder of Segment #3. Signage Chapter 7 of the Walton County Unified Land Acquisitions Development Code describes the size, location, and type of advertising and billboards allowed outside of FDOT has no budgeted right-of-way acquisitions public right-of-way. On-premise and off-premise signs along the proposed corridor. are allowed in unincorporated However, FDOT is in the process Walton County as specified in of widening US 98 from just west the Land Development Code of Mack Bayou to the intersection and Comprehensive Plan. with CR 30-A, and from CR 30-A Temporary, real estate, and to the intersection with SR 83. rental signs are permitted, Land Use and Zoning but must comply with specific size, location, and duration Land Use standards. Signage regulations for Scenic Corridors in the LDC Table 2.4 summarizes the existing are much more stringent. Signs land uses along the corridor. specifically prohibited in the Between US 98 West and CR 83 Scenic 30-A corridor include (Segment #1), land use along CR 30-A is comprised off-premise outdoor advertising signs, murals used of Village Mixed Use, Conservation, Infill, Residential as advertising, flashing signs, and plastic signs with Preservation, Small Neighborhood, Traditional interior lighting. Any such signs that existed prior to Neighborhood, and Institutional. Appendix B contains the county designation of CR 30-A as a scenic corridor the Existing Land Use Map for Walton County. are regulated as nonconforming uses.
The number of ground signs permitted depends on the amount of frontage a parcel has on the public
16 The Corridor Table 2.4 Land Use Summary 2 Segment Hwy/Route # Description Land Use #1 CR 30-A From Hwy 98 West to CR 83 Conservation, Village Mixed Use, Infill Residential Preservation, Institutional, Small Neighborhood, Traditional Neighborhood #2 CR 30-A From CR 83 to CR 395 Village Mixed Use, Traditional Neighborhood, Infill, Residential Preservation, Conservation, Court Ordered Overlay #3 CR 30-A From CR 395 to Hwy 98 East Residential Preservation, Village Mixed Use, Infill, Institutional, Conservation, Court Ordered Overlay, Traditional Neighborhood, Small Neighborhood #4 CR 83 From Blue Mountain Rd to Hwy 98 Residential Preservation, Village Mixed Use, Traditional Neighborhood, Small Neighborhood, Conservation, Light Industrial #5 CR 283 From US 98 to Hotz Ave Conservation, Village Mixed Use, Infill, Residential Preservation #6 CR 395 From CR 30-A to Eden State Park Residential Preservation, Traditional Neighborhood, Public Facilities, Court Ordered Overlay, Conservation, CR 2 Units per Acre, Infill, Institutional Source: Walton County GIS and Walton County Existing Land Use Map right-of-way. These regulations are detailed in Section Section 7.03.02 of the county code provides 7.03.01 of the LDC. If the parcel has less than 100 requirements for directional signs. Directional signs feet of frontage, one sign is allowed; if it is between give motorists directions to parking areas and access 100 feet and 300 feet, the allowance is two signs; if drives. They are limited in area to four square feet, and it is between 300 feet and 400 feet, three signs are do not count against an occupancy’s maximum sign permitted; if it is greater than 400 feet, four signs area. Directional signs are allowed as permanent signs are allowed. The permissible square footage of signs on all parcels. Additional sign regulations are included also increases with ROW frontage. In all cases, the in Section 13.02.00 of the Land Development Code maximum height for ground signs is 18 feet. and are described in Chapter 4 The Plan.
Billboards
The only restriction a Florida Scenic Highway designation places on a corridor is the provision of new billboard permits within the corridor limits. In 1991, Section 1046(c) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Equity Act (ISTEA) added a new subsection(s) to 23 United States Code (USC) 131
17 The Corridor 2 that precludes outdoor all of the roads in the corridor are county roads, they advertising on designated fall outside of the scope of Florida Scenic Highway/ scenic highways/byways. ISTEA regulations for outdoor advertising. Once a corridor has been designated, the FDOT According to Section 13.02.05.04, allowable signs on Outdoor Advertising CR 30-A include temporary signs, main identification Office is precluded from signs, building signs, directory signs/kiosks, permitted issuing new outdoor off-premises signs, and street signs. advertising permits within the control zone Safety Issues of the Interstate, the The Walton County Public Works Department National Highway compiled crash data for CR 30-A from January 1, System, the Federal Aid 2004 to December 31, 2004. The data report nine Primary System, and any intersection crashes and 59 mid-block crashes, State Highway System including one pedestrian/bicycle involved crash. The along the corridor. predominant type of crash was classified as “Rear End.” The pedestrian/bicycle involved mid-block crash Permanent outdoor advertising signs are regulated was determined to be “No Fault.” In addition to “Rear according to Section 7.05.00 of the Walton County End” and “No Fault,” other types of mid-block crashes Land Development Code. The maximum area of include: such signs is 950 square feet (Section 7.05.01). No two billboards may be spaced less than 1,500 feet • Careless Driving (11) apart on any road. Billboards are not permitted on • Failure to Yield (10) street frontage within 100 feet of public parks, public • Hit Deer (4) schools, churches, courthouses, city halls, or public • Improper Parking (2) museums using the same street frontage. Permanent outdoor advertising signs are limited to 65 feet in • Improper Backing (2) height. Signs must be constructed in accordance with • Criminal (1) the Walton County building code. In the CR 30-A Traffic Study (Walton County, 2005) strategies to address safety concerns include the No outdoor advertising is permitted along Scenic 30-A following recommendations: due to county ordinance (Section 13.02.05.02, Walton County Land Development Code). However, because • Traffic calming
18 The Corridor • Unified speed limit throughout corridor annual growth rates used for the traffic projections. 2 • Unified signing Safety issues have been addressed in the Action Plan within the Safety objectives and strategies. Table 2.5 Functional Classification Route Number Functional Classification Area Type # Lanes Traffic Volumes CR 30-A Minor Arterial Urbanized 2 Functional Classification CR 83 Local Transitioning 2 CR 283 Local/Collector/Major Collector Transitioning 2 The functional classification for the corridors in Walton CR 395 Collector/Minor Collector Transitioning 2 County depend upon the type and location of the Source: Florida DOT Planning Statistics facility. The functional classification of state, county, and local roads will vary depending on traffic volumes and lane configurations. A summary of functional Table 2.6 Traffic Monitoring Stations classifications for Scenic 30-A corridors in can be Count Monitoring Location found in Table 2.5. Number Type CR 30-A FDOT collects traffic data at Traffic Monitoring 600219 Portable 300’ South of US 98 Stations throughout the state. The state has two types 600258 Portable 300’ East of CR 393 of monitoring stations: portable and telemetered. 600263 Portable 300’ West of CR 283 Portable monitoring stations consist of a set of tubes that are set across a roadway once or twice a year, and 200267 Portable 300’ West of CR 395 then removed. Telemetered monitoring stations consist 600268 Portable 300’ East of CR 395 of permanent traffic counting devices, such as a loop CR 83 detector in the pavement. See Table 2.6 for the location 600262 Portable 300’ South of US 98 and type of monitoring stations for the Scenic 30-A CR 283 corridors. 600112 Portable 300’ South of US 98 CR 395 See Table 2.7 for historical, existing (2005), and 600214 Portable 300’ South of US 98 5- and 10-year projected traffic volumes, and for 600254 Portable 300’ South of US 98 corresponding level of service for the Scenic 30- A corridors. Table B-1 in Appendix B provides Source: Florida Traffic Information CD 2005 background information and calculations to determine
19 The Corridor 2 Table 2.7 Traffic Volumes and Levels of Service Adopted Historical Existing Projected Roadway LOS 2001 2005 2010 2015 Standard From To Volume LOS Volume LOS Volume LOS Volume LOS CR 30-A US 98 CR 393 D 6,600 C 6,400 C 8,304 D 10,845 D CR 393 CR 83 D 6,600 C 7,200 D 9,342 D 12,600 D CR 83 CR 283 D 4,900 C 5,500 C 7,136 D 12,919 D CR 283 CR 395 D 5,900 C 6,500 C 8,433 D 12,121 D CR 395 US 98 D 7,250 D 10,150 D 13,169 D 16,188 F CR 83 CR 30-A US 98 D 1,000 C 1,700 C 2,206 C 2,392 C CR 283 CR 30-A US 98 D 3,100 C 4,100 C 5,320 C 6,858 C CR 395 CR 30-A US 98 D 3,200 C 6,000 C 7,785 D 8,453 D US 98 End D 1,200 C 750 C 973 C 1,196 C Source: Florida DOT Quality/Level of Service Handbook
Level of Service (LOS) traffic control devices such as stop signs or signals are present. Future traffic volumes and LOS standards were developed using the methodology stated in sub- The thresholds for LOS standards for the Scenic 30-A section G, Traffic Volumes and User Types of this corridors are detailed in Table 2.8. All LOS standards chapter. Considerations for LOS include: whether are based on the Walton County comprehensive plan the corridor is rural or urban, developed or policies. The traffic analysis projects that one segment undeveloped; whether turning bays are present at of CR 30-A, from CR 395 to US 98, may be operating major intersections; the number of travel lanes; and below the adopted LOS of D in the year 2015. whether there is an uninterrupted flow of traffic or
20 The Corridor Table 2.8 Level of Service Standards Transportation Planning and Roadway 2 Adopted Improvements Roadway LOS From To Standard ABCDEResponsibility for transportation planning CR 30-A along the Scenic Highway corridor is US 98 CR 393 D * * 7,000 13,600 14,600 divided between FDOT, Walton County, and the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation CR 393 CR 83 D * * 7,000 13,600 14,600 Planning Organization. The West Florida CR 83 CR 283 D * * 7,000 13,600 14,600 Regional Planning Council provides CR 283 CR 395 D * * 7,000 13,600 14,600 coordination between land use and CR 395 US 98 D * * 7,000 13,600 14,600 transportation decisions, working closely CR 83 with local governments, FDOT, and the CR 30-A US 98 D * * 7,000 13,600 14,600 Florida Department of Community Affairs. CR 283 These agencies and their efforts regarding CR 30-A US 98 D * * 7,000 13,600 14,600 transportation planning are described in the CR 395 following sections. CR 30-A US 98 D * * 7,000 13,600 14,600 FDOT Adopted 5-Year Work Program US 98 End D * * 7,000 13,600 14,600 * Cannot be achieved using table input value defaults. At the state level, FDOT has authority to Source: Walton County Comprehensive Plan and Florida DOT Quality/Level of Service Handbook regulate commercial and general aviation airports and rail lines, as well as state roads, Table 2.9 FDOT Adopted Work Program within the state. This does not apply to the corridor because it consists solely of Project Description Location Type of Work county roads. However, FDOT does plan 2006-2011 on increasing the capacity of US 98 at two US 98 Road Improvement US 98 from .6 miles west of Mack Add lanes and reconstruct locations where it intersects with Scenic 30- Bayou to CR 30-A West A. The FDOT District Three Work Programs US 98 Road Improvement US 98 from CR 30-A to SR 83 Add lanes and reconstruct for 2006-2011 and 2008-2012 outline roadway 2008-2012 projects near Scenic 30-A. These projects US 98 Preliminary Engineering US 98 from Okaloosa County Line to PE for future capacity will have a positive effect on the proposed CR 30-A West highway by improving existing roadway Source: FDOT Program Development Office 2006-2011 Adopted Work Program facilities. The adopted FDOT Work Programs
21 The Corridor 2 includes annual support for projects in Walton County. Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization A summary of highway improvements on US 98 included in the work programs is listed in Table 2.9. The Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization (OWTPO) serves as the region’s Walton County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), a designation under Section 134 of Title 23, U.S. Code Walton County Planning is responsible for planning at for maintaining and conducting a “continuous, the local level, in addition to coordinating with other cooperative, and comprehensive” (3-C) transportation levels of government. Most importantly, Planning is process. The OWTPO, consisting of Okaloosa and tasked with developing, evaluating, and maintaining Walton Counties, serves as the forum for cooperative the transportation element of the Comprehensive regional decision making. Collectively, it develops Plan. Please see Chapter 4 for more information on the the region’s transportation plans and programs; a Comprehensive Plan. prerequisite for the allocation of Federal-Aid Highway and transit funds. The Walton County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) outlines capital and transportation-related projects The OWTPO adopted the Long Range Transportation programmed through Fiscal Year 2011. Tables 2.10 and Plan (LRTP) to extend to 2030 on April 19, 2007. 2.11 detail capital improvement projects, including The plan serves as the blueprint for developing a a variety of capacity and safety improvements along regionally-based network of transportation facilities Scenic 30-A. For more information on the complete that meet the future travel needs of the region in the CIP, refer to Appendix B. most efficient and effective manner possible. There are no specific projects along Scenic 30-A included in the FY 2008-2012 Project Priorities document.
Table 2.10 CIP Parks and Recreation Projects in Walton County Expenditures FY2007 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 Project Description Helen McCall Park $200,000 Park Improvements South Walton Park $250,000 $750,000 $500,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 New Park Development Red Fish Lake Bridge $250,000 Pedestrian Bridge Point Washington Boat Ramp $100,000 Refurbishment Source: 2006 Walton County CIP
22 The Corridor Table 2.11 CIP Transportation Projects, Walton County 2 Project # Road Project Project Funding Type Phase Improvement FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 2006-01-016 CR 30-A Signalized Intersection or Roundabout City/County & Capacity Engineering Intersection $750,000 at Intersection of New St. Joe Road and Private Partnership Design Improvement CR 30-A 2006-01-020 CR 30-A Signalized Intersection or Roundabout at City/County & Capacity Engineering Intersection $750,000 Intersection of CR 395 and CR 30-A Private Partnership Design Improvement 2006-01-024 CR 30-A Signalized Intersection or Roundabout at City/County & Capacity Engineering Intersection $750,000 Intersection of CR 283 and CR 30-A Private Partnership Design Improvement 2006-01-028 CR 30-A Signalized Intersection or Roundabout at City/County & Capacity Engineering Intersection $750,000 Intersection of CR 83 and CR 30-A Private Partnership Design Improvement 2006-01-032 CR 30-A Signalized Intersection or Roundabout at City/County & Capacity Engineering Intersection $750,000 Intersection of CR 393 and CR 30-A Private Partnership Design Improvement 2006-01-036 CR 30-A Left and Right Turn Lanes at the City/County & Capacity Engineering Intersection $440,800 Intersection of Lakewood Dr and CR 30-A Private Partnership Design Improvement 2006-01-040 CR 30-A Left Turn Lane at Somerset Bridge Rd City/County & Capacity Engineering Intersection $220,400 and CR 30-A Private Partnership Design Improvement 2006-01-044 CR 30-A Two Left Turn Lanes at the Intersection of City/County & Capacity Engineering Intersection $440,800 Gulf Drive and CR 30-A Private Partnership Design Improvement 2006-01-048 New New North-South Connector for CR 30-A City/County & Capacity Engineering New Roadway $31,375 $3.5 Road and US 98 between Camp Creek and Private Partnership Design Million CR 395 2006-01-052 CR 30-A Sign Upgrade - Retrofit Existing City/County & Safety Engineering Material $35,500 Private Partnership Design 2006-01-053 CR 30-A Pavement Marking Modifications - Retrofit City/County & Safety Construction Striping $220,400 Existing Private Partnership 2006-01-054 CR 30-A Left Turn Lane at Main Park Rd and CR City/County & Capacity Engineering Intersection $5,687 30-A Private Partnership Design Improvement 2006-01-058 CR 30-A Intersection Safety Improvements to City/County & Safety Engineering Intersection $300,000 Ensure Adequate Signt Visiblity at Acacia Private Partnership Design Improvement St 2006-01-066 CR 30-A Parking Retrofit Based on Crash Reports City/County & Capacity/ Engineering Right-of-Way $625,000 at Various Locations Along CR 30-A Private Partnership Safety Design Improvements (Where Parking in the ROW Occurs) 2006-01-070 CR 30-A Transit Plan City/County & Capacity Planning Evaluation Private Partnership Report Source: 2006 Walton County CIP
23 The Corridor
2 Social and Economic Conditions activities. There are five businesses offering bicycle Walton County’s Scenic 30-A highway lies entirely rentals so visitors can explore the area or ride one of in the immediate vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico. the many local trails by bike. Many businesses also CR 30-A generally runs east/west, paralleling the cater to water sports enthusiasts. Visitors can rent a coast. Meanwhile, CR 83, CR 283, and CR 395 run kayak, canoe, surfboard, catamaran, or even charter north/south, terminating at the beach. The corridor a fishing expedition. There are four certified nature- contains 28 miles of scenic roads. Despite this limited based businesses that offer interpretive river tours in geography, Scenic 30-A will regularly serve both the Choctawhatchee Bay, Intracoastal Waterway, and Walton County residents and visitors from all over the Black Creek areas, as well as camping and kayak, region who are attracted by South Walton’s beaches. canoe, and tube rental.
According to the 2000 Census, Walton County has a There are more than 120 restaurants along Scenic population of 40,601. The 2005 estimated population 30-A. Six of them are in Florida Trend’s “Top 500 of 53,525 represents a 31.8% increase (University of Restaurants.” There is also abundant shopping, Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research). including the open-air market and artist colony in The median income for a household in the county was Seaside. $32,407 in 2000. Additional demographic information can be found in Appendix B. Golf courses can be found at Camp Creek Golf Club (off of CR 30-A between WaterColor and Rosemary Tourism and User Facilities Beach) and at the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club. There are also 50 tennis courts available to the public There are more than 12,000 lodging units available along Scenic 30-A. along Scenic 30-A, many of them directly or indirectly accessible from the corridor. Accommodations range Visitors can also enjoy the amenities available at the from luxury rooms in Seaside, WaterColor, and other State Parks located along the corridor. Camping is beach communities to RV sites and campgrounds. available at Grayton Beach State Recreation Area and Campgrounds and RV sites are located in Grayton Topsail State Preserve. Public beach access is available Beach State Park, Peach Creek RV Resort, Topsail at Grayton Beach State Park, Topsail State Preserve, Hill RV Resort, and Willows Campground. The Peach and Deer Lake State Park. Hiking trails are available Creek and Topsail Hill facilities have full RV hook-ups. at Grayton Beach State Recreation Area, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Deer Lake State Park, Eden State A number of businesses along the corridor provide Gardens, and Point Washington State Forest. opportunities for visitors to engage in outdoor
24 The Corridor The Beaches of South Walton Visitor Information Universal Criteria 2 Center is located at the intersection of US 331 and US 98. Information specialists at the center Universal Criterion #1 provide directions and answer questions about “Resource(s) must be visible from the roadway.” accommodations, shopping, dining, and any other activities. Each of the six intrinsic resource types, that determine the eligibility of a corridor for consideration as a Scenic 30-A is served by passenger airports in Fort Florida Scenic Highway are present within the Scenic Walton Beach, Panama City, and Pensacola, and by 30-A corridor limits and are either visible from the general aviation airports in Destin, DeFuniak Springs, roadway or accessible from the corridor. According Crestview, and Panama City. to field inventories conducted along the corridor, approximately 89% of the resources are visible or Intrinsic Resources Assessment and partially visible from the roadway. The remaining 11% of resources are easily accessible, but not visible. Designation Criteria
Introduction Figure 2.2 Intrinsic Resource Visibility The Intrinsic Resources Assessment and Designation Criteria outlines the 10 Universal and Resource Specific Criteria that the Scenic 30-A corridor has met to be designated a scenic highway in Florida. These criteria establish the standard requirements of the Florida Scenic Highway Program. This chapter documents how the ten criteria have been fulfilled, a list of corridor resources, and the significance of how area resources contribute to Scenic 30-A.
The following section describes the ten criteria and provides a reference where these criteria are addressed in the Scenic 30-A Corridor Management Plan.
25 The Corridor 2 Universal Criterion #2 History “The corridor must ‘tell a story’ that relates to its The following section intrinsic resource(s).” describes the history of the Scenic 30-A holds a unique mixture of cultural, Scenic 30-A corridor and natural, archeological, historical and scenic South Walton County in an resources that transcend the typical American effort to further support the driving experience. The Story, presented in Chapter 1 Corridor Story criterion. Introduction, walks through the numerous resources The 1890s was a period and amenities within the Scenic 30-A corridor, when American taste and illustrating its unique characteristics that separate interest in vacationing at it from other scenic highways. Listed below are the beach in the summer the qualities and resources collected from a public was popular. In several workshop designed to highlight and organize the parts of Florida, small important aspects that make Scenic 30-A unique. beach resort communities began to grow. ByB 1911, 1911 This list was used as an outline for the creation of Grayton Beach was a small resort for beach goers the corridor’s Story, followed by a narrative of the from DeFuniak Springs and elsewhere in the county. corridor’s history. As with many developments in the 1920s, promotion • Hiking and advertising were widely used to market resort • Bicycling areas. Newspapers in Defuniak Springs (and probably • Families feel safe in Alabama) carried advertisements that promoted • Arts and crafts Grayton Beach as a place to buy a beach lot and as a • Vibrant nightlife place to relax and recuperate from daily life. • Mix of manmade and natural resources • Paths, trails, boardwalk By 1923, new houses replaced the cottages that had • Beach destination been located on the beach since before the turn of • Public lands the century. Visitors continued to come from Alabama • Dune lakes and Walton County. J.J. Kinney and B.B. Murray were • National Forest among several who built houses at the beach. Their • Beach resort and community houses were described as “air castles” with low hip • Beach cottage style homes roofs called storm roofs and large screens with hinged • New-Urbanism (Seaside) shutters to protect from hurricanes.
26 The Corridor Great South Walton of the earth works can be located due to the influx of 2 Historical Touring Trek bay homes that may have covered the site. South Walton County During the Civil War, a Confederate settlement called was an important LaGrange City lay at the end of La Grange Bayou Native American where the town of Freeport now sits. The small town settlement as of LaGrange had a boat and barge building industry. indicated by European The earthen fort location could have either been a artifacts that were Confederate after-thought for a gun emplacement to found at the site, indicating the first meeting between protect the back bay waters, or, if the site is authentic, early explorers and Native Americans. The crescent it would have more likely been a planned Federal gun moon shaped mound is now protected and has been mound to prevent the construction of any boats in the returned to the Creek Indian Nation. Florida State Freeport bayou area. University performed an archaeological dig evident by the deep cuts that traverse the mound remain. Today Abandoned Town of Santa Rosa it is entirely fenced in and is once again a protected The first recorded cabin was in the late 1860s, but it resting place for our early ancestors. From a geological became a major bay community in the early 1900s. standpoint, the location of the town and mound was ideal. Horseshoe Cove, Filler Lake, Morris Lake, and As a major steamboat landing, the Town of Santa Rosa Campbell Lake all line up as if at one time there was boasted a population from 850 to 1,200 people at its an entrance to Choctawhatchee Bay from the Gulf. height. However, a crop disaster and vicious hurricane This strategic position allowed the Indian settlement devastated the town. The town eventually took on a to harvest crab and shell fish from the bay and to fish sinister “Wild West” tone after a recorded posse chase the shore waters of the Gulf. The area is abundant with took place and a murderous feud caused division in fresh water streams that spill into the various bayous. the settlement. Shortly after these events the residents Refuse shell mounds are heavily scattered about the requested three or four steamboats from Mobile and area. The site is just inside of a tree and vegetation then left en masse. The empty town hotels, churches, cover on the west side of Mack Bayou Road. A chain stores, café, and cottages turned Santa Rosa into a true link fence surrounds the huge elongated mound, ghost town. The remaining locals and North Bay Shore which is reportedly as one of the top three largest residents eventually dismantled the town for lumber. mounds in Florida. According to records a site marked “fort” was designated on an earlier survey map. None Now Cessna Public Park (named for the town founder) sits on Hogtown Bayou where the town warehouses
27 The Corridor 2 werew located. Grayton It’sI a happy and Named after its founder, Major Charles T. Gray, who quietq place to in 1890 obtained a patent to the property for General picnic.p It also has William Wilson and William Miller. a fishing dock anda restroom The first building, a beach cottage, is thought to have facilities. Next to been built in 1880. However the first “recorded” thet park is Bayou building is believed to have been built during the Arts & Antiques, 1890s, and was most likely a hotel for those who made located on the the onerous overland and across-the-bay trip from the Old Sugar Cane northern railroad town of Defuniak Springs, located Mill site. A room is dedicated to various pictures about 35 miles north of Grayton. The structure is still showing what the town was like in its heyday. The standing and was called Washaway due to its under- Fisherman’s Chapel has also been restored. History pilings being washed out in a hurricane. By 1911, the information of the town is available free of charge at small community was little more than a collection of the park. shacks nestled under the The Old Town of Santa Rosa cemetery sits on the magnolias and highest ground in the area and was the final resting live oaks. The place for many of the town’s inhabitants. As one poor condition enters the grounds, it is odd to see so many small of the road made plain white wooden crosses and only the occasional it extremely stone monument. Stone was a very expensive luxury difficult to travel for a timber and sand territory. Only the rich could to the village. afford the cost of importing stone markers; wooden crosses served the poorer population. The crosses are In 1919, a group all marked “unknown” and those buried there are of Iowa bankers “known only to God.” One other unusual monument This store was the first commercial building in Grayton Beach. Van R. Butler built the store after the 1936 purchased is known as “the box.” Nobody knows if someone was hurricane destroyed the Grayton Beach Hotel. It was property around placed inside or if it was a crude memorial. To find it, moved and converted into a rental cottage when the the community go to the crest of hill on the south entrance side. new store was built. It was constructed from lumber salvaged from W. H. Butler’s hotel, which was and proposed a destroyed in the 1936 hurricane. road from Point Butler Store 1937 WCB079
28 The Corridor Wilson -- Miller -- Florence 1890s WCB080 The Grayton Beach Store (now the Red Bar) was built 2 by Van R. Butler in 1939 to replace the smaller general The building fell into decay and was renovated as a guest house store (1936) which was moved and is now a cottage in in the 1910s. It was used by the the town. It was the main gathering place for dances Coast Guard for an office and housing in World War II. This held during the summer months. World War II saw house is one of the landmark the Coastal Command take possession of Washaway buildings in the Grayton Beach and other cottages for beach patrol barracks. German Historic District. submarine activity sank ships in the Gulf and the
This house is one of the few washed up merchant marine survivors only hope were built directly on top a sand dune. these patrols. Also spies had been landing in Florida It is a vernacular type which so the patrols became ever more vigilant on the lonely differs from the houses which were normally built in Grayton coast line. Beach. James and Annie Bell Bullard had the house built in This house is an excellent 1938. The Brazella carpenters example of the hall and parlor and Bert Murray built the house. house which was used in Grayton The house now belongs to the Beach in the early years. The Bullard’s grandchildren. house was a mill house for workers at Foley, Alabama and Shepherd, W. J. WCB077 was moved to the present site in 1931 by W. J. Shepherd. Washington to Grayton. The project failed and Grayton sat almost forgotten. Then, in the 1920s, W.H. Butler moved his family there and a renaissance began as he restored many of the rundown cottages, platted This large bungalow is not the new home sites, built a hotel (destroyed in the 1936 typical style built in Grayton Beach in the 1930s. Van R. Hurricane), and even gave some properties away to Butler built this house for rental friends. The friends, in turn, “spread the word” around use in 1936 along with four others from salvaged lumber the surrounding localities and southern Alabama, from the destroyed Grayton praising the natural beauty of the sea side community. Beach Hotel. This bungalow In 1926, Van R. Butler, the son of W.H. Butler, served as housing in World War II. This house is one of continued the renovations and land purchasing and the landmark buildings in the promotion. By the 1930s, more “air castles” as they Grayton Beach Historic District. were known (low hip roofs with wide screen porches) Butler - Taylor 1936 WCB081 punctuated the sand dunes and shady hammocks.
29 The Corridor 2 Point a rebel prisoner holding site for General Alexander Washington Asboth who, in late 1864, set out from Pensacola to burn Marianna and invade and capture the This 1800s surrounding territory. The quiet backwater town logging boasted a population of 350 citizens during its peak settlement and had a school (a little red school house), two or boasted having three general stores, a post office, turpentine stills, the largest house and a total of six timber mills dotting the shores in south Walton around Point Washington. The first known church County. was originally a United Methodist Church built in 1893. The Methodist Church was laid out using the The two-story architecture found in Point Washington timbers from another building built in the 1890s across is a blend of Antebellum (with wrap-around shady the intercoastal waterway. The church was literally porches), and a touch of Victorian. The wood mill, under an open air arbor with a fence built around which sat at the edge of the bayou, burned down three it to keep the wild roaming hogs from entering the times. Enormous live oaks now grace the mill site services. Music was provided by a piano on the back and open water breezes cool the expansive garden of an old pick up truck. The story book architecture grounds. The now historically dedicated home and is reminiscent of a small New England chapel. The gardens were built by the Wesley family between Corner Stone Assembly Church was built in 1940. The 1895 and 1897. By 1953, the Wesley family died out 1938 school, located under the shade trees is a design and Lois Maxon had purchased the mansion. Upon straight out of the Norman Rockwell period. One walk her death she left the home and grounds to the State. though the hall and classrooms makes the saying “as Tours and a more in-depth history are available from American as apple pie” a real life experience. the State Park ranger and preservation volunteers. The town’s commodity was lumber, which at the Point Washington experienced two small invasions time was transported by steamboat and schooner during the Civil War. The first account was in early to Pensacola and New Orleans. Approximately four 1864, when Federal Captain James Galloway who was steamboats called on the town, which was the home tasked with locating deserters, burned the town’s saw port for the schooner “Magnolia.” A ferry service ran mill and attempted to capture the blockade runner- to the north shore in 1921. The one-room post office the schooner “Champion,” which operated out of is still active today, with many of the town’s original Choctawhatchee Bay. The town was again enlisted homes still in place along the shaded streets. as a camp and temporary Civil War headquarters for
30 The Corridor Universal Criterion #3 local galleries and during annual festivals. The 2 “The roadway must be a public road that safely resources identified along Scenic 30-A are recognized internationally for their significant, exceptional, and accommodates two-wheel drive motor vehicles.” distinctive features. All 28 miles of the Scenic 30-A corridor in South Walton County are paved and can safely accommodate two-wheel drive vehicles. Functional classification, Exceptional Corridor Features Table 2.5 and route descriptions in Chapter 2 provide additional roadway information to fulfill the COASTAL DUNE LAKES requirements of this criterion. To determine whether a roadway deserves the Universal Criterion #4 designation as a “Scenic Corridor,” it is necessary to identify the basic elements that distinguish this “The corridor must exhibit significant, specific corridor from other avenues of travel. What exceptional, and distinctive features of the region is it that makes Scenic 30-A so scenic? Are the it traverses.” aesthetically designed planned communities, like Seaside, the main focal point? Do the glimpses of The coastal dune lakes our famous beaches satisfy the appetite of the scenic adjacent to the Scenic 30-A enthusiast? Or is there something more that provides corridor are features unique this essence? While the allure of our renowned to only a few locations in architectural communities and pristine beaches tempts the world. These important one to define 30-A by these characteristics, to many ecosystems provide within the community it is a lesser marketed natural exceptional scenic, natural, landscape that sets this road apart from other scenic recreational, and historic corridors. For those who traverse this roadway on a significance for the area. daily basis, the answer is quite simple. Additionally, the Scenic 30-A corridor contains The Scenic 30-A Corridor is distinctive from other four state parks, 12 distinct Florida corridors in that none of the other roadways beach communities, and can claim to be situated along the globally rare the highest point in Florida. ecosystems of South Walton’s Coastal Dune Lakes. The region celebrates local art and culture in
31 The Corridor 2 Walton County proudly asserts to being home to 15 recognized stand of pine trees on Western Lake, these globally rare Coastal Dune Lakes (Florida Natural natural communities constantly draw attention. Areas Inventory). Outside of the Gulf Coast these lakes are currently found only along the scattered The essence of Scenic 30-A is that it is a unique coastlines of the Pacific Northwest, Australia, and New corridor showcasing one of the most incredible coastal Zealand. The lakes are true lakes fed by a surface ecosystems in all of Florida. The globally rare Coastal aquifer, but are defined by an intermittent connection Dune Lakes are the defining feature of this ecosystem to the Gulf of Mexico, creating what many believe to that unquestionably distinguishes this particular be the aesthetic staple of our natural landscape. Many roadway as a “Scenic Corridor.” communities throughout the globe enjoy beautiful beaches, but few witness these tannic stained canals Distinctive Corridor Features meandering through their white, sand dunes into the emerald waters of the Gulf. SCENIC 30-A COMMUNITIES Housing and resort developments have sprung up Eleven of these Coastal Dune Lakes can be seen from alongside the natural wilderness. Even with all the the confines of Scenic 30-A, ranging from Stallworth new development along Scenic 30-A, the beaches will Lake to the west to Camp Creek Lake in the east. remain largely state-owned and preserved in their Whether it is the wind-swept waters of Eastern Lake, natural state of sand pine forest, freshwater lakes, the quaint serenity of Little Redfish Lake, or the most emerald green Gulf waters, and snow-white sand dune beaches. When traveling through traditional towns such as Seagrove, well known communities such as Seaside, or on Scenic 30-A’s newest master planned communities such as WaterColor and Alys Beach, the communities blend into the surrounding environment to create a unique sense of place along the Gulf Coast (see Figure 2.3).
The Scenic 30-A corridor includes 12 distinct beach communities, each with their own history, culture, and featured resources. The following section describes each of the communities along the Scenic 30-A corridor in greater detail.
32 The Corridor Figure 2.3 Scenic 30-A Beach Communities, Managed Lands, and Water Bodies 2
Smokehouse Lake
Inside Lake Jolly Bay Muddy Lake
Choctawhatchee Bay
Bells Leg South Mouth
Bunker Cove Walton County Bay County
Tucker Bayou Bowman Bayou Eden Gardens Littles Bayou State Park £¤331
Hogtown Bayou Mc Quage Bayou
Mussett Bayou Hewett Bayou £¤98 Churchill Bayou £¤98 Point Washington State Forest
$+395 $+283 Grayton Beach 83 $+393 $+ State Park Deer Lake State Park Draper Lake Alligator Lake Big Redfish $+30A Peace Pond Lake Eastern Lake Powell Lake $+30A Camp Creek Lake Campbell Lake Grayton Beach Dune Allen Beach Blue Mountain Gulf Trace Western Lake Seaside Seagrove Beach Morris Lake Santa RosaOyster Beach Lake Little Redfish Deer Lake Stalworth Lake Seacrest Beach Topsail Hill Preserve Lake RosemaryAlys Beach Bea Beach Inlet Beach State Park ch
Gulf Of Mexico
Scenic 30-A Corridor Beach Communities, Managed Lands, and Water Bodies
Scenic 30-A Other Roadways Conservation/State Forest Land
30A Scenic 30-A Spur Roads State Parks £¤98 U.S. Highways $+ County Roads . Walton County Planning and 03,000 6,000 12,000 Feet Development Services Division July 2007
33 The Corridor
2 SANTA ROSA BEACH accesses, and Cessna Landing Park, a public boat Santa Rosa Beach launch with a children’s playground and picnic area. is one of the oldest beach towns along Topsail Hill State Preserve, located in Santa Rosa Scenic 30-A between Beach, could be the state’s most pristine piece of Choctawhatchee Bay, property; its beach, dunes, coastal lake, and cypress the Gulf of Mexico and swamp remain nearly untouched for the past five the Bay County line. centuries. Santa Rosa offers several entrances to The town of Santa Rosa Point Washington State Forest, a 15,000-acre preserve Beach encompasses with miles of trails. The Santa Rosa area includes the the largest tract of historic town of Point Washington, where Eden State land of all the beach Gardens incorporates the old Wesley mansion on communities. Tucker Bayou, once a thriving sawmill.
The name was DUNE ALLEN BEACH borrowed from the Dune Allen is the western-most beach town along Santa Rosa Plantation, Scenic 30-A. It is also home to The Santa Rosa Beach which was a thriving Club (the area’s first gulf front golf course), Butler turpentine plantation Elementary School, and Kindness Pet Hospital (Scenic north of US 98 on Hogtown Bayou in the late 1800s. 30-A’s first veterinary clinic). Dune Allen includes The abundance of slash pine trees made it a perfect residential and beachfront vacation homes in the place for the industry. Turpentine was used to caulk dunes lining both sides of the road. The town is built the seams of wooden ships and was referred to as a around Stallworth “naval stores industry.” The industry died out in the Lake, Dune Allen 1940s due to damage from storms and shipbuilding Lake, and Oyster shifting from wood to steel. Papermaking became a Lake, three of bigger industry and the pine trees were used for that the 11 coastal purpose. dune lakes along Scenic 30-A. Santa Rosa Beach is characterized by coastal residential enclaves, thriving commercial enterprises and miles of white, sandy beaches. It offers shopping galleries, restaurants, four county-maintained beach
34 The Corridor Stallworth Lake is historically significant because of year as they gently flow back and forth between the 2 a housing area known as the Quarters, which was Gulf of Mexico and the fresh water lake system. located on the northeast side of the lake and housed the “Turpentine Workers.” This was during the late GRAYTON BEACH 1800s when jobs and places to live were scarce in Grayton Beach, the first community in South Walton, this part of Northwest Florida; the Quarters offered was established during the late 19th century. Grayton both. It also laid the foundation for a totally integrated Beach celebrated its 100th anniversary on July 4th, society, which may have been the earliest interracial 1990. According to legend, it was named after an Army neighborhood in this state. major, Charles T. Gray, who built a home with his wife Elizabeth in Grayton in 1885. A few years later, their BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH home and all of their possessions were destroyed in According to local legend, Blue Mountain Beach got a fire. It was almost another 30 years before Grayton its name from the blue haze seen at dawn on the hills would be settled again. In 1913, the Butler family and dunes created by the blankets of blue Lupine, settled Grayton Beach with the plan to turn it into which to the Native Americans and sailors resembled a resort. They bought most of the property at a very “blue mountains” along the beach. The town remains good price and began building, renting cottages, and relatively undeveloped except for a bike shop, bank, selling lots. Grayton Beach continues to have small- and the only health food store on Scenic 30-A. Blue town character with its narrow tree-lined streets and a Mountain Beach is one of the highest geological modest downtown with shops, bed and breakfast inns, points along the Florida Gulf Coast. a general store, and a handful of restaurants. Today’s Grayton Beach is a historic district with many of the Blue Mountain Beach marks the beginning of the old cottages nicely restored. Eastern Lake Hike/Bike Trail, which ambles through all of South Walton’s beach communities. Draper Grayton Beach Lake,LaL a large expansive is known for bodybbo of water, boasts its artists’ thetth area’s only covered community bridge.bbr Alligator Lake and evolving from its BigB Red Fish Lakes, two “hippie” days. smallerssm dune lakes in the Nearby Grayton area,a teem with abundant Beach State wildlifew throughout the Park was named
35 The Corridor 2 America’s Best Beach by coastal geomorphologist inns, and the charmm Stephen Leatherman (a.k.a. Dr. Beach) in 1994. The of classic beach park also includes Western Lake, a coastal dune lake houses. with a public boat ramp and short nature trail. Other area parks include Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Western Lake is a named for its towering dune, and Deer Lake State 220-acre coastal Park. Grayton Beach is also known for the colorful dune lake located visitors who stop by every fall en route to Mexico adjacent to – Monarch butterflies. WaterColor. There are numerous foot WATERCOLOR and bicycle paths arounda nd the lake. Visitors can also explore the lake WaterColor is one of two master-planned communities by renting a canoe or kayak. Cerulean Park, linking currently being developed by Arvida, a St. Joe the Gulf to the lake, is WaterColor’s central gathering company, along Scenic 30-A. The 499-acre resort was space or Town Center and has a collection of retail designed by architect Jaque Robertson on land held shops, offices, and the WaterColor Market. Hiking and by the St. Joe Company since 1927. The WaterColor biking paths unfold in an extensive woodland trail Inn and Resort is a resort and residential community system within WaterColor. Nearby State Parks offer located between Seaside and Grayton Beach State differing perspectives of coastal dune lakes, sand pine Recreation Area. scrub, longleaf pine flatwoods, cypress ponds, wet prairies, and titi swamps. A prominent feature here is the WaterColor Inn that was designed by acclaimed restaurant designer, David SEASIDE Rockwell.R The Inn combines Conceived, planned, and developed by Robert and the warmth Daryl Davis, (Robert Davis inherited the 80-acre and hospitality property in the 1970s) Seaside is a pedestrian-friendly associated with community of cottages with picket fences and elevated traditional porches to watch the sun set on the Gulf. New- southern grand Urbanism, an architectural movement born with the hotels, the creation of Seaside, has played an important role in intimacy of bed contributing to today’s awareness of the designing and breakfast and planning of the traditional town along Scenic 30-
36 The Corridor A. The town center was inspired by the squares found one of the most beautiful and unique beach towns 2 in traditional cities like Charleston, South Carolina, along Scenic 30-A. WaterSound is being planned as Florence, Italy, and Savannah, Georgia. Pedestrian a secluded, seaside village on more than one mile of pathways crisscross the town, many of them leading to white sand beach along Scenic 30-A. The town plan, the beach. designed by Robert A.M. Stern, features walking paths, dune walkovers, parks, Seaside is designed so that people a beach club, and recreational can reach every shop, restaurant, art facilities blended into a quiet gallery, and more by foot or bicycle. community of single-family home The town center contains a market, sites, townhomes, and multi-family art galleries, a florist, an ice cream residences. The architecture and store, a post office, and other small programming at WaterSound are boutiques. Many homes in Seaside based on the area’s rich maritime can be rented on a daily or weekly history. There are also nature trails basis. There is also a motor court along an 80-acre coastal dune lake. and a bed and breakfast. The town was the stage set for the movie The SEAGROVE Truman Show. Seagrove got its name from the Seaside is the heart of Scenic 30-A. thick grove of windswept oak trees Since its grand beginning, it has along the beach. The trees were a attracted world wide attention. Time cover from the harsh hurricanes magazine quoted it as “the most that landed along the coast of North astounding design achievement of Florida. Seagrove is a quiet beach its era.” It has won many prestigious town tucked between the coast’s architectural awards over the years. natural dunes. Just up the road are art galleries and antique stores. WATERSOUND Seagrove is perfect for nature lovers seeking an WaterSound is the second master-planned community unspoiled retreat and crowd free environment. (the other is WaterColor) by Arvida, a St. Joe company, Eastern and Deer Lakes are wonderful spots for quiet along Scenic 30-A. Although still in the early stages reflection or launching a canoe or kayak for a day of of development, the 256-acre site promises to be exploration.
37 The Corridor 2 Recently, Seagrove has experienced an increasing to short-term visitors. Footpaths and boardwalks in amount of attention. Residences, condominiums, Rosemary Beach lead to large decks over the dunes shops, and restaurants are springing up in the area, and, of course, to the beach below. and it is becoming a popular destination for tourists. INLET BEACH SEACREST Inlet Beach is located at the eastern edge of Scenic 30- Seacrest begins after the big bend in the road on CR A’s 12 beach communities. It is the easternmost town 30-A. The road still follows the Gulf here, and passes directly accessible from Scenic 30-A. Inlet Beach is lo- through areas of wild and dense coastal scrubs. cated at the intersection of Scenic 30-A and US 98. In- Seacrest is a quiet residential community with some of let Beach is a well-established neighborhood defined the highest sand dunes on Scenic 30-A. by modest homes inland, newer multi-storied homes (on the Gulf side), and large lots north of Emerald Camp Creek Lake is one outstanding feature of the Coast Parkway where rolling hills define the terrain. Seacrest area. One of the least developed and most Lake Powell is located adjacent to the town. scenic of the dune lakes, Camp Creek is located on the western edge of the community and extends north The McCaskill Investment Company of DeFuniak and south of Scenic 30-A. The area golf club features Springs first introduced the town to the buying public marshlands (perfect for wading birds), plantings of more than 200 live oaks, and a challenging landscape. during the 1920s. Development began in earnest when young veterans from World War II returned Seacrest is one of the quietest beach communities to the area and applied for land offered through a along Scenic 30-A because there is virtually no latter-day version of the Homestead Act. In 1947, the commercial development. Birmingham News ran an article about the Bureau of Land Development giving veterans first choice in a ROSEMARY BEACH lottery. Rosemary Beach was established in 1995 and named after the dune rosemary. It has a town center that continues to grow with new shops and restaurants. Rosemary Beach follows the same successful blueprint developed by Seaside but, instead of Seaside’s look, Rosemary Beach has gone with a blend of colonial St. Augustine, New Orleans, and West Indian styles using natural tones. Like Seaside, it offers vacation rentals
38 The Corridor Because so many veterans built in the area, it was The architectural style is simple, with whitewashed 2 referred to as “Soldiers Beach.” Eventually the name masonry and stucco reminiscent of Bermuda. was changed to Inlet Beach, after Phillips Inlet which Buildings will be grouped into small compounds separates Walton and Bay Counties. and unified by perimeter walls, which will be higher and more formal in the urban zones and lower and ALYS BEACH more rustic in the rural areas. The Bermuda style is combined with a patio house type that originated in Alys Beach will employ the best available urban Antigua and a courtyard building type common in design and architectural techniques to create California. harmonious relationships between humans and the environment. Combined with the pedestrian-friendly, All streets will lead to the beach, with views of the mixed-use plan, these techniques will make Alys water kept clear for as great a distance as possible. Beach a leader in ecologically-sound living in Florida. The main street will lead to a waterfront plaza that will serve as the primary gathering place in the In the tradition of nearby community. Three-story, mixed-use buildings will Seaside and Rosemary line the plaza, featuring arcades and cafés at ground Beach, Alys Beach will be a level and apartments above. The northern edge will be model resort town—a place framed by an open air auditorium and the distinctive where the best practices in silhouette of a flatiron building with a viewing deck. town planning are applied. Alys Beach is located on a 158-acre site, the last piece of beachfront property in the Florida Panhandle. Approximately 20 acres of jurisdictional wetlands lie to the north. Within this configuration, the urban- to-rural transect distribute the denser, more urban concentrations near the beach and Scenic 30-A (which crosses the southern half of the site) and the sparser, more rural elements toward the wetlands.
39 The Corridor 2 Significant Corridor Features 9. Blue Lake Road Neighborhood Beach Access – Located at the southern end of Blue Lake BEACHES Road along Blue Mountain Road in Blue Scenic 30-A is known for world-class beaches. The Mountain Beach corridor has 38 public beach access points. The list 10. Seagrade Road Neighborhood Beach Access below summarizes public access points by town. – Located at the southern end of Seagrade Road along Blue Mountain Road in Blue Mountain 1. Santa Clara Regional Beach Access – Located Beach on Scenic 30-A across from Santa Clara Avenue 11. Blue Mountain Regional Beach Access in Seagrove Beach – Located at the southern end of CR 83 in Blue 2. One Seagrove Place Neighborhood Beach Mountain Beach Access – Located adjacent to the eastern side 12. Dune Allen Regional Beach Access – Located of One Seagrove Place Condominium along on Scenic 30-A near Lake Allen Scenic 30-A in Seagrove Beach 13. Inlet Beach Regional Beach Access – Located 3. Campbell Street Neighborhood Beach Access at the end of South Orange Street in Inlet – Located on Scenic 30-A across from Campbell Beach Street in Seagrove Beach 14. Gulfview Heights Regional Beach Access 4. San Juan Neighborhood Beach Access – Located behind Goatfeathers Restaurant on – Located at the southern end of San Juan Scenic 30-A Avenue in Seagrove Beach 15. Lake Causeway Neighborhood Beach Access 5. Greenwood Neighborhood Beach Access – Located in Dune Allen adjacent to the – Located at the southern end of Greenwood western side of Vizcaya Avenue in Seagrove Beach 16. Beach Highlands Neighborhood Beach Access 6. Van Ness Butler Jr. Regional Beach Access – Located in Dune Allen – Located between WaterColor and Seaside 17. Ed Walline Regional Beach Access – Located at along Scenic 30-A the intersection of Scenic 30-A and CR 393 7. Miramar Beach/Pompano Joe’s Restaurant 18. Grayton Dunes Regional Beach Access Access – Located in western Walton County – Located at the end of DeFuniak Street in adjacent to Pompano Joe’s restaurant. Walk on historic Grayton Beach access only. 19. Holly Street – Located at the southern end of 8. Ed Walline Regional Beach Access – Located at Holly Street along Scenic 30-A in Seagrove the southern end of CR 393 along Scenic 30-A Beach in Santa Rosa Beach. Walk on access only.
40 The Corridor 20. Palms of Dune Allen – Located adjacent to 28. Hickory Street Neighborhood Beach Access 2 Palms of Dune Allen Condominiums in Dune – Located at the southern end of Hickory Street Allen in Seagrove Beach 21. Sugar Cliffs – Located across from Cassine 29. Gardenia Street – Located at the southern end Village in Seagrove Beach of Gardenia Street in Seagrove Beach 22. Nightcap Street – Located at the southern end 30. Phillip’s Inlet Neighborhood Beach Access of Nightcap Street in Seagrove Beach – Located at the end of Lakeshore Drive 23. Spooky Lane Neighborhood Beach Access 31. Walton Dunes (Lakewood) – Located at the end – Located at the southern end of Spooky Lane of Beach Front Trail near Eastern Lake in Santa Rosa Beach 32. Pelayo Neighborhood Beach Access – Located 24. Dogwood/Thyme – Located along Scenic 30- between Santa Clara and One Seagrove Place A between Dogwood and Thyme Streets in 33. Miramar Beach Access – Located adjacent to Seagrove Beach Pompano Joe’s restaurant in Western Walton 25. Highway 395 – Located at the southern end of County County Hwy 395 in Seagrove Beach 34. Eastern Lake Neighborhood Beach Access 26. West Allen Loop Neighborhood Beach Access – Located on the immediate western edge of – Located in Dune Allen at the western side of Eastern Lake in Seagrove Allen Loop Road 35. Ray’s Multi Mountain Neighborhood Beach 27. Live Oak – Located at the southern end of Live Access – Located in Grayton Beach Oak Street in Seagrove Beach 36. Andalusia Street Neighborhood Beach Access – Located in Seagrove Beach 37. Dothan Avenue Neighborhood Beach Access – Located in Seagrove Beach 38. Gulf Point Road Neighborhood Beach Access – Located at the southern end of Gulf Point Road in Blue Mountain
41 The Corridor
2 STATE PARKS weave through a wide variety of plant Approximately 40% of the total acreage surrounding communities such Scenic 30-A (25,000 acres) is state-owned. This as sandhills, coastal includes five state parks. In Seacrest, Deer Lake State sand pine scrub, Park consists of 172 acres of beach and lake areas longleaf pine flat south of Scenic 30-A, and more than 1,900 acres of woods, cypress ponds, hiking trails north of Scenic 30-A. Grayton Beach State wet prairies, and titi Recreation Area is home to Grayton Beach, which swamps. has been rated the “Best Beach in the U.S.” The park offers nature trails, camping, a boat ramp on Western TRAILS Lake, cabin rentals, and picnic areas. Topsail Hill State Preserve features 1,600 acres of gulf-front pine forest, Numerous hiking and biking trails crisscross the as well as nature trails and two coastal dune lakes. corridor. Since more than 40% of the total land area in Walton County is dedicated to preservation, hikers and One mile north of US 98 on CR 395, Eden State bicyclists are free to explore the area on more than 200 Gardens includes the Wesley Mansion, a fully miles of trails (see Figure 2.4). renovated Greek-Revival style home filled with antiques. The mansion is surrounded by an elaborate The Longleaf Pine Greenway System consists of garden. Also near CR 395 is the Point Washington more than eight miles of trails throughout different State Forest, encompassing 15,810 acres and areas of the county, from the Gulf of Mexico to the containing the Eastern Lake Bike/Hike Trails that Choctawhatchee Bay. Trails range from beginner to expert level and users can view wildflowers, freshwater lakes, and sea oat-covered dunes.
The Eastern Lake Bike/Hike Trail in the Point Washington State Forest offers three-, five-, or ten-mile loops to accommodate all skill levels. The trail winds through a variety of natural vegetation and wildlife habitats. Donations are accepted for the continued maintenance of the trails.
42 The Corridor The Timpoochee Trail, named after a Euchee Indian • Blue Mountain-Grayton Trail, Blue Mountain 2 Chief, is 19 miles long and runs along Scenic 30-A Beach-Grayton Beach parallel to the Gulf. The trail is paved, and it winds • Grayton-Seagrove Trail, Grayton Beach- through nine of the beach towns along Scenic 30-A Seagrove while passing by several state recreation areas, state • Deer Lake Trail, Seacrest parks, sand dunes, and coastal dune lakes. The trail is open to bikers and hikers. Art and Culture
Other trails located on state lands include: There is a thriving arts scene in along Scenic 30-A. The Walton County Tourist Development Council • Butler School Nature Trail, Santa Rosa Beach sponsors an “Artist of the Year” program to highlight • Gulfview Heights Trail, Santa Rosa Beach the work of area artists. There is also an abundance of art studios, as well as antiques and craft stores. Figure 2.4 Scenic 30-A Trail Map In the fall, the Autumn Tides celebration brings festivals and events to the area. In Seaside, the Seaside Repertory Theatre presents live shows during Summer Season Theatre from Memorial Day to August. ArtsQuest, a week-long event held each May, includes a fashion show, garden party, tours of art galleries, along with a juried fine arts festival.
43 The Corridor 2 Ecology anda combines with the clear Gulf to give the water its signatures blue-green hue. South Walton County is recognized as SandS dunes are formed by the wind and are the first a leader in beach defensed against wave action, which depletes the sand management and ono the beach. Sea oats comprise more than 85% of preservation. All 26 thet plant life on the dunes. They are protected by miles of coastline states law. Their root system grows both vertically and in South Walton horizontally,h stabilizing the dune and protecting it are certified Blue fromf wind, thus allowing the dunes to grow. Wave beaches, a mark of cleanliness and good management from the Distinct ecological communities include beach dunes, Clean Beaches Council. In 2004, South Walton County mesic flatwoods, scrub, scrub flatwoods, depression hosted the inaugural Sustainable Beach Summit. marshes, wet flatwoods, coastal dune lakes, and estuarine marshes. There are five very rare plants The Gulf of Mexico, the 17 fresh and saltwater lakes, present in South Walton: Large-leafed jointwood, and the Choctawhatchee Bay provide a multitude Godfrey’s golden aster, Cruise’s golden aster, Gulf of natural, recreational, scenic, and archeological coast lupine, and Long-leaf pine. Threatened animals features. Preservation efforts also provide abundant in the area include the American alligator, Atlantic habitat for wildlife, including many endangered loggerhead sea turtles, Snowy plover, Piping plover, species like the Gopher Southeastern kestrel, Least tern, tortoise and the Red-cockaded and the Choctawhatchee Beach woodpecker. mouse. A table in Appendix B lists all federally protected NATURAL RESOURCES species in Walton County that may occur near the Scenic 30-A The sand on the beaches corridor. is sugar-white because it is mostly pure quartz crystal. Millions of years of erosion have weathered these crystals into this extremely fine sand. The sun reflects off the sand
44 The Corridor Universal Criterion #5 2 “The roadway generally should be more than one mile in length, and if appropriate, provide access to the resources(s).” The Scenic 30-A corridor includes the entire 18.5-mile length of CR 30-A and 9.4 miles of north/south spur roads along CR 83, CR 283, and CR 395, therefore fulfilling this criterion. All roadways provide direct access to the resources along the corridor or indirect access to off-corridor resources such as trails and beaches in designated parking areas.
Universal Criterion #6 “A majority of the corridor must exhibit scenic or heritage qualifying resource(s). These resources must be as continuous as possible throughout the corridor.” A majority of the Scenic 30-A corridor exhibits scenic qualifying resources, from the aqua blue Gulf of Mexico, sugar white sand beaches, and golden brown sea oats to the pastel colors and New-Urbanist style architecture. The exceptional intrinsic resources along the route are continuous and are bound by the Gulf Coast to the south and Washington State Forest to the north. Figure 2.5-2.9 illustrate the continuity of intrinsic resources as points of interest unique to the corridor. The Corridor Features descriptions in this chapter, and the maps and stunning images throughout this application, fulfill this criterion.
45 The Corridor 2 Figure 2.5 Scenic 30-A Corridor Overview of Segments
Choctawhatchee Bay on Area Map
Point Washingt
Walton Cou Bay County
nty
£¤331 East Area Map
£¤98 £¤98 5 6 4 $+283 $+395 $+393 $+83 2 3 $+30A $+30A
1
Central Area Map
West Area Map Gulf Of Mexico
Scenic 30-A Corridor Overview of Segments
Scenic 30-A Other Roadways £¤98 U.S. Highways
30A Scenic 30-A Spur Roads 3 Corridor Segments $+ County Roads . Walton County Planning and 03,000 6,000 12,000 Feet Development Services Division July 2007
46 The Corridor Figure 2.6 Scenic 30-A West Area Map 2
£¤98 i Helen McCall Park $+30A
Timpoochee Trail $+393 Peace Pond Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Stalworth Lake Point Washington State Forest g $+83 Oyster Lake
Santa Rosa Beach i g Ft. Panic Beach Access i Gulf Place Santa Rosa Golf i and Beach Club Ed Walline Parkig i g Draper Lake $+30A Dune Allen Beach g Gulfview Heights Beach Access Grayton Beach State Park Timpoochee T Gulf Of Mexico gig rail Blue Mountain Beach g g Big Redfish Lake Little Redfish Lake
Scenic 30-A Corridor West Area
g Scenic 30-A Other Roadways State Parks £¤98 U.S. Highways . Beach Access Points 30A Scenic 30-A Spur Roads Bike Path Conservation Land $+ County Roads Walton County Planning and i Points of Interest 0875 1,750 3,500 Feet Development Services Division July 2007
47 The Corridor 2 Figure 2.7 Scenic 30-A Central Area Map
£¤98 $+83
Point Washington State Forest
$+283
iEastern Lake Trail Parking Grayton Beach State Park gi Timpoochee Trail g Big Redfish Lake Grayton Beach State Park Blue Mountain g g Beach Little Redfish Lake i Alligator Lake Grayton Beach State +395 Park Cottages $+30A $ Historic Grayton i Beach Gulf Trace i g Watercolor Crossing gigg i Grayton Beach g Western Lake Cerulean Park i i gBarrier Dune Trail i Water Color Clock Tower i Water Color Inn g iRuskin Place Gulf Of Mexico Seaside Post Officeii Grove Street Seaside g i gi Seagrove Beach gg g g g g
Scenic 30-A Corridor Central Area
g Scenic 30-A Other Roadways State Parks £¤98 U.S. Highways . Beach Access Points 30A Scenic 30-A Spur Routes Bike Path Conservation Land $+ County Roads Walton County Planning and i Points of Interest 0875 1,750 3,500 Feet Development Services Division July 2007
48 The Corridor Figure 2.8 Scenic 30-A East Area Map 2
Bay County Walton County
Point Washington State Forest £¤98
Deer Lake State Park
Lake Timpoochee Tra $+30A il Powell Camp Creek Lake Eastern Lake Deer Lake Water i gg g g gg g gg Sound h g g g i i Alys Beach i Seacrest Beach gg Rosemary Beach g ggi g Inlet Beach
Gulf Of Mexico
Scenic 30-A Corridor East Area
98 g Scenic 30-A Other Roadways State Parks £¤ U.S. Highways . Beach Access Points 30A $+ County Roads Walton County Planning and i Points of Interest Scenic 30-A Spur Roads Bike Path Conservation Land 01,125 2,250 4,500 Feet Development Services Division July 2007
49 The Corridor 2 Figure 2.9 Scenic 30-A Point Washington Area Map
Bunker Cove
Choctawhatchee Bay
£¤331 Bowman Bayou g Littles Bayou
Tucker Bayou
Botanical Gardensi g Mansion At Edeni Eden Gardens State Park Mc Quage Bayou Point Washington i Post Office i
Bay Elementary School
Point Washington State Forest £¤98
$+283 $+395
Eastern Lake Trail Parking Grayton Beach State Park i
Scenic 30-A Corridor Point Washington Area
98 g Scenic 30-A Other Roadways State Parks £¤ U.S. Highways . Beach Access Points 30A $+ County Roads Walton County Planning and i Points of Interest Scenic 30-A Spur Routes Bike Path Conservation Land 0875 1,750 3,500 Feet Development Services Division July 2007
50 The Corridor Universal Criterion #7 officials, and representatives from local businesses. 2 “A Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG) must Because the project has been on-going since 2003, members of the CAG have changed over time. See be organized to support the scenic highway Appendix C for a list of current Scenic 30-A CAG designation.” members. Additional support for this criterion is included in the Support and Participation section of In 2000, Commissioner Van Ness Butler (1996- Chapter 3. 2000) began the process of obtaining designation of Scenic 30-A as a Florida Scenic Highway. In Universal Criterion #8 2002, the Walton County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution #02-60 supporting a Letter of “A Community Participation Program must be Intent for the designation of Scenic 30-A as a Florida developed and implemented.” Scenic Highway. The application for Scenic Corridor designation for Scenic 30-A was filed in September The Scenic 30-A CAG has developed and successfully 30, 2003. Commissioner Tim Pauls (2000-2004) implemented a Community Participation Program continued the application process during his term (CPP) engaging local citizens, business leaders, and and Commissioner Cindy Meadows (2004-present) government agencies. More information on the CPP continues work on finalizing the designation. can be found in Chapter 3 Support and Participation. In addition to the activities in the CPP, the success The Board of County Commissioners approved of the Scenic 30-A CAG is evident in the letters of funding to hire a scenic corridor coordinator to prepare support, the variety and number of endorsing groups all required FDOT documentation for the State Scenic and agencies, and in active participation at public Highway designation. Additionally, the scenic corridor meetings and workshops. coordinator works directly with Ms. Shannon Foor, the FDOT District Three Scenic Highway Coordinator Universal Criterion #9 and consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. on “Strong local support must be demonstrated.” designation activities. Ms. Claire Bannerman serves as the scenic corridor coordinator for Walton County The Scenic 30-A CAG has local support from a and as Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG) chairperson broad range of stakeholders with an interest in the for Scenic 30-A. Ms. Bannerman also works with preservation and enhancement of the resources along Ms. Laura Haddock, FDOT District Environmental the corridor. Individuals, businesses, public agencies, Administrator. The composition of the original CAG and elected officials have been very supportive included local citizens, state agencies, Walton County of scenic highway designation for the Scenic 30-
51 The Corridor 2 A corridor. Chapter 3 Support and Participation Intrinsic demonstrates the fulfillment of this criterion. Resources Universal Criterion #10 Overview “A Corridor Management Plan (CMP) must The intrinsic be developed with endorsement of local resources for the Scenic 30- government(s) and a Corridor Management A were divided Entity (CME) created.” into the six Scenic Highway The Scenic 30-A CAG developed a set of preliminary Program resource types:t action items (see Chapter 4 The Plan) to improve the historic, cultural, archeological, recreational, natural conditions of the intrinsic resources along the corridor. and scenic. Figure 2.10 summarizes the number of The action plan items were incorporated into the intrinsic resources by type. Vision and Goals for this application. The concerns and ideas of CAG members and the public were developed from responses to the corridor impression Figure 2.10 Intrinsic Resource Types surveys, field inventories, a visioning workshop, and comments from public CAG meetings. Objectives and strategies were developed by the CAG and are included in Chapter 4 The Plan. A CME was created 25 concurrently with the CMP. The Walton County Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution 20 endorsing Scenic 30-A’s designation on July 10, 2007. A copypy of the resolution is included in Appendix C. 15
10 Number ofResources
5
0 Historic Cultural Archeological Recreational Natural Scenic Intrinsic Resource Type
52 The Corridor In general scenic and recreational resources are most • Point Washington Post Office - Reflective of 2 abundant along the Scenic 30-A corridor, in part due the “old ways” in Santa Rosa Beach, Point to the tourist-based local economy. However, many Washington intrinsic resources can be categorized by multiple • Bay Elementary School types. For example, Western Lake is categorized as • Eden Gardens State Park and Wesley Mansion a scenic intrinsic resource; however the rare coastal - A mansion on the shore of Tucker Bayou dune lake has recreational, natural, and archeological surrounded by towering Spanish moss-draped characteristics as well. live oaks, some dating back 600 years • Seagrove Beach The following list of resources by type is provided as a reference for the Florida Scenic Highway Program • Seaside requirements only. The local, regional, and global significance of each intrinsic resource is recognizable CULTURAL for multiple characteristics. Portions of the human environment that express HISTORIC aesthetics, traditions, values, and customs, such as arts, rituals, festivals, languages, legacies, or Landscapes, buildings, structures, or other visual customs. evidence of the past. Must be something that can still be seen—not just the site of something that • Gulf Place - Beachside community supporting used to be there. cultural events with weekly music concerts and festivals throughout the year, eateries, retail • Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club - Historically shops and glamorous landscaped vistas, next to recognized recreational site the colorful kiosks of the Artists of Gulf Place • Gulfview Heights Beach Access - Traditional • Alys Beach - A splendid mix of natural habitat footpath, now public beach access, that was and architecturally unique homes, offers an access for residents decades ago upscale neighborhood hangout and meeting • Historic Grayton Beach, Hotz Avenue and house for mixing music, book readings at Defuniak Street - Beachside streets, historical Fonville Press, dining, and people houses, and boat launch ramps to lakes and • Seacrest Beach - Eclectic houses on the edge beaches of the Gulf mixed with the colors and wonder of • Historic Point Washington art galleries and open-air markets
53 The Corridor
2 • Rosemary Beach - World-class cuisine from RECREATIONAL award-winning chefs near one-of-a-kind collections of shops reflecting unique style and Sites accessible from the corridor that are used for personality with distinctive luxurious retreats, hiking, biking, picnics, camping, fishing, boating, award-winning houses of quiet enclaves, swimming. spacious homes of elegance alongside a Town • Topsail Hill Preserve State Park - Exceptional Hall and lush natural habitat with unique adventures the whole family can enjoy adjacent accommodations to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico • WaterSound - A beachside community with • Morris Lake, Campbell Lake within State Park luxurious homes developing their signature - Boat launch for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, sense of community and activities for families, exploring, floating on Coastal Dune Lakes tourists and talented artists • Ft. Panic - Beach Access • Seaside - A New-Urbanist town • Ed Walline Public Park - Public beach access with parking adjacent to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico ARCHEOLOGICAL • Grayton Beach State Park Cottages - The public Physical evidence or remains of known historic or can rent cabins to enjoy the amazing State Park prehistoric human life, activity, or culture such as • Grayton Beach State Park - Dramatic white sand significant ruins, artifacts, inscriptions. dunes alongside the green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern lake • Native American Burial Grounds • Stallworth Lake - Globally rare Coastal Dune Lake defined by an intermittent connection to the Gulf of Mexico, creating an aesthetic staple of our natural landscape • Draper Lake - Coastal Dune Lake • Dune Allen Lake - Coastal Dune Lake • Oyster Lake - Coastal Dune Lake • Big Redfish Lake - Coastal Dune Lake • Little Redfish Lake - Coastal Dune Lake • Alligator Lake
54 The Corridor
• Eastern Lake - A historic Coastal Dune NATURAL 2 Lake offering recreational activities along its shoreline Minimal human disturbance of the natural • Timpoochee Trail - Scenic bicycle pathway features associated with the region. through 28.5 miles of scenic highway – a • Topsail Hill Preserve State Park - Natural recreational “Tour de force” protected by scenic beauty, natural habitat, enormous Walton County and its residents unspoiled historic sand dunes • Blue Mountain Beach Access - Marked with • Tucker Bayou - Significant waterway two coastal dune lakes: Little Redfish Lake and • Gulf of Mexico - Natural and historic body of Big Redfish Lake water that hugs the shoreline of Walton County • WaterColor Inn on the Gulf • Point Washington State Forest - Minimal • Cerulean Park, WaterColor disturbance of the natural features associated • Deer Lake State Park - Coastal Dune Lake with with the region recreational facilities, walkover, and restrooms • Eastern Lake • Barrier Dune Nature Trail, Grayton Beach State Park - Walking trail within the Grayton Beach State Park • 38 Public Beach Access Points
55 The Corridor
2 SCENIC • Historic Santa Rosa Beach Club and Golf Course visible from 30-A Beauty, whether natural or human-made. The • Views of Stallworth Lake and Dunes quality of the features is measured by how • Venacular architecture of Cypress Dunes memorable, distinctive, uninterrupted, and unified they are. • Topsail Preserve State Park Access • Emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. - Picturesque scenery • Vistas from the 11 Coastal Dune Lakes • Native Vegetative Communities • White Sandy Dunes • Emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico • Venacular architecture of 30-A communities • Modernist architecture of 30-A communities • Seaside Post Office • Rosemary Beach Town Hall and public places • WaterColor Clock Tower • Alys Beach Butteries and landscaped medians • WaterSound Bridge over Camp Creek Lake • Old Seagrove Canopies • Historic grid pattern streets and homes of Grayton Beach • Blue Mountain Beach blue haze at dawn • Sunsets and night skies • Covered Bridge over Draper Lake • Gulf view at Ed Walline Park
56 SupportSupport and & ParticipationChapter 1:3:
Support and Participation Corridor Management Entity Current officers include: 3 he Corridor Management Entity (CME) was built • Claire Bannerman, Chair Tthrough the volunteer efforts of the Scenic 30- • Cliff Knauer P.E., Vice Chair A CAG to ensure that the Action Plan is accurately • Vicki Kitahara, Secretary implemented, monitored and updated. • Ken Little, Treasurer The CME was developed consistent with the Table 3.1 contains a list of committee members requirement of the Florida Scenic Highway Program. from the Friends of Scenic 30-A, along with their The CAG began to establish CME memberships as responsibilities for monitoring the implementation of part of their innovative Community Participation the Action Plan. Program (see Community Participation Program). The Table 3.1 Friends of Scenic 30-A Committees purpose of forming a CME was to educate, inform and engage potential CME members in the development of Committee Member the Scenic 30-A Action Plan. Engaging CME members Beautification & Clean Up Vicki Kitahara, Carol Seibert early in the process allowed members to develop Community Liaison Claire Bannerman an understanding of the Action Plan and guide the Environmental/Dune Lakes Meg Nelson, Phillip Ellis/CBA implementation of projects. Representative Growth Management Cindy Meadows The Scenic 30-A CME, referred to as the “Friends of Peggy Sheehan, Bill Freeze Scenic 30-A,” is fortunate to draw participation from Multi-Use Path the existing CAG, local municipalities, and business Multi-Modal Improvement Tom Stein, Bill and Cheryl Freeze partners. A 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation titled the Preservation of Natural Resources Christian Wagley Scenic 30-A Foundation was also developed during Public Relations/Promotion Ken Little, Dale Foster the Eligibility Phase by the founding CAG members. Ken Vogel, Milla Hopkins The non-profit organization will serve as an umbrella Signage/Mapping organization for the Friends of Scenic 30-A. The State Lands Representative from Division of non-profit provides additional funding opportunities Forestry for the Scenic 30-A activities and a structure for Trash & Recycling Carole Seibert, Vicki Kitahara administrative duties of the CME. An executed Additional Supporting Members Johndra Culp CME agreement and Bylaws for the organization are Cliff Knauer, P.E. included in Appendix C. Mary Grubbs Bill Grubbs Henry Nooe
59 Support and Participation 3 Community Participation Program field inventories of connector roads CR 395, CR 283, and CR 83. The CAG invited the following speakers to laire Bannerman, CAG Coordinator, enlisted present information to the public on topics related to Ccommunity volunteers including artists, scenic corridor designation: photographers, writers, historians, and others. Community organizations, non-profit organizations, Rory Cassedy- Waste Management Representative and private businesses contributed time and resources • Trash collection, trash containers, transfer to the application effort. In addition to the neighbors station, recycle goals who attended the regular Corridor Advocacy Group Jeff Caster, FDOT State Landscape Architect meetings, several local artists donated resources for • Wildflowers and native landscaping techniques fundraising opportunities. Local artist Justin Gaffrey donated one of his paintings of the Scenic 30-A Cliff Knauer- Consultant from Preble-Rish, Project corridor to be auctioned. Celeste Cobena, The Soap Engineer Peddler, prepared a special edition collection of 30- • County right-of-way, storm runoff, multimodal A homemade soaps specifically saluting the SHAC transportation tour. Photographer Kurt Lischka donated a collection Consultants from Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. of unique photographs taken along the corridor for • Florida Scenic Highway Program process and use in submittals. Additionally, representatives from requirements local developers and coastal communities shared in Ken Little, Walton County Public Information the spirit by donating refreshments, gathering places, Specialist vehicles, and time. • Formation of the CAG, County regulations and support With support from Walton County Commissioner Meadows, Claire Bannerman charged the Corridor Tom Beitzel, Director of Forestry Advocacy Group to gain State Scenic Highway • State Park lands and tourism, controlled burns, designation of Scenic 30-A from FDOT. The CAG recreation and trails meetsm monthly at the Walton Phil Ellis- Executive Director, Choctawhatchee Basin CountyC TDC to delegate Alliance (CBA) taskst required for scenic • Rare Coastal Dune Lakes, Stormwater runoff, bywayb designation. Activities Invasive plants performedp by the CAG Anita Page, Executive Director, South Walton includei the distribution of Community Council (SWCC) surveys, information, and • SWCC Mission, citizen concerns, traffic safety
60 Support and Participation Input from citizens, community leaders, and • Ken Little - Walton County Citizens Services 3 developers was a common occurrence at the meetings. • Vicki Kitahara - Aide, Walton County The CAG meetings were advertised consistent with Commissioner Meadows, District 5 Sunshine Law requirements and a representative • Greg Graham - Walton County Planning from FDOT was invited to present at the meetings. • Phil Ellis - Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance The Friends of Scenic 30-A held meetings every two weeks for a total of six meetings to develop the Action Local Citizens Plan. The Friends of Scenic 30-A will continue to meet • Henry Nooe monthly once Scenic 30-A is designated to see that the Action Plan is implemented correctly. • Jane Dunworth • Dale Foster The following is a list of local residents and business • David Kramer owners within the Scenic 30-A Corridor that attended • Meg Nelson a mini charrette in May 2007. • Caroling Geary • Ken Vogel Business Owners, Local Officials, and Agencies • Rosemary • George Newman - Walton County Planning Hembree • Susan Burgess - Aide, Walton County • Karen Monroe Commissioner Scott Brannon District 1 • Curtis Weatherall • Cindy Meadows - Walton County • Carole Seibert Commissioner District 5 • Mike Seibert • Leah Stratmann - Local Press • Tom Stein • Aaron Warren - Walton County Public Works • Janet Stein • Ryan Douglass - Walton County Public Works • Celeste Cobena - Beach to Bay Connection • James Murray - Business owner Appendix C contains • Gale Murray - Business owner Community Participation • Dale Shingler - Grayton Beach State Park Program materials, including a CAG meeting Ranger announcement, CAG agenda, newspaper articles and • Loretta Shaffer - Tourism Development Council minutes from CAG meetings. • Lisa Purul - St. Joe
61 Support and Participation 3 Local Support The following quotes represent the broad-based local support for Scenic 30-A designation: he Scenic 30-A CAG has built strong county- Twide support for corridor designation of Scenic “Dune Allen- over the years, Eric and Jeanne Allen 30-A during its public participation process. The built homes for vacationing families to enjoy. Eric surrounding communities have unanimously built a short airstrip to be used by vacationers who endorsed Scenic 30-A, as has the Walton County had small planes. That Airstrip is now the road Board of Commissioners. Endorsements have been north of CR-30A to the Santa Rosa Beach Golf Club. received from local authorities, organizations, and merchants. Scenic 30-A has demonstrated substantial ~ ”The Way We Were” - Recollections of South local support for designation. The local support Walton Pioneers was developed by getting individuals and groups involved in the future plans for the corridor and communicating the benefits the designation will “We strongly believe that a scenic byway can provide. Documentation to illustrate local support can stimulate and facilitate sustainable economic be found in Appendix C. progress that will be of direct benefit to our members and all other citizens of this County. This is an opportunity to help build community pride and involvement through the identification of the unique scenic, natural, recreational, cultural, archeological, and historical resources that we possess.” ~ Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
“An exceptional, stellar Corridor” ~Kerri Post, VISIT FLORIDA
62 Support and Participation “On behalf of the Walton County Chamber of 3 Commerce with over 1,200 business members representing over 26,000 employees, We are pleased that at a recent Board meeting with discussion of these plans, our Board of Director’s voted unanimously to endorse and support this important initiative. We look forward to actively participating with the CAG as work on the candidate Scenic Byway project moves forward.” ~ Dawn Moliterno, CEO, Walton County Chamber of Commerce
“The 30-A corridor is one of the most beautiful roadways in the Florida Panhandle, with its mix of multiple opportunities and benefits to numerous unique communities and rich natural resources. communities and public lands that the corridor Along this stretch of Walton County you pass traverses, while showcasing the intrinsic resources through three State Parks, a State Preserve and a along its route.” State Forest. This mix of natural areas is not found anywhere else in Florida. I feel like the proposed ~ Division of Forestry County Road 30-A Scenic Highway will provide “The Town of Rosemary Beach fully supports Walton County’s application for designation of County Road 30-A as a Scenic Corridor. The natural beauty and fragile ecosystem that this road passes through requires the effort of all of us to preserve, respect and share with future generations. We are prepared to do our part to ensure that Scenic County Road 30-A be selected for this honor.” ~ Town of Rosemary Beach
63 Support and Participation 3 “As nature-based and eco-tourism is beginning to be The following organizations have supported 30-A as marketed by The Beaches of South Walton, the Alliance part of an ongoing community participation program feels this is a wonderful opportunity for Walton County and through submission of formal support letters. to use its natural surroundings to attract new visitors.” • Leda C. Suydan - Department of Environmental Protection: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park ~Phil Ellis, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance • John Gillis - Beaches of South Walton • Dawn A. Moliterno - Walton County Chamber of Commerce • Charles H. Bronson - Florida Department of “This designation will increase the visibility of our area Agriculture and Consumer Services and establish standards that will help to maintain and • Commissioner Scott A. Brannon - Walton improve the beauty and viability of this prized corridor. County District 1 We are working hard to make Alys Beach a wonderful addition to the Highway 30-A corridor. The formal • James B. Bagby - Rosemary Beach designation of Highway 30-A as a scenic highway will • Commissioner Cindy A. Meadows - Walton compliment our efforts and those of many others to County District 5 create world class experience in South Walton County.” • Keith Howard - Howard Group • Phillip Ellis - Program Coordinator, Choctawhatchee Basin AllianceDonald D. ~Jason Comer, Alys Beach, Town Founder Brown - Florida House of Representatives • Don Gaetz - Florida State Senator • Dale Foster - Resident • Clifford Knauer - Consultant Preble-Rish, Inc • Hal Rhodea - Friends of Topsail Hill
64 Support and Participation Partnerships and Agreements 3 he Florida Scenic Highway Program is a grass Troots effort with an emphasis on local support and consensus building. All formal and informal partnerships and agreements associated with resource preservation, maintenance and enhancement must be documented to fulfill state designation requirements. The Friends of Scenic 30-A have provided copies of these partnership agreements which outline the agreement between an institution and the Friends of Scenic 30-A to provide a financial contribution or service to assist in carrying out the Corridor’s Vision after Designation. An agreement between The Friends of Scenic 30-A and the Tourist Development Council can be found in Appendix C. The following is a list of The Friends of Scenic 30-A Partnership Agreements currently under development. Additional partnerships will be forthcoming.
• Friends of Eden • Walton County Chamber of Commerce • South Walton Community Council • Walton County Garden Club
65
Chapter 1:4: The Plan
The Plan Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 4 he Goals, Objectives and Strategies developed Tfor Scenic 30-A are based on the Initial Goals and Preliminary Action Plan from the Eligibility Phase of the program. The Scenic 30-A CAG documented the preliminary action plan items from Corridor Impression Surveys, Field Inventories, public meetings, workshops, and partner interviews. The Friends of Scenic 30-A have developed additional strategies from input during the six Friends of Scenic 30-A meetings and discussion at a public mini- charrette workshop conducted in June 2007 (see 1.1.3 Coordinate with Walton County Planning Chapter 3 Support and Participation). The objectives Department to develop a heritage tree and strategies listed below directly support the Vision preservation ordinance and Story of Scenic 30-A. 1.1.4 Coordinate with Walton County GIS Goal 1: Intrinsic Resource Protection, department to map delineations of vegetative communities Maintenance, and Enhancement 1.1.5 Continue support of exotic species removal Objective 1.1: To preserve and protect the existing monitoring program Scenic 30-A natural landscape. 1.1.6 Formalize guidelines for use of preservation “buy out” program funds for xeric landscaping Strategies: installation/maintenance 1.1.1 Review and update existing vegetative 1.1.7 Develop landscaping standards and guidelines community preservation ordinances and for the Scenic 30-A corridor comprehensive plan policies to develop 1.1.8 Promote and work with Walton County to additional standards develop xeric landscaping ordinances 1.1.2 Work with Walton County to continue to 1.1.9 Support and provide input on the proposed enforce existing native vegetation preservation turtle lighting ordinances regulations 1.1.10 Work with Walton County Planning and government agencies on redevelopment policies
69 The Plan 4 Objective 1.2: Improve the waste management 1.3.3 Promote underground utilities and coordinate efforts along Scenic 30-A to be more proactive. with Walton County to put existing utilities underground Strategies: 1.3.4 Explore funding opportunities for underground 1.2.1 Coordinate with Sheriff’s Department to utilities along Scenic 30-A enforce littering laws 1.3.5 Work with local utility providers on lift station 1.2.2 Develop a plan for uniform garbage control buffers and odor control along CR 30-A, CR-83, CR-283, CR-395, and 1.3.6 Coordinate screening of accessory structures Timpoochee Trail with utility providers 1.2.3 Expand the recycling and large item pick-up 1.3.7 Apply for FDOT beautification grants for Scenic components of the current waste management 30-A and connectors program 1.3.8 Install benches and water fountains along 1.2.4 Seek funding from private and public sources Timpoochee Trail where physically feasible for recycling options 1.3.9 Work with local organizations and Walton 1.2.5 Work with local citizens, businesses and County on continued beautification and organizations to address littering, trash preservation (i.e. Friends of Scenic 30-A, management, recycling and reuse programs Garden Clubs, Coastal Dune Lake Advisory 1.2.6 Identify other ongoing waste management Committee and others) issues and provide solutions
Objective 1.3: Enhance the current amenities and viewsheds along Scenic 30-A.
Strategies: 1.3.1 Work with Walton County and citizen groups to cleanup and beautify the Coastal Dune Lake vistas to announce presence of “Coastal Dune Lake” 1.3.2 Inspect and maintain wooden bridge connections and crossings
70 The Plan Goal 2: Transportation Planning and Safety 4 Objective 2.1: To maintain and improve the quality of life along Scenic 30-A by providing a safe, cost effective, comprehensive, integrated, energy efficient, and multimodal transportation system.
Strategies: 2.1.1 Develop proposals for alternative transportation modes including shuttles to strategic locations, trolleys, golf carts and other multi-modal strategies (Friends of 30-A have proposals and Objective 1.4: Develop coordinated management studies on file) and maintenance schedules and programs for 2.1.2 Work with developing communities to provide Scenic 30-A. airport shuttles to the proposed Bay County International Airport Strategies: 2.1.3 Encourage the use of Proportionate Fair Share 1.4.1 Develop a Scenic 30-A Maintenance Plan for funds from new development for public transit roads, trails, landscaping and interpretive sites 2.1.4 Work with Walton County and TDC to prepare 1.4.2 Identify clean-up, landscaping or construction and fund development of a Long Range Parking projects appropriate for county work crews Master Plan 1.4.3 Work with Walton County to address ongoing 2.1.5 Work with Walton County Planning and Public infrastructure maintenance issues Works to design and implement uniform speed 1.4.4 Develop a Maintenance Plan for existing limit plan with suggested traffic calming stormwater management systems solutions 1.4.5 Develop and seek funding for Scenic 30-A 2.1.6 Coordinate with Walton County Planning on Surface Runoff/Stormwater Master Plan and implementation of the Scenic 30-A Traffic implementation Study recommendations including intersection 1.4.6 Work with Walton County on continued funding improvements for CR 30-A at CR 83, CR 283, for maintenance and CR 395
71 The Plan 4 Objective 2.2: To enhance the recreational activity 2.2.8 Support trail development and funding amenities, trails and public access along the 30-A for additional trails along Scenic 30-A and corridor. connector roads 2.2.9 Continue to work with the FDEP office of Strategies: Greenways and Trails to seed and support 2.2.1 Work with Public Works on Timpoochee Trail funding for trail projects safety improvements at all major and minor 2.2.10 Identify locations for public restroom areas. intersections 2.2.11 Pursue acquisition of lands for recreational 2.2.2 Provide pedestrian crosswalks with safety learning centers and public use features at strategic locations along Goal 3: Community Support and Public Timpoochee Trail Participation 2.2.3 Work with TDC to install bike racks at all public beach access points where feasible. Objective 3.1: To engage, inform, and encourage 2.2.4 Finalize the proposed Timpoochee Trail local community support and participation in Wayfinding Plan with consultants Scenic 30-A activities 2.2.5 Work with Walton county to remove Strategies: repetitive non- 3.1.1 Inform local businesses and organizations conforming about the benefits of Scenic 30-A designation signage 3.1.2 Encourage local businesses and organizations 2.2.6 Work with Walton to engage in promotion of Scenic 30-A County and 3.1.3 Seek a Friends of 30-A representative on the TDC to fund the Work with Planning to establish a Friends of Wayfinding Plan 30-A representative on the Walton County 2.2.7 Promote Technical Review Committee (TRC) maintenance 3.1.4 Encourage participation of regional and clearing governmental and private entities, and of vegetation management agencies with multi-jurisdictional from visibility resources on all corridor-wide projects triangles on all trails
72 The Plan Goal 4: Education and Corridor Story Goal 5: Economic Development and Tourism 4 Objective 4.1: To support existing and develop Objective 5.1: To encourage local economic new educational programs and materials on area development and support Scenic 30-A tourism resources and the Scenic 30-A Story through resource-based programs
Strategies: Strategies: 4.1.1 Educate citizens, businesses and visitors about 5.1.1 Coordinate promotional and educational recycling options efforts with the Tourist Development Council, 4.1.2 Educate the public about pedestrian, bicycle, Economic Development Council, and the and vehicular laws Walton County Chamber of Commerce 4.1.3 Create and distribute information to educate 5.1.2 Work with local businesses and rental agencies developers about vegetative community to support economic development preservation requirements, fines, incentives, 5.1.3 Participate in economic development meetings and cost saving benefits of using same with appropriate organizations 4.1.4 Promote best management practices and education for xeric landscaping 4.1.5 Educate citizens and businesses on the value of conserving water resources through landscape measures with reminders that the corridor is part of a fragile Barrier Island 4.1.6 Install historic markers where appropriate 4.1.7 Coordinate with homeowner associations to educate citizens about vegetative community preservation requirements and benefits of using native vegetation 4.1.8 Provide intrinsic resource interpretive signage on the Scenic 30-A corridor in conjunction with the Wayfinding Plan and TDC’s family of signs
73 The Plan 4 Goal 6: Administration and Coordination of Scenic 30-A Initiatives Objective 6.1: To implement the Scenic 30-A Ac- tion Plan strategies and monitor required activities consistent with the FDOT Scenic Highway Program
Strategies: 6.1.1 Participate in an annual Environmental Forum workshop 6.1.2 Develop a Work Plan and Annual Report to guide implementation of strategies 6.1.3 Engage interested and appropriate government officials, citizens, landowners, businesses, and land managers in Friends of Scenic 30-A strategies 6.1.4 Broaden Friends of Scenic 30-A membership annually based on current projects 6.1.5 Develop fundraising strategies for administrative activities 6.1.6 Develop and support additional projects, programs and strategies based on new membership input, public participation and local corridor conditions
74 The Plan Protection Techniques provide the blueprint to guide development activity 4 while balancing economic growth and sustainability. rotection and preservation of the intrinsic re- Psources along Scenic 30-A are critical to both the The Walton County Tourist Development Council designation and the long term viability of the corri- (TDC) participates in a wide range of preservation dor. The visual appearance of the corridor plays a key efforts. The Council has a full-time coastal scientist on role in the designation, protection and management staff who addresses coastal-related issues. The TDC strategies for Scenic 30-A. Protection Techniques out- works closely with the Walton County Board of County line existing and planned organizational policies and Commissioners, and recognizes the positive impact programs aimed to maintain the quality of intrinsic re- resource preservation can have on tourism. sources associated with Scenic 30-A. The South Walton Turtle Watch Program locates The South Walton Conservation and Development turtle nests, protects them until hatching, and helps Trust was established by the State Legislature in 1994. baby turtles make it to the water after hatching. The Trust’s mandate was to prepare an environmental This organization also provides posters, signs, and survey of South Walton County and recommend brochures to educate the public about conservation. ways to enhance the beaches in an economical and Other local environmental groups, such as the Beach environmentally friendly manner. As a result of this to Bay Connection, actively work with state agencies document, the Walton County Comprehensive Plan and Walton County to preserve the natural resources and Land Development Code adopted language to of the County.
The Florida State Parks division within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) was created in 1935 to preserve and protect “The Real Florida” elements and resources in portions of the State’s natural lands. Procedures preformed by the Florida State Parks division consist of prescribed burning, invasive exotic species control, hydrological restoration, and other kinds of habitat restoration. Most of this work is done by park staff as a part of their day-to-day activities, which also include the many other aspects of providing recreational facilities accessible for public enjoyment. Restoration,
75 The Plan 4 preservation, and interpretation of many of Florida’s Organizations in the region that promote and monitor most significant cultural resources is also a top priority intrinsic resource preservation and protection include within this department. but are not limited to the following:
The Scenic 30-A CAG worked with County staff to • Walton County Tourist Development Council determine what comprehensive plan policies support • Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance intrinsic resource protection along the corridor. In • South Walton Turtle Watch general, all Walton County Comprehensive Plan • Beach to Bay Connection elements and supporting goals, objectives and policies • Coastal Dune Advisory Board address intrinsic resource preservation. The policies • South Walton Community Council are referenced in this section. The policy directives, evaluated against the Scenic 30-A Vision during this • Seaside Institute Designation Phase, assisted in creating appropriate • Cultural Arts Association objectives and strategies for the Scenic 30-A Action • Muscogee Nation of Florida Plan. Additionally, action items were developed to • Scenic Corridor Association further Walton County’s existing intrinsic resource • Appropriate State Agencies protection policies through coordination with • Walton County Chamber of Commerce resource-based agencies and groups. • Walton County Heritage Association • Friends of Eden • Friends of Grayton State Park • Friends of Topsail Hill • Friends of Timpoochee Trial
76 The Plan Current Initiatives • “Use Blue- think Green”-Recycling Program 4 The following current initiatives are being conducted Recyclable items such as cans, glass, plastic, by Walton County with coordination by the Friends of paper and cardboard materials are placed into Scenic 30-A. a Blue Recycling Bag provided by the County and are collected along with regular garbage • Wayfinding Plan 2007 pick up service. Those items in the Blue A Wayfinding Plan for the Timpoochee Trail, Recycling Bags are separated at the landfill and consists of directional, interpretive, and are recycled. For additional information see informational signs to be placed on the Scenic Appendix C. Corridor. Phase I will be funded in 2007. • Xeric landscape ordinance • Multi-Use Path Maintenance The xeric landscape ordinance, also A maintenance schedule is being developed supported by the Scenic 30-A Action Plan, and coordinated with the appropriate is currently being drafted by the Planning departments for the up-keep of the current Department for review by the Board of County multi-use path. A maintenance contract with Commissioners. Walton County Public Works has been signed • Coastal Dune Lake Monitoring Program and is ongoing. The protection and preservation of the Coastal • Capital Improvement Projects Approved for Budget Dune Lakes along the corridor is currently Years 2007-2010 being funded by the Choctawhatchee Basin Those projects approved within the 2007-2010 Alliance and is supported by Action Plan budget year, outlined in Chapter 2 The Corridor, strategies. are being implemented by Walton County. • Large White Goods Pick-Up • Inmate clean-up days In response to the growing demand for This program utilizes local inmates required large item pick up within the Scenic 30-A to perform community services such as communities, the Walton County’s Waste landscaping and litter control by integrating Management department has added a Large them into the maintenance and clean-up White Goods pick-up day to their schedule. schedules of the County.
77 The Plan 4 Relationship to the Comprehensive Plan he Walton County Comprehensive Plan provides Table 4.1 Scenic 30-A Goal 1 Comp Plan Support Tthe foundation of goals, objectives, and policies Walton County Comprehensive Plan that directly relate to the management of Scenic Coastal Zone, Conservation Element 30-A. A number of goals, objectives, and policies in Goal 1 - Protect/Conserve Natural Resources the Comprehensive Plan that support the Scenic 30- Objective C-1.1 Policy C-1.1.3-4 A vision and goals are located in the Coastal Zone Goal 2 - Water Quality and Conservation, Recreation, Open Space and Objective C-2.1 Policy C-2.1.1 Greenways, Transportation and the Intergovernmental Objective C-2.2 Policy C-2.2.1-8 Coordination Elements. Objective C-2.3 Policy C-2.2.1-5 Goal 3 - Reduce Pollution The following tables illustrate how each of the Scenic Objective C-3.2 Policy C-3.2.1 30-A Goals developed by the Scenic 30-A CAG Objective C-3.2 Policy C-3.2.4-5 corresponds with the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Objective C-3.2 Policy C-3.2.8 Objective C-3.2 Policy C-3.2.9 Goal 1 - Resource Protection, Maintenance, and Objective C-3.2 Policy C-3.2.11 Enhancement Objective C-3.3 Policy C-3.3.1 Objective C-3.3 Policy C-3.3.3-6 Goal 1 of the Corridor Management Plan relates to Goal 4 - Coastal Areas the Coastal, Recreational, and Infrastructure elements Objective C-4.1 Policy C-4.1.4 of the Walton County Comprehensive Plan. Table 4.1 Objective C-4.4 Policy C-4.4.1 illustrates how existing Walton County policies support Objective C-4.4 Policy C-4.4.3 Goal 1 of the Scenic 30-A Corridor Management Plan. Objective C-4.4 Policy C-4.4.4 Objective C-4.4 Policy C-4.4.7
78 The Plan Table 4.2 Scenic 30-A Goal 2 Comp Plan Support 4 Table 4.1 Scenic 30-A Goal 1 Comp Plan Support Walton County Comprehensive Plan (continued) Coastal Zone, Conservation Element Walton County Comprehensive Plan Goal 4 - Coastal Areas Recreation, Open Space, and Greenway Element Objective C-4.1 Policy C-4.1.4 Goal 1 - Economic Development Recreation, Open Space, and Greeway Element Objective R-1.1 Policy R-1.1.5 Goal 1 - Economic Development Goal 2 - Recreation Systems Objective R-1.1 Policy R-1.1.1 Objective R-2.1 Policy R-1.1.1-3 Goal 2 - Recreational Systems Objective R-2.3 Policy R-12.3.1-3 Objective R-2.1 Policy R-1.1.1-3 Goal 3 - Open Spaces Objective R-2.3 Policy R-1.2.3.1-3 Objective R-3.3 Policy R-3.3.4 Goal 3 - Open Spaces Objective R-3.3 Policy R-3.3.10 Objective R-3.1 Policy R-3.1.2 Objective R-3.3 Policy R-3.3.12 Objective R-3.2 Policy R-3.2.1-3 Objective R-3.5 Policy R-3.5.4-6 Objective R-3.3 Policy R-3.3.5-6 Goal 4 - Ecology Objective R-3.3 Policy R-3.3.8 Objective R-4.1 Policy R-4.2.2 Objective R-3.3 Policy R-3.3.11 Infrustructure Element Goal 4 - Ecology Goal I-1 Potable Water Objective R-4.1 Policy R-4.2.2 Objective I-1.2 Policy I-1.2.2-3 Objective R-4.3 Policy R-4.3.1-2 Objective I-1.3 Policy I-1.3.1-2 Objective R-4.3 Policy R-4.3.4 Goal I-4 Drainage Objective R-4.4 Policy R-4.4.1 Objective I-4.1 Policy I-4.1.1 Goal 7 - Recreational Opportunity Objective I-4.2 Policy I-4.2.1 Objective R-7.3 Policy R-7.3.1-2 Traffic Circulation Element Goal 2 - Transportation Planning and Safety Goal T-1 Transporation Objective T-1.3 Policy T-1.3.1 Goal 2 of the Corridor Management Plan corresponds Objective T-1.4 Policy T-1.4.2 to the County’s Recreational, Open Space and Greenway Element (ROG). Table 4.2 illustrates how Objective T-1.5 Policy T-1.5.3 existing Walton County policies support Goal 2 of Objective T-1.6 Policy T-1.6.1-2 the Corridor Management Plan. Policy R-2.3.3 under Objective T-1.7 Policy T-1.7.1-3 Objective T-1.8 Policy T-1.8.1
79 The Plan 4 ROG’s Recreational Systems is in direct support of d) The management entity shall implement the Action Plan one of the features the CAG group and the community and provide an annual report on the effectiveness of the desires to establish. The policy states, Corridor Management Plan. “
“The County, in coordination with the Tourist These procedures support the strategies developed Development Council, shall introduce the beach jitney/ by the Friends of Scenic 30-A and support the trolley to provide access to the beaches, especially along Relationship to the Comprehensive Plan requirements. CR 30-A.“ Goal 3 - Community Support and Public Additionally Objective T-1.8: Scenic Highways states, Participation “For highways being considered for scenic designation, Goal 3 of the Corridor Management Plan expands the County shall develop designation criteria and Corridor on the type of programs that have been established Management Plans for the preservation, maintenance, by the CAG and Friends of Scenic 30-A that correlate protection and promotion of those intrinsic resources with the county’s policies. Within the County’s within the corridor. Comprehensive Plan there are references to the Policy T-1.8.1: For each highway being considered for County’s responsibilities regarding the coordination scenic designation, the following procedures shall be with local organizations to develop and maintain followed: higher standards within the County. a) A Scenic Highway Advisory Committee shall be formed to create a vision, set goals and objectives, evaluate intrinsic resources, develop a Corridor Management Plan and Action Plan, and establish a management entity for the scenic highway. b) The Advisory Committee shall coordinate the reconciliation of the Corridor Management Plan with the current Walton County Comprehensive Plan. c) The Board of County Commissioners must approve any scenic highway nomination and adopt the Corridor Management Plan by ordinance into the Walton County Comprehensive Plan in order for the local designation to go into effect.
80 The Plan Policy R-3.3.6 states, Goal 4 - Education and Corridor Story 4 “The County will coordinate with citizens and state Goal 4 of the CMP has support in both the County’s agencies to promote and conserve the designated Recreational, Open Space and Greenway, and Coastal South Walton greenways by incorporating appropriate Elements. Table 4.4 illustrates how existing Walton management and protective measures into its local County policies support Goal 4 of the Scenic 30-A planning processes, and will coordinate with the Water Corridor Management Plan. Management District and adjacent local governments to incorporate complementary measures into their planning processes. Table 4.4 Scenic 30-A Goal 4 Comp Plan Support This policy supports Goals 1,2 ,3 and 6 of the CMP. Walton County Comprehensive Plan Table 4.3 provides a list of the other County policies Coatal Zone, Conservation Element that support Goal 3 of the Scenic 30-A CMP. Goal 3 - Reduce, Conservation Element Objective C-3.2 Policy 3.2.6 Recreation, Open Space, and Greenway Element Goal 1 - Economic Development Table 4.3 Scenic 30-A Goal 3 Comp Plan Support Objective R-1.1 Policy R-1.1.3 Walton County Comprehensive Plan Goal 3 - Open Spaces Recreation, Open Space, and Greeway Element Objective R-3.2 Policy R-3.2.3 Goal 1 - Economic Development Objective R-3.3 Policy R-3.3.6 Objective R-1.1 Policy R-1.1.5 Goal 3 - Open Spaces Objective R-3.3 Policy R-3.3.4 Objective R-3.3 Policy R-3.3.6
81 The Plan 4 Goal 5 - Economic Development and Tourism Goal 6 - Administration and Coordination of Scenic 30-A Initiatives The economic development and tourism goals of the CMP are supported in the Intergovernmental The Friends of Scenic 30-A will serve as the main Coordination of the Comprehensive Plan. Table 4.5 caretaker of the Scenic 30-A corridor by ensuring that illustrates the related supporting policies. the Action Plan is executed, and the corridor initiatives are monitored and implemented in accordance with the CMP as well as with the County’s initiatives and Table 4.5 Scenic 30-A Goal 5 Comp Plan Support policies. The following comprehensive plan policies in Walton County Comprehensive Plan Table 4.6 support these efforts. Recreation, Open Space, and Greeway Element Goal 4 - Coastal Areas Table 4.6 Scenic 30-A Goal 6 Comp Plan Support b ective C . Policy C . . Walton County Comprehensive Plan Recreation, Open Space, and Greeway Element Coatal Zone, Conservation Element Goal 1 - Economic Development Goal 3 - Reduce Pollution b ective R . Policy R . . b ective C . Policy C . . b ective R . Policy R . . b ective C . Policy C . . Goal 3 - Open Spaces Goal 4 - Coastal Areas b ective R . Policy R . . b ective C . Policy C . . b ective R . Policy R . . b ective C . Policy C . . Goal 7 - Recretional Opportunity Goal 1 - Economic Development b ective R . Policy R . . b ective R . Policy R . . Intergovernmental Coordination Element Goal pen Spaces Goal IC-1 Intergovernmental Coordination Element b ective R . Policy R . . b ective C . Policy C . . b ective R . Policy R . . b ective C . Policy C . . Goal 7 - Recretional Opportunity b ective C . Policy C . . b ective R . Policy R . . Intergovernmental Coordination Element Goal IC-1 Intergovernmental Coordination Element b ective C . Policy C . . b ective C . Policy C . . b ective C . Policy C . .
82 The Plan Land Development Code Policy Support Standards; Sign Control; and Other Uses of the Public 4 Right-of-Way. The Land Development Code (LDC) contains the rules, regulations, and ordinances that govern how Section 13.02.01 of the LDC contains additional scenic and where certain types of development may occur corridor design standards for other routes in Walton within the specified area. Within the LDC for Walton County, including: The US 98 and US 331 Scenic County, Section 13.02.00: The Route 30-A Scenic Corridor Design Standards, and are designed to, Corridor, specific regulations are provided to preserve and protect the current conditions of CR 30-A. The “ensure high quality commercial development along design standards within this section are set, roadways in South Walton County” (13.02.01 A).
“to preserve and maximize views of the Gulf of Mexico, This section of the code applies to US 98 and US 331 enhance the visual characteristics of the roadway corridor, and not the Scenic 30-A corridor limits, however the and to eliminate roadside clutter.”(13.02.00 A) legal application provided in Section 13.02.01 B are more specific on the applicable corridor. It states: In Section 13.02.00 the applicable properties and limitations of the Route 30-A Scenic Corridor design “The Scenic Corridor width extends 400 feet north and standards are described and pertain to, 400 feet south of US Highway 98 right-of-way and the property abuts US Highway 98 and US Highway 331.” “all properties that are located continuous to County Road 30-A shall, for purpose of this section, be considered Though these standards do not apply to the Scenic within the Route 30-A scenic corridor.”(13.02.00 B.) 30-A corridor, The Friends of Scenic 30-A are working with Walton County to amend Section 13 to apply the Within this section the following standards are 400 foot right of way limit designation to County Road regulated:r 30-A. Location Designation; Setback and Building Width; Landscaping Standards; Driveway/ Access/Parking
83 The Plan 4 Funding and Promotions during the Designation Phase. This funding source “clearinghouse” will be used during the ll Florida Scenic Highways should begin to Implementation Phase to determine appropriate and Aidentify potential funding sources early in the available funding sources on a project-specific basis. designation process. The Friends of Scenic 30-A have identified government, institution, grant and private Government, Business and Civic Groups sources to fund the Action Plan items. Additionally, the Friends of Scenic 30-A will have the benefit of Walton County Board of County Commissioners funding available to the existing Scenic 30-A Corridor 117 Montgomery Circle Foundation, Inc., a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation. DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435 This organization was formed early during the 850-8925-8155 Eligibility Phase. Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative Grant Funding Considerations PO Box 512 DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435 Groups that have 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status, such (850)892-2111 as the Scenic 30-A Corridor Foundation, Inc., are eligible for many grants that are not necessarily in Walton County Economic Development Council the scope of scenic highway programs specifically; Robert Smith, Executive Director however, these grant sources can further support the 908 U.S. Hwy 90 West corridor Vision and Action Plan strategies. There are DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433 often many grants that are available within the same (850)892-0555 grantor department, and groups may be eligible to apply for more than one each year. Likewise, the Fabric Architecture Friends of Scenic 30-A, through cooperation with the Santa Rosa Beach Scenic 30-A Corridor Foundation, Inc., may be able to 404-578-1651 apply for the same grant multiple times for different projects. Additionally, some grant applications are Habitat for Humanity, Walton County repeatable and/or renewable. PO Box 2400 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 The following potential local funding sources (850)267-0606 have been identified by the Friends of Scenic 30-A during the course of meetings conducted
84 The Plan Walton County Tourist Camel Club, Inc. The Friends of Topsail State Park, 4 Development Council Patrick Reily CSO (850)267-3511 PO Box 1728 1019 Coastal Cove Circle www.beachesofsouthwalton.com Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Walton County Leadership Walton Green Thumb Garden Club Chamber of Commerce Walton County Chamber of 1258 Deerwood Dr 63 South Centre Trail Commerce Miramar Beach, FL 32550 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 850-267-1186 Phone: (850) 267-0683 850-267-0683 Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Beach to Bay Connection, Inc. Sandestin Lions Club 100 College Blvd 850-267- 2227 Scenic 30A Business Association Niceville, FL 32578 www.beachtobay.org South Walton Rotary Club 850-729-6456
Coastal Heritage Preservation Walton County Taxpayers Okaloosa County Tourist Foundation, Inc. Association Development Council P.O. Box 2111 PO Box 1085 (850) 267-3511 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 Economic Development Council of Seaside Community Foundation The Friends of Eden State Gardens Okaloosa County 850-231-3209 PO Box 4 PO Box 4097 www.seasidefoundation.org Pt Washington, FL 32454 Ft Walton Beach, Fl 32549 (850)651-73 South Walton Community Council, Inc. Waste Management Inc. PO Box 1661 108 Hill Avenue Santa Rosa Beach FL 32459 Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 850-231-7856
85 The Plan 4 American Business Women’s Fort Walton Beach Association Chamber of Commerce Emerald Coast Chapter 34 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy PO Box 731 Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547 (850)244-8191 (850)864-7697 www.arc.net/abwa South Walton Utility Co., Inc. 79 Old Hwy 98 Destin Area Destin, FL 32541 Chamber of Commerce (850)-837-2988 PO Box 8 1021 Hwy 98 E. - Suite A West Florida Regional Planning Destin, FL 32540-0008 Council 850-837-6241 P.O. Box 9759 www.destinchamber.com Pensacola, Fl 32513-9759 850-595-8910 Emerald Coast Association of Realtors 10 Hollywood Blvd. S.E. Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 (850)243-6145
Emerald Coast Tourist Development Council www.destin-fwb.com
Florida’s Great Northwest 11490 Emerald Coast Pkwy Suite 300 Destin, FL 32550 (850)337-3469
86 The Plan Additional funding sources identified by the Friends of The Friends of Scenic 30-A will consider target 4 Scenic 30-A from the Florida Scenic Highway Program markets, promotional techniques, and available Manual and other sources are located in Appendix data to measure the success of a marketing and D. These additional funding sources provide the promotion strategy for Scenic 30-A. Coordination following opportunities for implementation activities: with TDC, EDC, Chamber of Commerce and beach communities currently involved in marketing and • Federal Level Funding promotion along the corridor and within the region • State Level Funding will be vital. • Special Legislative Funding • Foundation/Organization Funding Existing marketing and promotional resources that • Multimodal Transportation Funding will be used on an on-going basis include: Art in Public Places • Marketing • Additional Funding Database Resources • National Association of Counties • Walton County TDC • Walton County Chamber of Commerce Marketing and Promotion • Economic Development Council • Community Based Websites • Local Government Website The intent of the Florida Scenic Highway Program • Visit Florida is to heighten the awareness of Florida’s history and intrinsic resources. Marketing and promotional • Great Northwest initiatives should focus on corridor resources. • State Park Websites Friends of Scenic 30-A will work closely with the existing Tourist Development Council supporting their efforts in marketing and promotion. The Promotion TDC currently has the infrastructure in place to • Links to existing community websites promote Scenic 30-A. The Friends of Scenic 30-A • Local magazines and Chamber of Commerce will assist in promotion of the market resulting from Business Journal the proposed, approved Bay County International • Links to Walton County and TDC websites Airport. • Local Radio and Television Productions • Local Freelance Writers
87 The Plan
• Artist Programs and Events 4 Table 4.7 • Walton County’s Public Information Officer Action Plan Key • Local art shows, festivals, concerts, and other social events Funding • Links to State Parks and Recreation G Government promotional materials including websites C Local Civic Associations • Telluride Mountain Film Festival at WaterColor Gr Grants • Back to Nature Festival P Private organi ations/businesses • Existing lectures and symposiums at local Responsible Party communities Friends Friends of Scenic 30-A • Local and Regional Newspapers County Walton County • Okaloosa Walton College TDC Tourist Development Council State State Parks/Forestry • Gulf Coast Community College Timeline Action Plan O Current Ongoing S 1-5 ear Plan he Scenic 30-A Action Plan outlines actions that L 6-15 ear Plan Tthe Friends of Scenic 30-A will work towards in support of the Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Corridor Vision. The Action Plan serves as the “instruction manual” on how to implement the 3. Support Corridor Management Plan. The Action Plan is a required component for scenic highway designation 4. Education and Corridor Story and includes a prioritized list of projects or programs in an effort to realize the Vision for Scenic 30-A. 5. Economic Development and Tourism
The Action Plan is organized into six categories or 6. Administration goal areas: Table 4.7 is a reference for Table 4.8 The Action Plan 1. Protection, Maintenance, and Enhancement illustrating each category with the specific Goal, Objective and Strategy, potential funding sources, 2. Transportation Planning and Safety responsible parties, and a timeline.
88 The Plan Table 4.8 Action Plan Table 4.8 Action Plan (continued) 4 Goal Goal Timeline Timeline Strategy Strategy Objective Action Items Funding Responsible Party Objective Action Items Funding Responsible Party Protection, Maintenance, and Enhancement Transportation Planning and Safety Landscape Transportation 111Vegetation Standards G County S 2 1 1 Alternative Transportation Modes G, Gr, P Friends, County, TDC L 1 1 2 Native Preservation G Friends, County O 2 1 2 Airport Transport G, P Friends, County, TDC L 1 1 3 Heritage Tree Ordinance G Friends, County S 2 1 3 Proportionate Fair-Share G County O 1 1 4 Map Vegetative Communities G Friends, County S 2 1 4 Long Range Parking Master Plan G, C, Gr, P County L 1 1 5 Exotic Removal G Friends, County, State O 2 1 5 Uniform Speed Limit G County O 1 1 6 Preservation “buy out” G County S 216Traffic Study G County O 1 1 7 Landscaping Standards G Friends, County S Recreational 1 1 8 Xeric Landscaping Ordinance G Friends, County S 221Trail Safety G Friends, County S Waste Management 2 2 2 Crosswalks G County S 1 2 1 Littering Laws G Friends, County S 2 2 3 Bike Racks G County, TDC S 1 2 2 Uniform Garbage Control G Friends, County S 224Wayfinding G Friends, County S 1 2 3 Large Item Pick-up G Friends, County S 2 2 5 Directional Signs G County S 1 2 4 Funding for Recycling G, C, Gr, P Friends, County S 226Fund Wayfinding Plan G, Gr County, TDC O 125Trash Management G, C, Gr, P Friends, County O 227Visibility Triangles G County, State S 1 2 6 Ongoing Issues - Recycling G, Gr, P Friends, County O 228Trail Development G Friends, County, State L Program 2 2 9 Funding Trails G Friends, County, State S Beautification 2 2 10 Public Restrooms G County L Coastal Dune Lakes G, C, Gr, P Friends, County, TDC, State S 2 2 11 Land Acquisition G, Gr County, State L Bridge Maintenance G County Support nderground tilities G, Gr, P County L 311Benefits G, C, P Friends, County S Funding nderground tilities G, Gr, P County L 3 1 2 Promotion G Friends, County, TDC S Lift Station Buffers G, Gr, P County L 3 1 3 TRC Representative C Friends S tility Screening G, Gr, P County L 3 1 4 Participation G Friends, County, TDC, State O Beautification Grants G, Gr, P County L Education and Corridor Story Benches and Water Fountains G, C, Gr, P Friends, County, TDC S 4 1 1 Recycling Options G, C, Gr, P Friends, County O Beautification and Preservation G Friends, County, TDC S 4 1 2 Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Vehicular G County S Management and Maintenance Laws Maintenance Plan G County 4 1 3 Information Sheets G, C, Gr, P Friends, County O Work Crews G County 4 1 4 Promote Xeric Landscaping G Friends, County S Road Maintenance G County 415Water Conservation G Friends, County, State O Stormwater Management G County L 4 1 6 Historic Markers G County S Funding Stormwater Plan G, Gr, P County L 4 1 7 Preservation C, Gr, P Friends, County, State S Funding for Maintenance G, Gr County 4 1 8 Interpretive Signage G County, Friends, TDC S Economic Development and Tourism 5 1 1 TDC G, C, P Friends, County, TDC, State S 512Tourism C, P Friends, County, TDC S 513Visioning G, C, P Friends, County, TDC, State O
89 The Plan 4 Table 4.8 Action Plan (continued) Goal Timeline Strategy Objective Action Items Funding Responsible Party Administration Forums G, Gr Friends Annual Report G Friends S Engage C, P Friends, County, TDC, State Lighting rdinances G Friends, County S Redevelopment Policies C, Gr, P Friends, County S Memberships C Friends Fundraising G, C, Gr, P Friends, County S
90 A
Appendix A
SHAC Tour Materials
91
B
Appendix B
The Corridor
135
Table B-1 Historic AADT, Walton County, FL
Historical Historical Annual % Roadway StationAADT Count Linear StationAADT CountLinear Growth From To ID 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Slope Growth ID 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Slope Growth Rate CR 30A US 98 CR 393 600219 6,400 7,000 7,100 6,400 7,100 4 -80 -1.25% 600220 6400 6600 6900 6600 6100 4 60 0.94% -0.16% CR 393 CR 83 600258 7,200 7,900 6,800 7,000 6,600 4 210 2.92% 2.92% CR 83 CR 283 600263 5,500 8,100 5,800 5,300 4,900 4 400 7.27% 7.27% CR 283 CR 395 600267 6,500 7,600 7,100 6,400 5,900 4 240 3.69% 3.69% CR 395 US 98 600268 13,500 13,500 9,900 8,400 8,000 4 1,610 11.93% 600235 6800 6800 6600 5900 6500 4 150 2.21% 7.07% CR 83 CR 30A US 98 600262 1,700 1,500 1,200 1,100 1,000 4 180 10.59% 10.59% CR 283 CR 30A US 98 600112 4,100 4,300 3,900 3,500 3,100 4 280 6.83% 6.83% CR 395 CR 30A US 98 600214 6,000 5,300 4,000 2,900 3,200 4 800 13.33% 13.33% US 98 End 600254 750 750 750 700 1,200 3 15 2.00% 2.00% Average for Study Area 5.95% Source: Florida Traffic Information CD 2005
The following is a list of federally-protected species in Walton County that may potentially occur within the area around 30A. For the purpose of this list, the 30A area includes the area bounded by 30A and 98, and the area within 1 mile south of 30A. Species were included in this list either because there are known occurence data for them, or because they occur in Walton County and the 30A area provides suitable habitat for them. The list also includes some state-listed species that are not federally-protected. T = threatened; E = endangered; CH = critical habitat; ce = not federally-listed, but consideration is encouraged; s/a = similarity of appearance SSC = species of special concern (state) Status Common Name Scientific Name Status FWS Natural Communities State FISH: a E Wal Gulf sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi T ESTUARINE: various MARINE: various habitats Wal SSC CH RIVERINE: alluvial and blackwater streams AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES: a Wal
American alligator Alligator mississippiensis T(s/a) ESTUARINE: marshes, various habitats Wal SSC LACUSTRINE: marshes, swamps, various habitats PALUSTRINE: swamps, floodplains, marshes, various habitats RIVERINE: open water, shorelines, various habitats Flatwoods salamander Ambystoma cingulatum T PALUSTRINE: wet flatwoods, dome swamp, basin Wal SSC swamp, ruderal TERRESTRIAL: mesic flatwoods (reproduces in ephemeral wetlands within this community) Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta T TERRESTRIAL: sandy beaches; nesting Wal T Green turtle Chelonia mydas mydas E TERRESTRIAL: sandy beaches; nesting Wal E Leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea E TERRESTRIAL: sandy beaches; nesting Wal E Eastern indigo snake Drymarchon corais couperi T ESTUARINE: tidal swamp PALUSTRINE: hydric Wal T hammock, wet flatwoods TERRESTRIAL: mesic flatwoods, upland pine forest, sandhills, scrub, scrubby flatwoods, rockland hammock, ruderal
Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata E MARINE: open water; no nesting Wal E imbricata Gopher tortoise Gopherus polyphemus ce TERRESTRIAL: sandhills, scrub, scrubby flatwoods, Wal SSC xeric hammocks, coastal strand, ruderal
Pine barrens treefrog Hyla andersonii PALUSTRINE: seepage slope, baygall RIVERINE: Wal SSC seepage stream Kemp's Ridley turtle Lepidochelys kempi E TERRESTRIAL: sandy beaches; nesting Wal E Alligator snapping turtle Macroclemys temminckii ce ESTUARINE: tidal marsh LACUSTRINE: river Wal SSC floodplain lake, swamp lake RIVERINE: alluvial stream, blackwater stream Florida pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus ce LACUSTRINE: ruderal, sandhill upland lake Wal SSC mugitus TERRESTRIAL: sandhill, scrubby flatwoods, xeric hammock, ruderal BIRDS: a Wal Southeastern snowy plover Charadrius alexandrinus ce ESTUARINE: exposed unconsolidated substrate Wal T tenuirostris MARINE: exposed unconsolidated substrate TERRESTRIAL: dunes, sandy beaches, and inlet areas Piping plover Charadrius melodus T CH ESTUARINE: exposed unconsolidated substrate Wal T MARINE: exposed unconsolidated substrate TERRESTRIAL: dunes, sandy beaches, and inlet areas. Mostly wintering and migrants. Stoddard's yellow-throated Dendroica dominica stoddardi ce TERRESTRIAL: wooded habitats with spanish moss, Wal warbler various Little blue heron Egretta caerulea ESTUARINE: marshes, shoreline PALUSTRINE: Wal SSC floodplains, swamps RIVERINE: shoreline
Snowy egret Egretta thula ESTUARINE: marshes, tidal swamps, shoreline Wal SSC LACUSTRINE: lake edges PALUSTRINE: swamp, floodplain, ruderal RIVERINE: shoreline Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor ESTUARINE: marshes, tidal swamps, shoreline Wal SSC LACUSTRINE: lake edges PALUSTRINE: swamp, floodplain, ruderal RIVERINE: shoreline Arctic peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus tundrius ce ESTUARINE: winters along coasts LACUSTRINE: Wal E various PALUSTRINE: various TERRESTRIAL: various, ruderal Southeastern kestrel Falco sparverius paulus ce ESTUARINE: various habitats PALUSTRINE: Wal T various habitats TERRESTRIAL: open pine forests, clearings, ruderal, various American oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus ESTUARINE: exposed unconsolidated substrate, Wal SSC exposed mollusk reef MARINE: exposed unconsolidated substrate, exposed mollusk reef TERRESTRIAL: beaches, ruderal areas
Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus T ESTUARINE: marsh edges, tidal swamp, open water Wal T LACUSTRINE: swamp lakes, edges PALUSTRINE: swamp, floodplain RIVERINE: shoreline, open water TERRESTRIAL: pine and hardwood forests, clearings
Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis ESTUARINE: islands for nesting, open water Wal SSC MARINE: open water Red-cockaded woodpecker Picoides borealis E TERRESTRIAL: mature pine forests Wal T Status Common Name Scientific Name Status FWS Natural Communities State Black Skimmer Rynchops niger ESTUARINE: various LACUSTRINE: various Wal SSC RIVERINE: various TERRESTRIAL: ocean beaches, beach dune, ruderal. Nests common on rooftops.
Least tern Sterna antillarum ESTUARINE: various LACUSTRINE: various Wal T RIVERINE: various TERRESTRIAL: beach dune, ruderal. Nests common on rooftops. MAMMALS: a Wal Choctawhatchee beach mouse Peromyscus polionotus E TERRESTRIAL: beach dune, coastal scrub. Bay Wal E allophrys CH Co.:St. Andrew State Rec. Area mainland (CH) and Shell Island (CH), Tyndall Air Force Base Shell Island (CH). Walton Co.: Grayton Beach State Rec. Area (main CH & western units), Topsail Hill State Preserve (CH), Deer Lake State Park, Camp Creek, Four-Mile Village, Town of Grayton Beach and Seagrove Beach, Seaside. Okaloosa Co. historic range. Southeastern big-eared bat Plecotus rafinesquii ce PALUSTRINE: various, floodplains TERRESTRIAL: Wal pine and hardwood forests, ruderal, various
West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris E ESTUARINE: submerged vegetation, open water Wal E MARINE: open water, submerged vegetation RIVERINE: alluvial stream, blackwater stream, spring- run stream PLANTS: a Wal Southern three-awned grass Aristida simpliciflora ce PALUSTRINE: wet flatwoods TERRESTRIAL: Wal sandhill, mesic flatwoods, old fields Toothed savory Calamintha dentata ce TERRESTRIAL: sandhill, roadsides Wal Curtiss' sandgrass Calamovilfa curtissii ce PALUSTRINE: mesic and wet flatwoods, wet prairie, Wal T depression marsh TERRESTRIAL: mesic flatwoods
Godfrey's golden aster Chrysopsis godfreyi ce TERRESTRIAL: beach dunes, coastal grassland Wal Cruise's golden-aster Chrysopsis gossypina ce TERRESTRIAL: coastal dunes, coastal strand, Wal E cruiseana coastal grassland; openings and blowouts Spoon-leaved sundew Drosera intermedia LACUSTRINE: sinkhole lake edges PALUSTRINE: Wal T seepage slope, wet flatwoods, depression marsh RIVERINE: seepage stream banks, drainage ditches
Wiregrass gentian Gentiana pennelliana ce PALUSTRINE: seepage slope, wet prairie, roadside Wal E ditches TERRESTRIAL: mesic flatwoods, planted slash pine Panhandle spiderlily Hymenocallis henryae ce PALUSTRINE: dome swamp edges, wet prairie, wet Wal E flatwoods, baygall edges, swamp edges TERRESTRIAL: wet prairies and flatwoods Southern red lily Lilium catesbaei PALUSTRINE: wet prairie, wet flatwoods, seepage Wal T slope TERRESTRIAL: mesic flatwoods, seepage slope; usually with grasses Gulf coast lupine Lupinus westianus ce TERRESTRIAL: beach dune, scrub, disturbed areas, Wal T roadsides, blowouts in dunes Chapman's butterwort Pinguicula planifolia ce PALUSTRINE: wet flatwoods, seepage slopes, bog, Wal T dome swamp, ditches; in water Primrose-flower butterwort Pinguicula primulifolia PALUSTRINE: bogs, pond margins, margins of Wal E spring runs Bent golden aster Pityopsis flexuosa ce TERRESTRIAL: sandhill, upland pine forest, ruderal E
Large-leaved jointweed Polygonella macrophylla ce TERRESTRIAL: scrub, sand pine/oak scrub ridges Wal T
Orange azalea Rhododendron austrinum PALUSTRINE: bottomland forest RIVERINE: Wal E seepage stream bank TERRESTRIAL: slope forest, upland mixed forest White-top pitcher plant Sarracenia leucophylla ce PALUSTRINE: wet prairie, seepage slope, baygall Wal E edges, ditches Parrot pitcher plant Sarracenia psittacina PALUSTRINE: wet flatwoods, wet prairie, seepage Wal T slope Decumbant pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea PALUSTRINE: Bogs Wal T Chapman's crownbeard Verbesina chapmanii ce PALUSTRINE: seepage slope TERRESTRIAL: Wal T mesic flatwoods with wiregrass (Aristida stricta)
C
Appendix C
Support and Participation
157
Scenic 30-A CAG Members First Last City State Jim Anders Santa Rosa Beach FL Leonard Anderson Sandestin FL Betty Anderson Sandestin FL Taylor Aycock Sandestin FL James B. Bagby Santa Rosa Beach FL Claire Bannerman Rosemary Beach FL Tom Beitzel Panama City FL Angie Biddle DeFuniak Springs FL Susan Breeden Santa Rosa Beach FL Sharon Brockenbrough Santa Rosa Beach FL Rory Cassedy Pensacola FL Kris Meade Chavez Santa Rosa Beach FL Celeste Cobena Santa Rosa Beach FL Donna Crawford Seagrove Beach FL Melody Ray Culp DeFuniak Springs FL Bill Cunningham Santa Rosa Beach FL Jeanne Dailey Destin FL Debbie Danton Tallahassee FL Larry Davis Santa Rosa Beach FL Ashley Dismukes Santa Rosa Beach FL Bill Dismukes Panama City Beach FL Damon Dismukes DeFuniak Springs FL Robert W. Dobes Seagrove Beach FL Phillip Ellis Niceville FL Richard Fowlkes Santa Rosa Beach FL Phil Francis Santa Rosa Beach FL Ken Gifford Rosemary Beach FL John Gillis Destin FL Bill Grubbs Santa Rosa Beach FL Laura Haddock Chipley FL Leslie Hallman Santa Rosa Beach FL Randy Harelson Point Washington FL Patrick W. Hartsfield Grayton Beach FL Scott Henson Seacrest Beach FL DeDe Hinote DeFuniak Springs FL Milla Hopkins Santa Rosa Beach FL Bob Hudson Santa Rosa Beach FL Chick Huettel Santa Rosa Beach FL Cliff Knauer Santa Rosa Beach FL Keith Knight Santa Rosa Beach FL Rose Ann Knight Santa Rosa Beach FL Scenic 30-A CAG Members First Last City State Bob Knott Grayton Beach FL J. Smith Lanier West Point GA Kurt Lischka Santa Rosa Beach FL Paul Lydolph Santa Rosa Beach FL JoAnn McCalister Santa Rosa Beach FL Billy McConnell Seagrove Beach FL Becky McCoy Seagrove Beach FL Carey McWhorter Seagrove Beach FL Gregory A. Mikell Pensacola FL Dawn Moliterno Santa Rosa Beach FL Blake Morar Blue Mountain Beach FL Gail Murray Miramar FL Meg Nelson Seacrest FL Lynne Nesmith Seagrove Beach FL Barbara Olshner Santa Rosa Beach FL Shannon Porath Widman Santa Rosa Beach FL Steve Rappaport Santa Rosa Beach FL Lane Ress Seagrove Beach FL Mike Richards DeFuniak Springs FL James R. Richburg Niceville FL Mary Rosenheim Santa Rosa Beach FL David Rovner Santa Rosa Beach FL George Russell Freeport FL Steve Saenz Santa Rosa Beach FL David Schjott Santa Rosa Beach FL Carole Seibert Seagrove Beach FL Ken Shannon Santa Rosa Beach FL Adam Shiland Miramar Beach FL Dale Shingler Grayton Beach FL Jack Slattery Santa Rosa Beach FL Stuart Slicis Freeport FL Mike Standley Santa Rosa Beach FL Mike Stange Sandestin FL Leda Suydan Santa Rosa Beach FL Karen Terrell Alys Beach FL Kriss Titus Seagrove Beach FL Bob Toothaker Eden FL Charlie Webb Seacrest FL Melissa Wheeler DeFuniak Springs FL Shannon Widman Santa Rosa Beach FL Sherrell Wilkerson Santa Rosa Beach FL Jeannie Wilson Grayton Beach FL Jack Wolfe Santa Rosa Beach FL Daniel Young Santa Rosa Beach FL Ray Zukowski Sandestin FL
January 3, 2007
Ms. Shannon Foor District Scenic Highways Coordinator Florida Department of Transportation Post Office Box 607 Chipley, Florida 32428
RE: Scenic CR 30-A
Dear Ms. Foor:
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance would like to express its support for your efforts to dedicate 28 miles of County Road 30-A in Walton County as a State Scenic Highway. As nature based and eco-tourism is beginning to be marketed by the Beaches of South Walton County, the Alliance feels this is a wonderful opportunity for Walton County to use its natural surroundings to attract new visitors. I commend Walton County for pursuing the State Scenic Highway Designation along this beautiful stretch of county road. It is the Alliance’s hope that we will soon see County Road 30-A designated as a State Scenic Highway that brings new visitors to enjoy the special beauty along the beaches of Walton County. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Respectfully,
Phillip Ellis Project Coordinator Florida House of Representatives Representative Donald D. Brown District 5 Reply to:
OWC Chautauqua Campus 402 South Monroe Street 908 Hwy 90 West 400 HOB The Capitol DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1300 (850) 892-8431 (850) 488-4726 (850) 892-8433 Fax - P.O. Box 1548 DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435 e-mail: [email protected]
15 December 2006
Ms. Shannon Foor District Scenic Highways Coordinator Florida Department of Transportation Post Office Box 607 Chipley, Florida 32428
RE: SCENIC CR 30-A
Dear Ms. Foor:
I am writing to express my support for your efforts to dedicate 28 miles of County Road 30-A in Walton County as a State Scenic Highway.
As nature based and eco-tourism is beginning to be marketed by the Beaches of South Walton, I feel this is a wonderful opportunity for Walton County to use its natural surroundings to attract new visitors. I commend Walton County for pursuing the State Scenic Highway designation along this beautiful stretch of county road.
It is my hope that we will soon see County Road 30-A designated as a State Scenic Highway and bringing new visitors to enjoy the special beauty along the beaches of Walton County.
Sincerely,
Donald. D. Brown Representative, District #5
Committees: Chair- Jobs & Entrepreneurship Council, Policy & Budget Council, Rules & Calendar Council
August 31, 2007
Ms. Shannon Foor District Scenic Highways Coordinator Florida Department of Transportation P. O. Box 607 Chipley, FL 32428
Re: Scenic County Road 30-A Scenic Highway Designation
Dear Ms. Foor:
As a business owner along CR-30A, I support designation and the benefits it will bring to my business.
The natural beauty and fragile ecosystem that this road passes through require the effort of all of us to preserve, enjoy, respect and share with future generations. I feel this is a wonderful opportunity for Walton County to use its natural surroundings to attract new visitors.
Sincerely yours,
Harriet H. Crommelin Owner
Hhc Cc: Claire Bannerman
News Release
Wednesday, June 01, 2005 For more information, contact:
Claire Bannerman, 850-622-3059, or Board of County [email protected] Commissioners FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kenneth Pridgen, District 2, Chair Scenic 30-A Corridor Advocacy Group Announces Scott Brannon, District 1, Vice Community Meeting Chair
Larry Jones, District 3 A community meeting open to the public is planned for Thursday, June 30th at 5:30 p.m. at the Walton County Tourist Rosier “Ro” Cuchens, District 4 Development Council at the junction of US 98 and 331 to address our efforts to obtain a Florida Scenic Highway designation for County Road 30-A through a program sponsored Cindy Meadows, District 5 by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Why is a designation important? A Florida Scenic Highway Public Information designation will provide the common bond that will link all of CR Ken Little 30-A’s communities, public lands, resources, businesses, and 312 College Avenue, Unit B cultural interests to a shared corridor vision. It will also elevate DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435 the status of the corridor, increasing the potential for grant funding. Tel (850) 892-8530 Fax (850) 892-8539 The Scenic 30-A Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG) has [email protected] accomplished much toward its goal for designation, but much is yet to be done. More community involvement is needed to move this effort forward to gain the designation of a Florida Scenic Highway. Volunteers are needed for input concerning topics such as: a corridor vision, goals, and protection techniques, as well as specific concerns such as transportation, signage, parking, bicycle/pedestrian paths, waste removal, lighting and funding issues.
County Road 30-A is a unique corridor with versatile character -- a collection of old (Grayton Beach) and new (Rosemary Beach) and everything in between. Because of its rich resources, Scenic Website: 30-A is a valued place for residents and visitors alike. From one www.co.walton.fl.us end to the other, the corridor is a favorite for recreation, shopping, sightseeing, and festivals. It is and will continue to be both developed (structures) and undeveloped (state forests), diverse in property values and diverse in its inhabitants.
Help us to preserve the character of the Scenic 30-A corridor by
Page 1 of 2 providing your input at this community meeting where your efforts will go a long way toward accomplishing the goal of achieving a Florida Scenic Highway designation. So remember to mark your calendar for Thursday, June 30th at 5:30 pm at the Walton County Tourist Development Council at the intersection of US 98 and 331 and become part of a very worthy endeavor.
Contact: Claire Bannerman Corridor Advocacy Group Coordinator [email protected] 850-622-3059
This effort is fully funded by grants and is based on approval by County Commission Resolution # 02-60 adopted December 10, 2002.
Page 2 of 2
Corridor Advocacy Group Meeting April 20, 2006 5:00 – 6:00 Tourist Development Center
CAG members present: Cindy Meadows, Claire Bannerman, Vicki Kitahara, Cliff Knauer, Jim Bagby, JoAnn McAlister, Steve Rappaport, Bill Cunningham,
Visitors present: Dottie Nist, William and Cheryl Freeze, and Phil Frances
Claire Bannerman opened the Visioning meeting by describing the process of obtaining 30A Scenic Highway Designation and what the FDOT requires in order to designate a stretch of road as a Scenic Highway. She displayed the FDOT chart and the Big Bend Scenic Eligibility Application as examples of what the process entails and emphasized that there are “no shortcuts” to the designation process. Our efforts to designate 30A as a Scenic Highway are being supported by both the FDOT and the State Parks.
Claire described each segment of 30A and the north/south connector roads included in the Letter of Intent. This includes all of CR30 A from Hwy 98 west 18 miles east to Hwy 98 east and county roads 83, 283 and 395. Surveys for each segment were available at the meeting and are available through Commissioner Meadows office for anyone wishing to participate in evaluating these roads.
Audience members offered their visions of 30A in twenty years. They include the following:
Underground utilities Common signage Directional markers Consistent public garbage receptacles Consistent rental signs Consistent landscaping Consistent landscaping for gas stations Low level solar lighting Mile markers Parking management Designated golf cart areas Interconnecting golf cart paths between communities Public transportation Consistent speed limit Round a Bouts Information kiosks, incl: Water ftns, maps, dog water stations Consistent maintenance funding Adopt a highway
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. CA Public Meeting August 1 , 2006
CA members attending: Commissioner Cindy Meadows, Claire Bannerman, Vicki Kitahara, Cliff Knauer and JoAnn McCalister.
uests attending: Rory Cassedy, Linda Hendrickson, Ella Caro, Carole Siebert, Richard Fowlkes, eri Buckheit, Dave Sell, Anita Page, and Rob Stainback.
Claire Bannerman opened the meeting at 5:00 p.m. at the TDC describing the Corridor Advocacy roup process for State Scenic Highway designation of county road 30 A, saying there are “no shortcuts”. The application process must strictly adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Florida Department of Transportation which are detailed and time consuming. After Scenic Highway designation is received the Corridor Advocacy roup will become the Corridor Management Entity which will then manage the new Scenic Highway and apply for grants to maintain and enhance it.
One of the foremost concerns along 30 A and the feeder roads is the tremendous amount of garbage from rentals during peak tourist season and the visual clutter it creates. Reducing the amount of visible garbage is one of the CA S top priorities.
In order to address the waste disposal issue along 30 A and help find solutions, Claire introduced Rory Cassedy overnmental Affairs Manager with Waste Management who discussed waste solutions for Walton County and specifically 30 A. Rory explained that Waste Management is seeking a suitable location for a transfer station in South Walton County in order to streamline services and increase efficiency. Currently all garbage must be hauled to a transfer station north of DeFuniak Springs which is time consuming and expensive. The garbage is then loaded onto semi trucks that haul it to the Springhill Landfill near Marianna, Florida.
A 99 gallon garbage can, on display at the meeting, would be given to all residents in the future after the installation of automated trucks, several years away . According to Rory, these trucks help reduce injuries, thereby reducing workman s comp claims and ultimately saving the county money. These larger, heavy duty cans are extremely durable and will hold about the same amount of garbage as three smaller cans.
Local residents expressed their desire for curbside recycling but according to Rory this will not be cost effective until a transfer station can be built in South Walton. Recycling is currently done by prisoners who sort through household garbage at the old transfer station. With the cost of gas and the distance the trucks must travel, adding curbside recycling trucks would be cost prohibitive. There are however, community recycling containers located at various locations around Walton County, which the county is responsible for dumping. Complaints were voiced about these needing to be emptied more often.
Carol Seibert with arrett Realty requested Saturday collection for rentals along 30 A during peak season which Rory felt would be feasible for 200 . Commissioner Meadows and Carol Seibert suggested requiring trash compactors for new construction as a way to reduce the amount of garbage along the corridor. Commissioner Meadows would like to see the 99 gallon cans installed as soon as possible in South Walton.
Rory feels we are several years away from instituting these changes but he and Waste Management are committed to helping us find solutions to garbage issues in South Walton.
Claire and the CA thanked Rory for his presentation and meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Anyone with questions, comments, or suggestions concerning garbage or recycling, may contact Vicki Kitahara at 622 3059 at Commissioner Meadows office.
D
Appendix D
The Plan
231
30-A Scenic Corridor Funding Documentation
• Federal Level Funding Opportunities National Scenic Byways rant State Scenic Highways Coordinator, FDOT, 605 Suwannee St, MS 3 , Tallahassee, FL 32399 0 50, 850. 10.589 , www.byways.org " Transportation Enhancement Funds Transportation Enhancement Coordinator, FDOT, 605 Suwannee St, MS 3 , Tallahassee, FL 32399 0 50, 850. 10.589 " Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance, National Park Service, Atlanta Federal Center, 100 Alabama St SW, Building 192 , 5th Floor, Atlanta, A 30303, 0 .562.31 5, www.nps.gov/rtca " National Science Foundation Dr. erald Selzer, NSF, www.nsf.gov/name/rprograms/start.htm " Farmland Protection Program US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, 261 NW 3rd St, ainesville, FL 32606, 352.338.9509, www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov " Discretionary Bridge Program " National Corridor Panning and Development Program and Coordinated Border Infrastructure " Ferry Boat Discretionary Program " Innovative Transportation Systems ITS Deployment Incentives Program " Commercial Vehicle ITS Infrastructure Deployment Program " Interstate Maintenance Discretionary Program " Public Lands Highway Discretionary Program " Transportation and Community and System Preservation TSCP Pilot Program " Credit Assistance or Surface Transportation Projects " Value Pricing Pilot Program " National Fish and Wildlife Foundation " US Department of Housing and Urban Development. State Community Development Bloc rant Program. www.hud.gov/prodgesc/cdbg st.cfm " US Department of Agriculture. The Conservation Reserve Program. www.fsa.usda.gov " Federal Highway Administration. Recreational Trails Program – National Program. www.fhwa.dot.gov/environmentalrectrail.htm Public Lands Highways Discretionary Program. www.fhwa.dot.gov/discretionary " National Parks Service. www.nps.gov/rtca " Federal Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010 implementation rants. www.health.gov/healthypeople " NOAA Coastal Services Center rants. www.csc.noaa.gov/funding " US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Coastal Wetlands Conservation rant Program. ecos.fws.gov/coastal grants
• State Level Funding Opportunities " Florida Highway Beautification Council rant Program Staff Coordinator, FDOT, 605 Suwannee St, MS 3 , Tallahassee, FL 32399 0 50, 850. 10.5892 " Adopt A Highway Program Adopt A Highway Coordinator, FDOT, 605 Suwannee St, MS 61, Tallahassee, FL 32399 0 50, 850. 1 .0 82 or 800.BAN LITTer 226.5 88 Transportation Enhancement Program FDOT. www.dot.state.fl.us/emo/enhancement.htm
" National Urban and Community Forestry Matching rant Program Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry, 3125 Conner Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32399 1650, 850. 1 .8602, www.fl dof.com " Rural Development Program Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry, Rural Development FIA Coordinator, 3125 Conner Blvd., Room 256, Tallahassee, FL 32399 1650, 850. 1 .9955 " Historic Preservation rants rants and Education Section, Bureau of Historic Preservation, Florida Department of State, R. A. ray Bldg., 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 0250, 850.2 5.6333, http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/bhp/grants " Historic Museums rants in Aid rants Manager, Museum of Florida History, Florida Department of State, R. A. ray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399 0250, 850. 8 .1902, http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/bhp/grants
" Florida reenways Trails Acquistion program Office of reenways and Trails O T , Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 95, Tallahassee, FL 32399 3000. 850 2 5 2052. http://www.Florida reenwaysAndTrails.com
" Historic Special Categories rants rants and Education Section, Bureau of Historic Preservation, Florida Department of State, R. A. ray Bldg., 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 0250, 850.2 5.6333, http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/bhp/grants " Cultural rants Program Bureau of rants Services, Division of Cultural Affairs, Department of State, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399 0250, 850.0 8 .2980, www.dos.state.fl.us/dca " Coastal Management rants Program rants Manager, Florida Coastal Management Program, Florida Department of Community Affairs, Bureau of Community Development, 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd, Ste. 320, Tallahassee, FL 32399 2100, 850.922.5 38, www.dca.state.fl.us " Florida Main Street Program Florida Main Street Coordinator, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, 32399 0250, 850. 8 .2333, www.flheritage.com " Florida Small Cities Community Development Block rant – Neighborhood Revitalization Community Development, Block rant Program Administrator, Florida Department of Community Affairs, Bureau of Community Development, 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399 2100, 850. 8 .36 , www.dca.state.fl.us/fhcd/programs/cdbgp " Florida Small Cities Community Development Block rant Commercial Revitalization Community Development, Block rant Program Administrator, Florida Department of Community Affairs, Bureau of Community Development, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32399 2100, .850. 8 .36 , www.dca.state.fl.us/fhcd/programs/cdbgp/index.htm " Florida Communities Trust Land Acquisition rants, Loans and Matching rants Executive Director, Florida Communities Trust, Florida Department of Community Affairs, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Suite 310, Tallahassee, FL 32399 2100, 850.922.220 , www.dca.state.fl.us/ffct/ " Florida Recreation and Development Assistance rant Program " Land and Water Conservation Trust Fund " Pollution Recovery Program " Florida Arts rant and Special Category rants. www.flheritage.com " Florida Urban Community Forestry rant Program. www.fl dof.com/conservation/urban/urbangrantprogram.html " Rural Development Program. www.fl dof.com/help/rural/index.html " Coastal Protection Restoration Program Division of Recreation and Parks, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 35 0 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308, 850. 88.3539, www.dep.state.fl.us/parks " Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Implementation Storm Water Management Nonpoint Source Management and, Water uality Standards Section, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blairstone Road, MS 35 0, Tallahassee, FL 32399 2 00, 850. 88.3605, www.dep.state.fl.us/water/monitoring/index.htm " reenways and Rails to Trails Program Office of reenways and Trails, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 95, Tallahassee, FL 32399 3000, 850. 88.3 01, www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt " Aquatic Preserves, National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves, Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 235, Tallahassee, FL 32399 3000, 850. 88.3 56, www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/ " Technical Assistance For Community Based Organizations Program Supervisor, Enterprise Florida, Inc., 390 North Orange Avenue, Suite 1300, Orlando, FL 32801, 0 .316. 600, www.eflorida.com " Rural Job Tax Credit Program Executive Office of the overnor, Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, The Capitol, Suite 2001, Tallahassee, FL 32399 0001, 850. 8 .2568, www.myflorida.com/myflorida/government/contacts/index.html " Urban Job Tax Credit Program Executive Office of the overnor, Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, The Capitol, Suite 2001, Tallahassee, FL 32399 0001, 850. 8 .2568, www.myflorida.com/myflorida/government/contacts/index.html " Economic Analysis Program Supervisor, Enterprise Florida, Inc., 390 North Orange Avenue, Suite 1300, Orlando, FL 32801, 0 .316. 600, www.eflorida.com " Advertising Match rant " Ecotourism/Heritage Tourism rant Program Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, 661 E. Jefferson St, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301, 850. 88.560 x313, www.flausa.com " Land and Water Conservation Fund Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation Parks, Bureau of Design Recreation Services, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 585, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 3000, 850. 88. 896, www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/bdrs/factslwcf.htm " South Florida Ecosystem Program The Florida Inland Navigation District, 131 Marcinski Road, Jupiter, FL 33 9 98 561.62 .3386, www.aicw.org " Florida Scenic Highway Program " Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Florida Forever Program. www.dep.state.fl.us/lands/carl ff/ and Beach Erosion Control Program www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/programs/bcherosn.htm and 319 rant Program www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/319h.htm and Clean Marina Program www.dep.state.fl.us/law/grants/cmp/ " DEP, Bureau of invasive plants. Exotic removal. www.dep.state.fl.us/land/invaspec/2ndlevpgs/Uplandsplntman/htm " Recreational Trails Program Florida Office of reenways and Trails. Recreational Trails Program. www.Florida reenwaysAndTrails.com " Fl DEP, Bureau of Design and Recreational Services. www.dep.state.fl.us/park/bdrs " FL DOACS, Division of Forestry. www.fl dof.com/Recreation/OHV/ rant0 05.html " Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Florida Boating Improvement Program. myfwc.com/boating/grants/fbip.htm " The Florida Wildflower Advisory Council www.floridawildflowercouncil.org
• Foundations/Organizations " Laird Norton. Sustainable Forrestry Focus..www.lairdnorton.com " The American Legion. Child Welfare Organization. www.legion.org/cwf.htm " Rockefeller Family Fund. Environment www.rfffund.org " The und Foundation. Environmental program www.gundfdn.org " The Ittleson Foundation. Environmental awareness and activism www.ittlesonfoundation.org " Pew Charitable Trust. Advancing policy solutions environment , informing the public , Supporting civic life. www.pewtrust.com " Turner Foundation. By invitation only grants: Safeguard habitats rowing the Movement Creating Solutions for Sustainable Living Healthy Planet, Health Communiites. www.turnerfoundation.org/ " Barnes and Noble. Affiliates Program. www.barnesandnoble.com " Florida Department of State. Historical Resources rant Program. www.dos.state.fl.us " Eastman Kodak Company. Kodak America reenways Program. www.conservationfund.org " Bikes Belong Coalition. Bicycle Safety. www.bikesbelong.org " National Endowment for the Arts. Challenge America Fast Track rants. www.arts.gov " David and Lucille Packard Foundation. Conservation and Science. www.packfound.org " Charles Stewart Mott. Environment. www.mott.org " Nathan Cummings Foundation. Environmental Justice. www.ncf.org " Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental Education rants Program. www.epa.gov/enviroed " Patagonia. Environmental rants Program. www.patagonia.com " Surdna Foundation. Biodiversity, Transportation, and Urban/Suburban Land Use. Realigning Human and Natural Systems. Energy. www.surdna.org " Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Trails through their preventing childhood obesity objective. www.rjwf.org " Agency for Healthcare Research and uality. Small conference grant program. www.health.gov/healthypeople " ESRI Conservation Program. On going IS software donation program for non profit conservation and environmental organizations. www.conservationgis.org " The Dunn Foundation. ViewFinders Too. www.dunnfoundation.org " American Hiking Society. National Trails Endowment. www.americanhiking.org " Environmental Support Center. Leadership and Enhanced Assistance Program LEAP and other non profit leadership assistance. www.envsc.org " Access Fund. Dedicated to keeping climbing areas open and to conserving the climbing environment. www.accessfund.org " AMR Corp. AMR/American Airlines Foundation. www.amrcorp.com " Beldon Fund. New Advocates broaden and strengthen environmental movement Environmental Justice train young leaders www.beldon.org " Ben and Jerry s Foundation. Foundation rant focusing on systemic social change through grassroots organizing. Environmental related projects eligible. www.benjerry.com " Power Bar. Event Sponsorship/Sports Marketing, Product Donation. www.powebar.com/PBsports/Sponsorship " Nike. rant Program – tracks. www.nikebiz.com/community " Amazon.com. Amazon.com Associates Program. www.amazon.com " REI. Multiple programs nominated by employees. www.rei.com " Wal Mart Foundation. Wal Mart Environmental rants. www.walmartfoundation.org/wmstore/goodworks/scripts/index.jsp " National Tree Trust. Multiple Programs. www.nationaltreetrust.org " American Community ardening Association. Facilitation of community gardening networks. www.communitygarden.org " National ardening Association. outh gardening grants. www.kidsgardening.com " National Wildlife Federation. Campus Ecology Fellowship Program. www.nwf.org/campusecology " Banrock Station Wines. Wetlands Conservation Program. Environment – wetlands action oriented work. www.conservationfund.org article 2831 " ifts in Kind International. Product donations. www.giftsinkind.org " Elizabeth Ordway Dunn. Environment. www.eodunn.org " The Conservation Alliance. Outdoor recreation rass roots advocacy. www.conservationalliance.com " International Mountain Biking Association IMBA . www.imba.com " Earth Share. www.earthshare.org
Local Level Funding Opportunities overnment, Business and Civic roups Walton County Board of County Commissioners Commissioner District 5 90 Spires Lane, Unit A Santa Rosa Beach, FL. 32 59 Phone: 850 6223059 West Florida Regional Planning Council P.O. Box 9 59 Pensacola, Fl 32513 9 59 850 595 8910 American Business Women s Association Emerald Coast Chapter PO Box 31 Ft. Walton Beach, FL 325 850 86 69 www.arc.net/abwa Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative PO Box 512 DeFuniak Springs, FL 32 35 850 892 2111 Destin Area Chamber of Commerce PO Box 8 1021 Hwy 98 E. Suite A Destin, FL 325 0 0008 850 83 62 1 www.destinchamber.com Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County PO Box 09 Ft Walton Beach, Fl 325 9 850 651 3 Walton County Economic Development Council 850 892 0555 Emerald Coast Association of Realtors 10 Hollywood Blvd. S.E. Fort Walton Beach, FL 325 8 850 2 3 61 5 Emerald Coast Tourist Development Council www.destin fwb.com Florida s reat Northwest 11 90 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Suite 300 Destin, FL 32550 850 33 3 69 Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce 3 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy Ft. Walton Beach, FL 325 8 850 2 8191 Fabric Architecture, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 0 5 8 1651 Habitat for Humanity, Walton County PO Box 2 00 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32 59 850 26 0606 Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council 850 26 3511 South Walton Tourist Development Council 850 26 3511 www.beachesofsouthwalton.com South Walton Utility Co., Inc. 9 Old Hwy 98 Destin, FL 325 1 850 83 2988 Walton County Chamber of Commerce 63 South Centre Trail Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32 59 Phone: 850 26 0683 Waste Management, Inc. Embarq, Inc. Cox Communications Mediacom Cable Sandestin Arvida/St. Joe Company Howard roup Beach to Bay Connection, Inc. 850 26 222 www.beachtobay.org Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance 850 650 9330 www.basinalliance.org Coastal Heritage Preservation Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 2111 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32 59 Seaside Community Foundation 850 231 3209 www.seasidefoundation.org South Walton Community Council 850 31 3 9 www.southwaltoncc.org Camel Club, Inc. Patrick Reily PO Box 1 28 Santa Rosa Beach FL 3259 Friends of Old Seagrove Leadership Walton 26 0683 Sandestin Lions Club Scenic 30A Business Association South Walton Rotary Club Walton County Taxpayers Association PO Box 1085 Santa Rosa Beach Fl 3259 The Friends Of Eden State ardens PO Box Pt Washington FL 325 Choctawatchee Basin Alliance 100 College Blvd Niceville Fl 325 8 29 6 56 South Walton Community Council, Inc. PO Box 1661 Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 231 856 The Friends of Topsail State Park, CSO 1019 Coastal Cove Circle Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 reen Thumb arden Club 1258 Deerwood Dr Miramar Beach FL 32550 26 1186 Homeowners Associations Beachcrest Julie Hall / arrett Realty 3 23 E. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32 59 231 5898 Beachfront II Ross Pritchard / reater ulf Coast 231 600 Beachside Towers I II Sandestin Resort 26 8000 Beachside Villas Alice Stanley / arrett Realty 3 23 E. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32 59 231 1010 Beachwood Villas Alice Stanley / arrett Realty 3 23 E. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 231 1010 Blue Mountain Condos Village of Blue Mountain 231 600 Blue Mountain Villas Kim Teal / Dune Allen 5200 W. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 26 2121 Capistrano Todd Pauline Sutcliffe 231 6381 Cottages of Dune Allen Kim Teal / Dune Allen 5200 W. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32 59 26 2121 Crystal Sands Owners Association Marcia Lord / Resort uest 83 0 Dune Breeze Hoeowner Assoc. Judy Michael Foster 26 9932 Dune I Kim Teal / Dune Allen 5200 W. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach FL 3259 262121 Dune Villas Julia Arthur / arrett Realty 3 23 E. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32 59 53 022 ext. 22 Dunes of Seagrove Charlie Martin / Resort uest 53 0296 Edgewater Beach Condos 291 Scenic ulf Drive Destin FL 32 55 831550 Frangista Development 36 68 Emerald Coast Parkway Destin FL 325 1 rand Playla Julia Arthur / arrett Realty 3 23 E. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32 59 53 022 ext. 22 rayton Beach Neighborhood Assoc. ulf Dunes Home Owners Assoc. ulf Dunes Lane Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 26 032 ulf Mist Julia Arthur / arrett Realty 3 23 E. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 53 022 ext. 22 ulf Pines Association ulf Place Cabanas Resort uest 95 Laura Hamilton Blvd, Suite C 1 Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 26 2562 ulf Place Caribbean Resort uest 95 Laura Hamilton Blvd, Suite C 1 Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 26 2562 Highpointe Charlie Martin / Resort uest 1025 E Scenic 30A Panama City Beach FL 32 13 231 9 03 Hot Sands Limited Richard Judy Ousley 181 Emerald Ridge Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 Inn at Blue Mountain rand Shores 622 6222 Monterey Condo s Julia Arthur / arrett Realty 3 23 E. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 53 022 ext. 22 Palms North Kim Teal / Dune Allen 5200 W. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 26 2121 Palms of Dune Allen rand Shores 622 6222 Redfish Lake Owners Association Sago Sands Julia Arthur / arrett Realty 3 23 E. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 53 022 ext. 22 Sea Bluff Emerald Coast 658660 Sea Coast Ross Pritchard / reater ulf Coast 231 600 Seaview Chip Norris 33221 1102 Southwinds III Condo Assn 215 rand Blvd Destin FL 325 1 Southwinds at Sandestin 1096 Scenic ulf Dr Destin FL 32550 Summerhaven South Sandestin Resort 26 8000 Sunrise Beach Resort uest 262121 Tops l Beach ManorCarol Lumsden / Resort uest 26 92 2 Tops l Master Assn 9011 Hwy 98 W Destin FL 32550 Villas at Santa Rosa Resort uest 26 8 58 Vizcaya Kim Teal / Dune Allen 5200 W. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 26 2121 Whispering Sands Kim Teal / Dune Allen 5200 W. Scenic 30A Santa Rosa Beach FL 32 59 26 2121
Towns Seaside Watercolor Watersound Prominence Rosemary Beach Alys Beach
• Other Funding Opportunities " FDOT Work Program " Local Funding " MPO Funding " Private Donations " Not For Profit roups " Fundraising and Sponsorships " Special Legislative Funding Don aetz, Florida Senate Durell Peaden, Jr., Florida Senate Don Brown, Florida House of Representatives Allen Boyd, US House of Representatives Mel Martinez, US Senate Bill Nelson, US Senate " National Association of REALTORS – Smart rowth rants " National Association of Counties NACo B Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative rants B Five Star Restoration Challenge rant Program " Florida League of Cities Financing and Technical Assistance for Florida Municipalities 199 Florida League of Cities, Post Office Box 1 5 , Tallahassee, FL 32302 1 5 850.222.968
Multi Modal Transportation Federal Transit Administration www.fta.dot.gov/grants financing.html Metropolitan Statewide Planning 5303, 530 , 5305 Large Urban Cities 530 Clean Fuels rant Program 5308 Major Capital Investments New Starts Small Starts 5309 Rail and Fixed uideway Modernization 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities 5309, 5318 Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities 5310 Rural and Small Urban Areas 5311 Rural Transit Assistance Program 5311 b 3 Public Transportation on Indian Reservations 5311 c Transit Cooperative Research Program 5313 National Research Technology Program 531 Job Access and Reverse Commute Program 5316 New Freedom Program 531 Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands University Transportation Centers Program TEA 21 5505 Over the Road Bus Program/Over the Road Bus Accessibility TEA 21 3038 Flexible Funding for Highway and Transit National Fuel Cell Technology Development Program SAFETEA LU 30 5
Art in Public Places National Endowment for the Arts Florida Division of Cultural Affairs The Arts Council of Northwest Florida Cultural Arts Association of Walton County Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation
• Sources of Information for Additional Funding Opportunities The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance CFDA www.cfda.gov National Rural Funders Collaborative Forum of Regional Associations of rantmakers rants.gov, www.grants.gov The Federal Register The Foundation Center, www.foundationcenter.org First ov for Nonprofits, www.nonprofit.gov Catalog of State Financial Assistance, apps.fldfs.com/fsaa/catalog.aspx The Complete uide to Florida Foundations, www.floridafunding.com Florida State rant Programs, www.floridafunding.com
roups that have 501 c 3 not for profit status are eligible for many grants that are not necessarily in the scope of the Scenic Byway, itself. Also, usually non profits are not liable for property tax. There are often many grants hiding in the same department, and groups may be eligible to apply for more than one each year. Likewise, they may be able to apply for the same grant multiple times with different projects. Also, some are repeatable /or renewable.
1725 Hermitage Blvd - Tallahassee, Florida 32308