Walton Many have asked WaltonPolitics to blog on the 395/30A intersection as it is once again in the spotlight with many asking the BCC to reconsider the design and move the multitude path to the south side of 30A. in 2007, the development plans for the "V" condos and commercial were approved by the BCC with the condition that the developer pay approximately $1,000,000 in proportionate fair share funds to be spent on a round- a/bout that was recommended in the 2006 Genesis 30A Transportation Study. (Some of these dates and numbers are approximate.) The money was collected and put into the 30A Prop Share Account. The real estate bubble occurred soon after in 2008. The plans for the "v" development were put on hold. The intersection improvements were also put on hold by the BCC that served from 2008-2012. We do not have information about anything that happened with regard to the improvements during this time.period except that nothing was done at the intersection. The recession and oil spill occurred during this period. In 2012, the market began to recover and tourism and the resulting traffic resumed and the intersection again came to the forefront. The round -a /bout plans were reviewed by the county, the "v" developer, and the property owners of the homes on the south side of 30A . The round-a:bout plans required additional property from the owners of the northeast corner property who were also the owners of the homes to the south, These owners drew up an agreement with the county that 1) sold the county the needed land on the northeast corner Lot for approx. $100,000, 2) required the path to stay on the north side forever, 3) required the prop share fees for Alys Beach to be applied to the improvements and, 4) allowed a wall to be built on the south side of 30A (which was against the Comp Plan) and would require a variance (which they needed the county to assure them they would be approved,), These conditions have been paraphrased and may vary slightly but the gist of their requests are given. The county would not agree to all the conditions and the agreement was never executed by the two parties. As a temporary measure, the Sheriff's office was paid to place a sheriff deputy at the intersection during the 2013, 14 and 15 summer seasons. In 2015, the county public works Dept. Began to look at several different designs that did not need the land the round a bout needed. As the plans were being considered by the county, the owners of the northwest corner Lot and south 30A homes became involved in the process. They agreed to trade land (not asking the county to pay the $100,000 plus for area on the northeastern Lot), dropped their request for Alys Beach Prop Share application, dropped the request for a wall, and agreed to limit the path on the north side to 10 years. They presented an exhibit that showed the number of driveways and properties on the south side and highlighted several that had only a 10' separation from the road to their garages. These homes were built in the 1950/60's without the now required 20' front setbacks. The intersection design being reviwed included a traffic light, lighted hand signals for pedestrians and bikers, and a crossing at the intersection. The additional property to the northeast eliminated the need and cost (100,000 plus) to remove the large solid encased power pole located very close to that intersection. The BCC agreed to the intersection design with the property owners. Several people spoke against it as we recall. The agreement was signed and the sliver of property on the south side was abandoned and the property on the north was granted to the county. Work on 30A cannot occur during the summer tourism Months so design, and permitting, and utility locations and relocations must be lined up so that construction work can start after Labor Day and pushed to complete no later than Spring Break. . If any of these processes are delayed, construction is delayed another whole season. it is our understanding the construction is set to begin this September, 2017. We believe if the design is changed from what was approved in 2015/16 , the construction of the intersection improvements would be pushed to after the 2018 summer season. With the new 395 driveway coming out of the "v" condos and village market, traffic will be backed up waiting to turn left into the market parking lot; traffic will be backed up waiting to turn right into the Lot, the parking on the east side of 395 will. Be eliminated,,and people will be parking and backing out on 395 further down near Grove Ave, Bikes on 395 path will cross the new driveway creating conflicts. Cars now cannot easily exit West Or East Grove because of the back.ups. We believe the back ups will. Be worse with the popular restaurant on the corner. With the development (two restaurants, offices, and 8 condos, ) on the northwest corner of 395/30A without adequate parking and access management, that section of 395/30A will be more of a nightmare during summer season and it won't matter which side of the road the path is located, Some of the problems in these areas could be resolved if Walton Cty would reclaim the rights of way so adequate bike paths could be built, adopt access management policies and require shared frontage roads, Comments are closed.
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