Re: "Shell Point residents worry new resort could create debris during flood"
This was a very well written and researched article on Saturday, July 2007

My Comment follows.

GEORGE HEATON DOESN'T GET IT!

{sidebar id=1}After two years and two fish fries trying to convince the hundreds of local Shell Point residents that he wants to be a "compatible part of the community," developer George Heaton tells us that his handful of "buyers don't want to see tractors or lawn mowers or buggies under the house. They want to see them enclosed." He just doesn't get it!  He might have, though, if he'd kept his appointment with local residents to discuss their concerns about the hazards presented both to current and future residents by enclosing the ground floor of homes along the shoreline.

You know, I know, and he knows that his "high end" buyers won't have tractors or lawn mowers or buggies under their $3 million beach front mansions. They will hire lawn services to manicure their yards and park their Bentleys and Mercedes underneath, just like I park my Nissan and golf cart under mine. With three closed-in stories above the parking area, his buyers can surely find room to store other items. The solid "breakaway walls" creating a "real safety issue" to the hundreds of inland residents is only part of the problem with the planned 100% enclosed ground level Gulf front homes.

For years, visitors, tourists, residents of Shell Point, and ordinary folks from Crawfordville, Sopchoppy, Tallahassee, Thomasville, and all points north have enjoyed the beautiful view of Apalachee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico as they drive Beatty Taff Road along Shell Point Beach. Have you driven US 98 along Panama City Beach or A1A along Miami Beach in recent years? What beach? You haven't seen the actual beach in years and never will again. I, for one, would rather look beyond the Bentleys, Mercedes or golf carts and enjoy the remaining view of the Bay than see nothing but Mr. Heaton's solid walls at ground level. Every other recently constructed elevated home at Shell Point along Beatty Taff Road (and every other local road) has an open parking area underneath with minimal ground level enclosure, and none of them have the first visible "tractor, lawn mower or buggie" that I can see!  If I were in the Real Estate Business, which I am not, I would be encouraging Mr. Heaton to have minimal ground level enclosures on Gulf Front homes so I could continue to show prospective buyers the beautiful view.

If you wish to enjoy that grand view along Shell Point from the Coast Guard Station to the public beach, you better come soon, because George Heaton doesn't get it!  We don't mind the new homes. Progress is wonderful. We just want to be able to continue to see some of the Bay that lies beyond those new homes.

Alan Lamarche
Crawfordville

This letter originally published on July 22, 2007.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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