Beach to Bay Connection Inc. and South Walton Community Council filed a lawsuit against Walton County and Ashwood Development on January 10, 2018. Both are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, thus all donations are tax deductible.
Beach to Bay Connection Inc. is involved due to the failure of the PUD to provide minimum buffer requirements adjacent to Topsail Preserve’s east and southern borders. The density and intensity of the development will adversely impact Topsail Preserve, one of Florida’s most environmentally biodiverse and sensitive ecosystems.
Several ways to donate:
Go to www.letitbeforest.com and donate through PayPal. Donate button is on the top of the opening page. This is the information website for Beach to Bay Connection, we also have a Facebook page let it be forest.
Mail a donation to
Beach to Bay Connection
412 Hilltop Dr.
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
For more information or other ways to donate call 850-267-2227
Basis of the Lawsuit: Inconsistencies of the Cypress Lake PUD Development order with Walton Counties Comprehensive plan
PUDs are supposed to promote innovative planning and are allowed deviations to the land development code based on benefits to the public; they must be compatible with the surrounding area. The Cypress Lake PUD does not promote innovative planning, has no public benefits, and is not compatible with the densities and intensities of existing development and environmental conditions in the surrounding areas. It exceeds the maximum density and intensity standards allowed for a mixed-use project on Neighborhood Infill land.
Walton County approved 125 single-family and duplex townhomes 16 residential condominium units and 53,000 square feet of office restaurant and commercial use on 22.36 acres.
Mixed-use developments are supposed to calculate density and intensity based on the proportion of the land used for each purpose, residential or nonresidential uses. The developer has calculated residential density using 100% of the 22.36 acres as residential development. It also uses 100% of the acreage to calculate intensity, the commercial part. This is “double dipping” the land use, using it twice for calculating land use.
The real density is 12.98 units per acre. The proportion of residential land use for Cypress Lake is 9.63 acres of the total 22.36 acres, therefore the project density is 12.98 units per acre, not the 6.3 units calculated by the developer. Neighborhood infill land use category allows for 8 units per acre thus Cypress Lake exceeds residential density.
The Project is inconsistent with the much lower density developments to the east and south, and Topsail Preserve to the west and north. Estimating from county maps nearby neighborhoods are much less dense, Beachview Heights appears to be about 2 units per acre, Flamingo Village/Emerald Walk 3 units per acre, and Cypress Dunes 6 units per acre. Cypress lake at 12. 98 units per acre, and commercial, is incompatible.
Cypress Lake PUD Fails to Provide the Required CR 30A Scenic Corridor Setback
Not only does the developer fail to provide the required 20-foot scenic corridor set back they locate 80 parking spaces and turn lanes within this area.
Cypress Lake PUD Buffers incorrect and does not provide residential sidewalks.
Cypress Lake PUD has 10 foot buffers. The buffers should be 25 feet on the North and West where it abuts Topsail Preserve. They should be 20 feet on the east and south where it abuts low-density single family residences.
Neighborhood Infill parcels within the CR 30A Scenic Corridor are supposed to have sidewalks on both sides of residential streets, Cypress Lake does not have this.
Additionally, the county failed to advertise, process and review the Cypress Lake PUD correctly.
Thank you for your support
