COMMITTEE TO REDEFINE PENSACOLA BEACH
JUNE 5, 2005
TO: COMMITTEE TO REDEFINE PENSACOLA BEACH
FROM: VICTORIA CLARKIN, PRESIDENT
PENSACOLA BEACH PRESERVATION AND HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
RE: REPRESENTING THE THOUGHTS OF 600 RESIDENTS AND VISITORS
DEAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
AS YOU MEET TO DECIDE A POSSIBLE REDEFINITION OF A BEACH NOT MANY WANT CHANGE TO… WE HOPE TO BE A POLITE VOICE OF PRESERVATION IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS. PRESERVING PENSACOLA BEACH MEANS MANY THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. TO MOST IT MEANS NO GROWTH! VERY FEW ESCAMBIA COUNTY RESIDENTS, BOTH BEACH AND MAINLAND, WANT THE RESIDENTIAL CAP REMOVED OR CHANGED IN ANY WAY. THIS WOULD ONLY SERVE THE INTERESTS OF A FEW.
OTHERS BELIEVE THAT SLOW GROWTH MAY BE A POSSIBILITY BUT CURRENT PROBLEMS MUST FIRST BE ADDRESSED, PROBLEMS LIKE AN OVERWHELMED SEWAGE SYSTEM THAT LEAKS INTO THE SOUND ON BUSY WEEKENDS OR WITH TOO MUCH RAINFALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BY ANY STANDARDS. THERE IS ALREADY A PERCEIVED PROBLEM OF NOT ENOUGH PUBLIC ACCESS. THERE ARE PARKING AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS THAT FOUR LANING VIA DELUNA WILL ONLY MAKE WORSE.
PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS MUST BE FUNDED ADEQUATELY BEFORE WE GROW. POLICE… LIFEGUARDS… AND OTHER SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES MUST BE INCREASED TO MEET THE CURRENT NEED AND WHAT
WE HAVE COULD NOT HANDLE GROWTH AT THIS POINT. MANY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF GROWTH ON OUR FRAGILE AND DELICATE ISLAND… OR SHOULD I SAY GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG. BEWARE OF THE APPETITE OF A HUNGRY FEW…. CAN WE AFFORD TO LET THEM EAT THE GOOSE FOR IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION? AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CRIPPLED ISLAND AND A RUINED AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM IS NOT A DESIRED OUTCOME OF GROWTH.
THOSE WHO ARE DRAWN TO OUR PARADISE ENJOY THE NATURAL SETTING WHERE HABITATS AND HUMANS STILL COEXIST. IT WOULD NOT TAKE MUCH TO THROW THIS OUT OF BALANCE. THE SEAHORSES FROM MY YOUTH ARE ALREADY A VICTIM OF OUR CARELESSNESS.
OTHERS ARE DRAWN TO A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, HISTORY AND CHARACTER. THE EASY GOING SPIRIT AND SIMPLE STYLE OF THE ISLAND IS A DRAW. OUR TOURIST CARE ABOUT THE ISLAND’S HISTORY, LANDMARKS AND NATURAL BEAUTY. THESE ARE THE LURE THAT BRING VISITORS BACK EACH YEAR AND THEY SHOULD BE PRESERVED AND CELEBRATED.
IF THEY ARE NOT, CONGESTION, DIRTY SEWAGE FILLED WATER, TRAFFIC AND WAITING IN LINE WILL NOT ENTICE ANYONE TO COME BACK. A BALANCE BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND PRSERVATION MUST BE
FOUND. NEW DEVELOPMENT MUST BE LIMITED AND WELL PLANNED, REDEVELOPMENT CLOSELY MONITORED, AND GROWTH LIMITS MAINTAINED. WE MUST DETER RAMPANT UNCHECKED BUILDING AS THE ISLAND SHOWS VISIBLE SIGNS OF STRESS BY OVERUSE.
THESE SIGNS ARE WITH US NOW… TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK, MALFUNCTIONING INFRASTRUCTURE, LOOTING, TRESSPASSING, DROWNINGS, OPEN AREAS UNREACHABLE… CAN WE SLOW DOWN HERE? TAKE A BREATH? THINK OF THE LONG RANGE FUTURE AND NOT THE IMMEDIATE GAIN OF A FEW?
SOME SAY THE COUNTY NEEDS THE INCOME. WHAT ABOUT IDEAS FOR YEAR ROUND USE? CONCENTRATE ON BRINGING TOURIST IN ON THE OFF SEASON. FILL EXISTING RESTURANTS/ SHOPS/ CONDOS/ RENTALS/HOTELS YEAR ROUND BEFORE WE EVER CONSIDER REMOVING OR CHANGING THE BUILDING CAP OR ALLOW VARIENCES FOR NEW HIGH RISES. OTHER AREAS ARE SUCESSFUL IN DRAWING AN OFF SEASON CROWD. PLEASE, LET’S CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO THE BUILD AND RUN MENTALITY.
IN CONCLUSION, THERE ARE MANY WINNING DIRECTIONS IN WHICH WE CAN TRAVEL TOGETHER IN DEFINING THE FUTURE FOR PENSACOLA BEACH. THESE DIRECTIONS WOULD LEAVE RESIDENTS, TOURISTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, ENJOYMENT AND PRESERVATION. PLEASE CONSIDER,
AS YOU REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THE PATH LESS TRAVELED AND THE PATH OF PRESERVATON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THE PBPHS WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE IDEAS AND WISHES OF OUR MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS TO YOU IN THIS FORM FOR EACH OF YOUR MEETINGS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HAVING NUMBERS FILL THE ROOM AND TRY TO SPEAK. PLEASE LOOK FOR SOMETHING EACH TIME YOU MEET. THERE ARE MANY THAT WANT TO BE HEARD.
HAVE A GREAT DAY, AND GOOK LUCK IN YOUR WORK.
TO: COMMITTEE TO REDEFINE PENSACOLA BEACH
FROM: VICTORIA CLARKIN, PRESIDENT
PENSACOLA BEACH PRESERVATION AND HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
RE: REPRESENTING THE THOUGHTS OF 600 RESIDENTS AND VISITORS
DEAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
AS YOU MEET TO DECIDE A POSSIBLE REDEFINITION OF A BEACH NOT MANY WANT CHANGE TO… WE HOPE TO BE A POLITE VOICE OF PRESERVATION IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS. PRESERVING PENSACOLA BEACH MEANS MANY THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. TO MOST IT MEANS NO GROWTH! VERY FEW ESCAMBIA COUNTY RESIDENTS, BOTH BEACH AND MAINLAND, WANT THE RESIDENTIAL CAP REMOVED OR CHANGED IN ANY WAY. THIS WOULD ONLY SERVE THE INTERESTS OF A FEW.
OTHERS BELIEVE THAT SLOW GROWTH MAY BE A POSSIBILITY BUT CURRENT PROBLEMS MUST FIRST BE ADDRESSED, PROBLEMS LIKE AN OVERWHELMED SEWAGE SYSTEM THAT LEAKS INTO THE SOUND ON BUSY WEEKENDS OR WITH TOO MUCH RAINFALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BY ANY STANDARDS. THERE IS ALREADY A PERCEIVED PROBLEM OF NOT ENOUGH PUBLIC ACCESS. THERE ARE PARKING AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS THAT FOUR LANING VIA DELUNA WILL ONLY MAKE WORSE.
PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS MUST BE FUNDED ADEQUATELY BEFORE WE GROW. POLICE… LIFEGUARDS… AND OTHER SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES MUST BE INCREASED TO MEET THE CURRENT NEED AND WHAT
WE HAVE COULD NOT HANDLE GROWTH AT THIS POINT. MANY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF GROWTH ON OUR FRAGILE AND DELICATE ISLAND… OR SHOULD I SAY GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG. BEWARE OF THE APPETITE OF A HUNGRY FEW…. CAN WE AFFORD TO LET THEM EAT THE GOOSE FOR IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION? AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CRIPPLED ISLAND AND A RUINED AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM IS NOT A DESIRED OUTCOME OF GROWTH.
THOSE WHO ARE DRAWN TO OUR PARADISE ENJOY THE NATURAL SETTING WHERE HABITATS AND HUMANS STILL COEXIST. IT WOULD NOT TAKE MUCH TO THROW THIS OUT OF BALANCE. THE SEAHORSES FROM MY YOUTH ARE ALREADY A VICTIM OF OUR CARELESSNESS.
OTHERS ARE DRAWN TO A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, HISTORY AND CHARACTER. THE EASY GOING SPIRIT AND SIMPLE STYLE OF THE ISLAND IS A DRAW. OUR TOURIST CARE ABOUT THE ISLAND’S HISTORY, LANDMARKS AND NATURAL BEAUTY. THESE ARE THE LURE THAT BRING VISITORS BACK EACH YEAR AND THEY SHOULD BE PRESERVED AND CELEBRATED.
IF THEY ARE NOT, CONGESTION, DIRTY SEWAGE FILLED WATER, TRAFFIC AND WAITING IN LINE WILL NOT ENTICE ANYONE TO COME BACK. A BALANCE BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND PRSERVATION MUST BE
FOUND. NEW DEVELOPMENT MUST BE LIMITED AND WELL PLANNED, REDEVELOPMENT CLOSELY MONITORED, AND GROWTH LIMITS MAINTAINED. WE MUST DETER RAMPANT UNCHECKED BUILDING AS THE ISLAND SHOWS VISIBLE SIGNS OF STRESS BY OVERUSE.
THESE SIGNS ARE WITH US NOW… TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK, MALFUNCTIONING INFRASTRUCTURE, LOOTING, TRESSPASSING, DROWNINGS, OPEN AREAS UNREACHABLE… CAN WE SLOW DOWN HERE? TAKE A BREATH? THINK OF THE LONG RANGE FUTURE AND NOT THE IMMEDIATE GAIN OF A FEW?
SOME SAY THE COUNTY NEEDS THE INCOME. WHAT ABOUT IDEAS FOR YEAR ROUND USE? CONCENTRATE ON BRINGING TOURIST IN ON THE OFF SEASON. FILL EXISTING RESTURANTS/ SHOPS/ CONDOS/ RENTALS/HOTELS YEAR ROUND BEFORE WE EVER CONSIDER REMOVING OR CHANGING THE BUILDING CAP OR ALLOW VARIENCES FOR NEW HIGH RISES. OTHER AREAS ARE SUCESSFUL IN DRAWING AN OFF SEASON CROWD. PLEASE, LET’S CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO THE BUILD AND RUN MENTALITY.
IN CONCLUSION, THERE ARE MANY WINNING DIRECTIONS IN WHICH WE CAN TRAVEL TOGETHER IN DEFINING THE FUTURE FOR PENSACOLA BEACH. THESE DIRECTIONS WOULD LEAVE RESIDENTS, TOURISTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, ENJOYMENT AND PRESERVATION. PLEASE CONSIDER,
AS YOU REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THE PATH LESS TRAVELED AND THE PATH OF PRESERVATON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THE PBPHS WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE IDEAS AND WISHES OF OUR MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS TO YOU IN THIS FORM FOR EACH OF YOUR MEETINGS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HAVING NUMBERS FILL THE ROOM AND TRY TO SPEAK. PLEASE LOOK FOR SOMETHING EACH TIME YOU MEET. THERE ARE MANY THAT WANT TO BE HEARD.
HAVE A GREAT DAY, AND GOOK LUCK IN YOUR WORK.
posted by Pensacola Beach No High Rises !! at 9:12 PM
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