Beach title process raises preservation questions

Beach title process raises preservation questions

by Deborah Nelson
December 26, 2010

When Santa Rosa commissioners meet in January, they’ll consider proposed Congressional legislation that could have far-reaching consequences for beach growth rates and public access guarantees.

Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties are in the process of obtaining permanent title authority over Santa Rosa Island beach property. Currently, the Federal Government owns the land and counties issue and maintain leases.

Most leases span 99-year increments.

If proposed legislation passes, counties and eventually, landowners, would be able to buy and sell land through normal title transfer processes; rather than going through the current lease system.

On November 10, Santa Rosa and Escambia Commissioners signed a joint-resolution asking Congress to support legislation authorizing the changeover.

That resolution noted that current public areas should remain accessible, stating in part:

“The counties intend such legislation to require the counties to preserve those areas on Pensacola Beach dedicated to conservation, preservation, public, recreation or access uses and preserve conservation, preservation, public, recreation or access uses on Navarre Beach which are consistent with Santa Rosa County’s Navarre Beach Master Plan 2001 [sic] Update and preserve the parking areas at New Jersey Street, Tennessee Street, Louisiana Street, Indiana Street and Georgia Street, all on Navarre Beach;”

A draft Congressional bill, written by both counties’ attorneys, also indicates Santa Rosa will maintain public and conservation areas if title reverts to the County. The draft language states:

“Escambia County and Santa Rosa County shall property preserve those areas on Santa Rosa Island dedicated to conservation, preservation, public, recreation, access and public parking in accordance with resolutions heretofore adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of each respective county.”

Commissioners were slated to authorize a resolution supporting that language at the December 9 Commission meeting. But newly elected Commissioner Jim Melvin, who represents the Navarre area, asked the Board to hold off, voicing concerns about the preservation clause.

“My understanding is that the joint resolution as the foundation document to the requested draft legislation would tie us to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of 2010,” he remarked, “and I think that’s too inflexible.”

“I’d like some time to make an input to this since it is my district…I don’t want to see anything done that pegs us to a point in time forever.”

Melvin indicated he’d consider language that allows changes to preservation areas that coincide with County land use plan updates.

Santa Rosa County oversees over 325 unleased acres along the Gulf and Sound sides of Santa Rosa Island, according to the County Property Appraiser’s map.

That includes the former State Park area and a lagoon wetland between White Sands Blvd. and the Sound that hosts acres of mature dunes and magnolias, a natural mullet nursery and other wildlife.

One five-acre parcel inside the former State Park is already leased to a private owner.

The Board of Commissioners is slated to consider the issue at the January 10 Committee meeting. Officials estimate it would take two years to complete the title transfer process.