SANTA ROSA BEACH — Walton County’s Scenic Corridor Association has been tasked with deciding how many water noodles or Adirondack chairs are considered too many along the U.S. Highway 98 corridor.
Following a spirited debate over the pros and cons of allowing businesses to display merchandise outside of their buildings, the Walton County Planning Commission decided last week to make the committee “come up with something that works.”
“You can get your (marketing) point across without destroying the scenic corridor,” Commissioner Lee Perry said in motioning to toss out an unpopular recommendation to allow all businesses 100 feet of outside display.
View examples of alleged violations. >>
Merlin Allan, president of the Scenic Corridor Association, reported Monday it took him and business owner Tom Waldrop about three days to arrive at what they believe is a reasonable solution to what looked like a complex problem at the Planning Commission’s Thursday meeting.
“Our solution would allow some outdoor advertising display of merchandise, but not without limitation,” he said. “I think it will be acceptable to the public and acceptable to the business community.”
Allan declined to provide specifics but hinted the plan would allow limited display under some sort of cover, such as an awning.
Allan said he’ll present his solution to the Walton County Commission today as a proposed ordinance amendment. The amendment would have to go back before the Planning Commission, however, before it can be voted on.
At Thursday’s meeting, business owners along U.S. 98 clamored for some ability to show off their wares to commuters.
“Is it detrimental to this county for there to be some type of display? We think it’s beneficial to the county,” Waldrop told the Planning Commission. “We employ a lot of people. We represent a lot of dollars coming into the economic engine.”
Mary Nielson, a South Walton resident who favors strict limitations on outdoor merchandise displays, said some businesses had begun competing to see who could pile more stuff outside their building.
“If one guy puts out 10, the next guy puts out 20,” she said. “It’s getting to the point where you can hardly find the front door in some cases.”
Allan pointed out that U.S. 98 in South Walton had been designated a scenic corridor to prevent the proliferation of gaudy merchandise displays. He said the Scenic Corridor Association’s success could be measured in bed tax revenues.
“In South Walton County we’ve done a great job of separating ourselves from the two counties adjoining us,” Allan said. “All you have to do is look at the TDC receipts and you can see we’re outstripping them. We are attracting a very high clientele to this area and I don’t think they want to come down here and see a flea market along our highway.”
Planning Commission Chairman Tom Terrell was ready Thursday to ban all outdoor displays of anything, from ice machines to movie rental kiosks and newspaper stands.
Commission Attorney Mark Davis had to remind Terrell that newspaper sales fell in a somewhat protected status.
“I believe there is some case law that says you can’t limit newspapers,” Davis said.
“The First Amendment?” inquired Commission member Tom Patton.
“Yes, sir,” Davis answered.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.