by Sammi Sontag
INWEEKLY
In the Escambia County Commission’s public forum on Thursday afternoon, an unnamed activist group tagged on their right arms by aqua armbands spoke out against The Escambia County Land Conveyance Act.
The bill, authored by Congressman Matt Gaetz, allows the county to express its conveyance in any part of the former Santa Rosa Island National Monument land that was given to Escambia by the federal government in 1947 to any person or entity, without restriction. It passed, the House Committee on Natural Resources on June 27.
“The issue at hand is only to transfer properties that are currently under lease,†County Commissioner Grover Robinson said. “The people can still buy and sell leases on Pensacola Beach. And they can also still develop land.â€
He added, “Every bit of land, preserved, set aside for recreation, side walks, the casino beach parking lot all have been excluded from being able to sell going forward.â€
Robinson clarified that this change would be optional for the counties to implement and people would still have access to public beaches if private investors did come in years down the road.
In 1947 Pensacola Beach was originally deeded from the Federal Government to Escambia County. The barrier island has seen great change since then, citizens watched small cottages grow into communities. As a result of Santa Rosa County’s lease, the people who live along the four-mile stretch of beach are taxed on the improvements to the leases and on the land itself.
The protesters listened to Commissioner Robinson but continued to express their grievances and worries for the future of the beach.
“Pensacola Beach was given to the citizens of Escambia by legislation passed in 1947,†local Cheryl Poister said. “That is my entire lifetime. It is my understanding that many of the homeowners on the beach want to own, not lease their property.â€
She continued, “If legislation is changed and these people do get control over their property there will be changes to the beach for the worst. They will sell their property to the highest bidder of developers and the next thing you know we’ll have a sister city of Destin on Pensacola Beach.â€
Many protesters said Pensacola Beach would turn into a vacation for the rich, filled with condos, private beaches and tourist. They reiterated their fear of losing the beach’s beauty to growth and development. And Poister told the board that if people became landowners, they would selfishly sell their property at top dollar to private investors.
Good point. Is there a public forum coming? Can PNJ have one with all sides involved?
Please stop this … We don’t want our beach to become Panama City or even Destin now.
I’d love to know how easily zoning can be changed. Grover Robinson said zoned public land will be protected: a) which specific properties are zoned public and will still belong to Escambia County if this bill is passed?, b) how can we be assured that these “zoned” areas won’t be rezoned???, c) are there any other cases similar to this that have already happened in FL or a similar state? What were the effects of this type of legislation?
Some have said that people are spreading”fake news” about this issue. While I doubt anyone is, there is the fact that we DON’T KNOW anything about this bill that will effect all if Escambia County residents by GIVING AWAY Pensacola Beach property that, as of now, belongs to the people of Escambia County.
We NEED a public forum and education about this issue so that there is no need for misinformed and uninformed news!!!!!!
When the beach was originally settled, property was conveyed to individual homeowners via leaseholds. Back in the day, they were originally advertised as “tax free.” For a number of years, beginning in the late 80s/early 90s Escambia County decided they wanted to collect property tax in addition to lease fees and Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) payments for police, fire, and mosquito control. Originally taxes were on improvements only, now they are on land and improvements. The lease fees have been reduced, but the MSBUs are still paid. Leaseholders who have some of the original leases do in fact get a sweet deal on the lease. These were for the original late 50s/early 60s cinder block cottages not the McMansions found on the Gulf side today. I can understand why there would be disgruntlement on the part of Mainlanders if million dollar homes are benefiting from these low leases. More modest homes in the neighborhoods on the interior of the island are selling in the $250-300K range. Still a great price, but not a million bucks. These homes are paying tax bills starting at $2,500 – no small sum for a cottage of less than 900sf. Because of that, many permanent residents have said “give me title to my land if you’re going to excise these taxes.” It’s really that simple. Most permanent residents DO NOT want to see Pensacola Beach become just like Destin or just like Gulf Shores, but that is not what private ownership versus leasehold is all about. Keep in mind, Portofino is a leasehold, as is every other development on the beach.
These protesters refuse to believe that this legislation is not intended to change public access in any way. This legislation only deeds properties that are already leased for 99 years.
I grew up in Pensacola, and enjoyed Pensacola Beach throughout my young life. I loved the charm and beauty of the beach. I lived off of Ariola and worked in Pensacola. I would jog from the pier area down to my house and later jog back, stopping to swim in between.
I moved to Destin got a job in 1985 and then relocated to California a year later. Destin was beautiful, but it wasn’t special like Pensacola. It definitely had its own charm, but it was very much an undeveloped fishing community with a few condos way down the beach.
I came back home in the late 90’s for a visit and I was appalled by what I found in Destin. I could hardly find a spot to enjoy the beach. I could not get over the idea that someone had allowed this kind of development for tourism to happen and displaced the locals and surrounding visitors so badly. I felt the beautiful potential had been ruined. I was so grateful Pensacola Beach was still special.
I later moved back here in 2010, and continue to enjoy Pensacola Beach. Whenever someone visits, they have usually either been to Destin or heard of it. They think of it as a total resort town, almost like the Vegas strip without the gambling. They are so pleasantly surprised to find our beach is one of quaint local charm, it’s one that is so special people generally have reverence for it and don’t defile it like other beaches. It is the perfect beach for tourism and for the locals of this unique city. It’s our great treasure and for many of us, it’s why we love living here. Even though Gulf Breeze is in between, it really is part of Pensacola.
I implore you to do what’s write, Matt Gaetz. Leave Pensacola Beach where it belongs, in the care of the citizens of Pensacola and the beach. Let us keep this special balance of thriving tourism and local integration. If this is turned into another beach like Destin or Panama City Beach, it will ruin Pensacola for so many. Please don’t ever let that happen.
With kind regards,
D. Hardwick
I have lived her since 1993. I have seen the beach transform and I feel like it has already become to commercialized. I sell Real Estate here and most of the people that live out of state are wanting to buy in Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key instead of Destin due to our beaches not being just rows and rows of condos. I personally do not want or think that it is in best interest of the citizens that live here and call it home. It will destroy what we cherish and look forward to when we have down time to go relax on the beach. Please do not let this happen to us. Keep it like it always has been.
Please do not allow the decimation of Pensacola Beaches, one of the world’s most beautiful. This land was deeded for all citizens of the area to enjoy, not to become another corporate owned properties that only the privileged can enjoy. Take a look at Panama City Beach, and you’ll see perfectly clear what this proposed legislation will do! Please save Pensacola Beach for all, not the few!
This beach was deeded to ALL the citizens of Escambia County by an act of Congress in 1947. Congressman Matt Gaetz has introduced a bill that could change all that if it passes, allowing greedy developers to create the next concrete nightmare like Panama City or Destin right on our beautiful Pensacola Beach. PLEASE, everyone,call Matt Gaetz DC office at 202-225-4136 NOW!!! We, the people, united together, can stop this. Leave a message or if you talk to someone mention this House Bill # H.R.2370 – Escambia County Land Conveyance Act and then why you don’t want this to happen.This beach was deeded to ALL the citizens of Escambia County by an act of Congress in 1947- the beach belongs to us and is NOT for sale.
Get educated about the facts. So few people know that this is being done behind closed doors now!!! Please share this with everyone you know!! #savePensacolaBeach. #dontSellMyBeach #stopGaetz
In this article, it states that the property was deeded to Escambia County. Let me be clear, it was deeded to ALL the citizens of Escambia County and by an act of Congress it belongs to ALL us and is NOT FOR SALE !!!!
The Escambia County Commission might say now that they will keep the current beach access open and available to the public, but in the future, once they have control of the land, they will sell it to the highest bidder for mega-development.
This beach was deeded to ALL the citizens of Escambia County by an act of Congress in 1947. Congressman Matt Gaetz has introduced a bill that could change all that if it passes, allowing greedy developers to create the next concrete nightmare like Panama City or Destin right on our beautiful Pensacola Beach. PLEASE, everyone,call Matt Gaetz DC office at 202-225-4136 NOW!!! We, the people, united together, can stop this. Leave a message or if you talk to someone mention this House Bill # H.R.2370 – Escambia County Land Conveyance Act and then why you don’t want this to happen.This beach was deeded to ALL the citizens of Escambia County by an act of Congress in 1947- the beach belongs to us and is NOT for sale.
Get educated about the facts. So few people know that this is being done behind closed doors now!!! Please share this with everyone you know!!
Damn people are dumb…the island has a certificate of occupancy…its maxed out!