After years of fighting, it’s all over but the shouting. The fight has been between an RV park developer and a local residents’ association. After court battles, and battles of public opinion, the victory is handed to the developer. An RV park is coming to Navarre Beach, Florida.
Suit filed
Christopher Ferrara, of Louisiana, wants to build a high-end RV park on Navarre Beach, described by many as a pristine area. His 23-acre plan has met with opposition from the Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association and the Santa Rosa County Commission. Along the way, Ferrara filed suit in federal court against the commission.
When the original court gave him a thumbs-down, Ferrara appealed. That court ordered that the two sides attempt mediation, pending a further decision. Ferrara offered to withdraw his appeal if the county agreed to amend its lease to allow him to develop the RV park.
Commission vote riles opponents
Late last week, in a hall filled with angry locals, the county commissioners voted 3-2 to allow Ferrara to proceed with his RV park. Two of the aye votes came from commissioners who feared the county would simply lose if the appeal were to move ahead. Opponents maintained that RV traffic to and from the park would create major disruptions to both humans and “fragile wildlife.” Like many opposed to RV park development, arguments included the belief that increased crime and decreased property values would result if the park were permitted.
Opponents were quick to react to the commission’s vote that means an RV park is coming to Navarre Beach. Here’s a quote from the Pensacola News Journal: “We’re very disappointed that the pro-development commissioners were more interested in the concerns of the developer and not willing to listen to the voice of the people,” said Jim Sutton, the president of the Leaseholders and Residents Association. “Apparently they had already made up their minds.”
RV park instead of 660 condos
Ferrara’s original plans included three 16-story residential housing units on the sound side of the barrier island. Each building would have featured 220 condominium/hotel units, for a total of 660. Port Navarre would have been the first high-rise complex built on the north side of Gulf Boulevard, the island’s main thoroughfare. Perhaps the “settled on” plan for an RV park could be more palatable.
Still, opponents aren’t through talking. With an RV park coming to Navarre Beach, they say they’ll consider legal action to stop permits from being issued.
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The local residents should be thankful that the developer has revised their plans from high-rise condos, to an RV park. A high-rise development with 660 units would increase traffic congestion significantly more, and multiple 16 story complexes would have a far greater (negative) visual impact to the area than any RV park.
We have rented beach-front vacation homes on Navarre Beach twice in the past few years. It is a beautiful area that is already over developed. Traffic on the island can be bumper-to-bumper, from one end to the other.
Like the song says; “call someplace paradise, and kiss it goodbye”.
Apparently those “home” owners are new to the island. Before those monster buildings were built, disrupting the “fragile wildlife” and the peacefulness of the island, there were just a few smaller places and…a campground. I know this because every year for spring break my family would pack up and drive down from New York State. It was a quiet simple campground on the north side. We had beach sites to launch our sunfish and we could walk across to the gulf to body surf and walk the beach. These are some of my favorites vacation memories. When the campground was closed and all those huge condos were built were those lease holder/owners worried about the “fragile wildlife”?
Well stated.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! A campground seems a win for the locals relative to three high-rises/660 condominium units.
When we moved here in ’69 there were so many naked, natural beaches along this coast. RV park rather than High Rises, probably better, but you better let me walk thru your campsite to get to MY beach. Hmmm.
You would not have had to walk AROUND those High Rises???
Not quite sure of your question, but the High Rises, closed off access to the beach, claiming Private Property from the roadway to the beach. And some claimed the beach to be theirs.
They’re fussing about an RV Park with that high rise monstrosity in the background????
But then I read the RV developer was wanting to sneak in some multi-stories, himself……
Sheesh