Emerald Coast: Spring/Summer 2012

SPRING/SUMMER 2012

Pat Blackshear Inducted as Northwest Florida’s first AICP Fellow!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Page One Articles Continued

Eco-Tour

Boardwalk Ribbon-cutting

Upcoming Events

Message from the Chair

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Pat Blackshear, FAICP was inducted into the 2012 AICP College of Fellows on April 14th at the National Planning Conference in Los Angeles. The Emerald Coast Section is so proud of Pat. Her FAICP Application included numerous letters of support detailing examples of the her exemplary accomplishments that had a positive impact on the profession of planning.

It is hard to summarize all of Pat’s works in a few sentences, but here is an example of what her supporters had to say: “Pat Blackshear has brought about real change in state and intrastate planning for more than three decades. She has been a leader for statewide natural disaster planning and a strong advocate for intergovernmental coordination. She led the way for the protection of 100,000 acres of floodplain along the Choctawhatchee, Apalachicola, and Escambia rivers in Northwest Florida. In the 1980s she led and successfully coordinated discussions between cities and counties along the Apalachi- Pat Blackshear, FAICP (pictured left) with Dr. Bruce cola/Chattahoochee/Flint River and Bay System of Florida, Stiftel, FAICP was inducted into the 2012 AICP College of Fellows in April 14th in Los Angeles. Dr. Stiftel, Alabama, and Georgia to develop a coordinated drought FAICP is a professor and Chair of City and Regional at Georgia Institute of Technology. He was management strategy. Her legacy provides for clean drink- Planning professor of Urban and Regional Planning at FSU for 25 years, serving as the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies ing water and helps save lives and property. “ and Chair of DURP.

We asked Pat a few questions about herself and the future of planning in Florida. See Page 2 for what she has to say to Coast Lines.

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Section Members Get a “Behind the Scenes” Tour of Pensacola’s New Community Maritime Park A program for a pre-opening lecture and tour of the mixed use development, Vince Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park and Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola was attended by 19 members on February 24th. The mixed use stadium holds over 5.000 people, and will be used for a number of events year-round, including baseball, soccer, football, festivals, graduations and similar events. The multi-use stadium will host the Cincinnati Reds double-A affiliate the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

Floridaplanning.org/emeraldcoast

Members tour the New Community Maritime Park.

(Continued on Page 2)

Page 2 (Maritime Park continued from Page 1)

The Park will also have retail and office space, an outdoor amphitheater, as well as and public park. space. The stadium is situated facing the Pensacola Bay.

(Pat Blackshear, FAICP continued from Page 1)

CL: What would you consider to be your most satisfying achievement so far and why?

PB: The most satisfying achievement for me would be that I was the lead planner for the regional water supply planning effort during the eighties.

This effort resulted in abandoning Floridian Aquifer wells susceptible to salt water intrusion in the coastal region and relocating the primary public supply wells inland for the public utilities in the three county area. I was the NWFWMD staff person Pat Blakshear, FACIP (pictured 2nd Row) in Los Angeles with the 2012 AICP College of Fellows. assigned to spearhead the establishment of the Walton/Okaloosa/Santa Rosa Regional Utility Authority in 1986 and bring together the cities, counties, and public supply utility companies to work together on long term needs and sources for the region. The results can be seen today in that long term coordination and water supply planning effort led to the construction of the inland Rock Hill Wellfield located in Walton County serving South Walton and Destin. Along with inland wells in north Okaloosa County providing supplemental supply to all of southern Okaloosa County. The planning effort also included southern Santa Rosa County.

Thereby, it provided a sustainable potable water supply for the three county region for years to come. As I drive U.S. 331 and see the Rock Hill Wellfield in production, I know that my work made a difference for the region.

CL: Can you comment on any projects you are currently working on? If so, please do.

PB: Since retiring from the public sector, I incorporated and have operated Blackshear Planning, Inc. It has been a rewarding experience working with several small cities and the private sector. I have had several projects supporting neighborhood associations regarding implementation of Development Orders and protection of the public's interest as an expert planner/witness. I have prepared several comprehensive plan amendments and development order applications for the private sector varying from proposed subdivisions to an RV Resort. I have worked as an expert planner and witness providing support for several law firms on land use disputes and litigation.

CL: What do you consider the most difficult obstacle facing planners right now (nationwide, not necessarily specific to Florida)? Also comment, if you can, on what you see the most important issues being in the next 10-20 years.

PB: In my opinion the greatest challenge facing planners is the funding availability for all types of planning projects whether at the local, state or national level. In my 38 year career I have never seen the economy at the low point that we have seen for the last several years. The challenge for young planners will be to broaden their technical skills and be flexible when applying for jobs.

Tour of the Blue Wahoos Stadium.

I think the most important issue facing our profession in the next 10-20 years will be revamping our tool box to address the challenges of energy efficiency and alternatives related to climate changes and encouraging the construction of healthy communities with our planning programs.

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Seaside Eco-Tour Shows Off Area’s Sustainability The Seaside Eco-tour was held on Friday, June 1, 2012, at the Town of Seaside. Seven attendees met at Seaside Central Park where David Bailey, AICP, Town Manager, led the group on a walking tour of the town development.

Mr. Bailey discussed the concept for Seaside, including all of its sustainability elements, and also discussed current sustainability issues. From there, the group walked to Watercolor Boathouse where everyone braved the “paddleboard” mode of transportation for the eco-tour of Western Lake, a Coastal Dune Lake in Walton County.

Ms. Brooke Sarri, Marine Science Extension Agent for the University of Florida Sea Grant, talked to the group (while paddleboarding) about the ecological uniqueness and significance of the Coastal Dune Lakes.

By: Hank Woollard, AICP Destin’s 20 year dream of a Harbor Boardwalk is now a reality. If ever a project deserved celebration, this was it.

City officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 20 th on the future site of the Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza, which provides a public connection between the Boardwalk and Harbor Blvd. (aka: U.S. Hwy 98). A veritable who’s who of State and Local Officials, Community Leaders, business owners and the property owners who granted easements for the Boardwalk to be constructed were there to celebrate. The just completed 3500 linear feet of Boardwalk extending from the Marler Bridge to the Destin Yacht Club represents the first phase of the key project in Destin’s 2003 Harbor CRA Plan. The Harbor Boardwalk concept was envisioned by Community Leaders almost two decades ago as a means of revitalizing the Harbor District by creating a public space destination that transcends amenities offered by individual developments.

The boardwalk averages 25’ in width and includes decorative lighting with brackets for banners, typical street furniture, and unique design features such as leaning boards and bollards. Bronze, Harbor District seals are inlaid in the surface of the boardwalk at regular intervals. The Boardwalk has already become quite popular as evidenced by the numbers of people seen using it. Ultimately, subsequent phases of the Harbor Boardwalk will connect Clement Taylor Park, north of Harbor Blvd. and fronting Choctawhatchee Bay with the Harbor View Park at the far east end of the Harbor.

This first phase of the Harbor Boardwalk was constructed at a cost of approximately 2.5 million dollars. CRA Chair, Sandy Trammel says the project represents a significant achievement, not only in public infrastructure, but in the level of consensus building and cooperation among harbor front property owners required to make it possible. Two other Harbor CRA projects now in the works that will complement the Harbor Boardwalk are the aforementioned Heritage Park which will serve as a public gateway from Harbor Blvd. to the Boardwalk and a 150 space public parking lot on the north side of Harbor Blvd.

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UPCOMING EVENTS 6/27/12

Continuing Webinar Series - Law Review

Pensacola

7/27/12

Section Annual Meeting - Ethics Review

Destin

9/12/12-9/15/12

APA FL Chapter Conference

Naples

October

LEED Training

Pensacola

If you have any ideas for monthly programs or potential speakers, we want to hear them! Please contact Stella Jones, Section Secretary, at ejones@fwb.org or (850) 833-9797. Thanks!

Membership Renewal Time!

Message from the Chair

It’s time to renew your membership with the Emerald Coast Section FAPA! Membership dues are paid each year by July 1 and are valid for one year until June 30. There are so many benefits for a very low annual rate of only $10, so download the application from the website and mail, with payment to:

Congratulations to Pat Blackshear, FAIP. She was inducted into the 2012 AICP College of Fellows on April 14th at the National Planning Conference in Los Angeles. Pat is the first Fellow from Northwest Florida! Congratulations also to Wade Reynolds, Professional Development Committee Chair, and Alan Gray, section member, for passing the AICP exam.

Attn: Stella Jones, Planning 105 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SW Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Your 2011-2013 Section Officers Chair - Christy Johnson, AICP Chair Elect - Anna Papke Secretary - Stella Jones Treasurer - Paul Miller, AICP More - visit www.floridaplanning.org/emeraldcoast and click “About Us”

The Emerald Coast Section was awarded a $1,000 Section Grant from APA Florida in May. The purpose of the grant is to offer a U.S. Green Building Council approved LEED workshop to help attendees build the level of knowledge they will need to prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam and detail how a LEED certified planner can positively impact their communities through the development review process.

The program will be offered this fall. Please check your email for upcoming details.

Our annual business meeting will be held in Destin on Friday, July 27th in Destin at the City Hall Annex from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM. The program will be Ethics in Planning and will be presented by Pat Blackshear, FAIP. Nancy Linnan from Carlton Fields will be on the phone to present the legal aspects of ethics. A pizza lunch and drinks will be provided for $5.00 CM credits will be requested.

I will be representing the section the APA Florida 2012 Conference in Naples September 12-15th. I will attend a section chair meeting the morning of the 14th and will have a report for you.

If you have ideas for future programs, please let me know.

You can email me at Christy.johnson@wfrpc.org.