Monday, March 06, 2006
Watercolor takes the high road...
Here is what Watercolor sent us to update their Dune Restoration effort.
Notice they have decided that they are trying to get some more sand on their beach and dunes before Turtle Season as this is the only thing they can do at this time.
Check the BOLD section . They ask for more money ONLY when they can actually do something. They will not try and collect the original PRO TEC TUBE special assessment UNTIL they have the proper permits and resources. They do not threaten their homeowners with Liens and High rates of interest , they do not place liens on owners property.
Sometimes the Big Company really does get it right.
Monday, March 6
Dear WaterColor Property Owners,
Last September we presented a dune restoration plan at the annual meeting that we felt offered a long-term solution to the beach erosion issue that we have battled with for the last two hurricane seasons. At that time we introduced the ProTecTube system, a system designed to withstand high storm related wave action and maintain the natural esthetic look and feel of the existing dunes. Subsequently, the Property Owners approved a special assessment for 2005 hurricane clean up, replacement of stairs to the beach and for installation of the ProTecTube system.
The St. Joe Company, in unison with the WaterColor Board of Directors, has not changed our support of this system. We still strongly believe that the ProTecTube offers great promise against the storms that may hit our area and yet, does not endanger the habitat of the beach and dune area that is vital to WaterColor.
In our efforts to move forward with this installation, we are required to obtain the proper permitting by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). St. Joe submitted the application for this permit in October of 2005. Despite our best efforts and after several meetings and discussions it is now clear that we will not receive the necessary agency approvals prior to the turtle season which begins May 1st. The FDEP has over 150 applications for beach protection in front of them and have moved very slowly in their reviews. They are being very deliberate in their considerations given the precedent implications associated with what they may approve for dune protection. Our development team continues to vigorously pursue this permitting process to ensure that the installation of this product will be completed as early as possible.
While there is no way to predict the impacts of the upcoming storm season on our dunes this summer, we believe doing nothing exposes us to the risk of more erosion of the dune system. The only alternative option we see possible that provides some sort of protection is to bring in more sand as an interim buffer until the ProTecTube system can be installed. The sand would be placed via a conveyor system over the dunes and would be shaped with construction equipment.
In order to complete this work we need to purchase and place the sand prior to the end of April. We did not feel it appropriate to divert the money from the approved ProTecTube assessment to pay for the interim sand buffer protection and believe the best approach is to seek a separate assessment to fund this solution for the 2006 hurricane season. In the event that some or all of the sand remains at the end of the hurricane season it may reduce the monies needed to install the ProTecTube system.
Therefore, we are asking that each of you join with us in approving an additional assessment to each owner of $1,064 to obtain and place sand against the dunes as a protective measure until the ProTecTube system can be installed in the fall after turtle season. This amount has been computed assuming that the company will contribute funds associated with the units it controls (representing 23% of the assessment amount). The board will not seek the collection for the original $2,484.61 assessment until all permits are received from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and United States Fish and Wildlife Service and resources have been reviewed.
Be assured that every effort has been expended to bring this project to completion and we will continue to work diligently to see this project through to the end. We have begun the permitting process with the agencies for the sand conveyor to ensure installation before May 1st. Therefore, it is imperative that this vote be completed and returned no later than April 7th, 2006.
If you have any questions or would like to obtain additional information please contact Jack Wolfe, President of the WaterColor Homeowner’s Association at jack.wolfe@joe.com, Sandy Matteson-Pierson, Regional Property Manager at sandy.matteson@joe.com or any of the other Board of Director members.
We are grateful for your support and promise to update you as we move forward on this endeavor. Thank you for your patience and for your willingness to work with us to protect our beaches and our community.
Sincerely,
WaterColor Board of Directors
Bob Bolen
John Carr
Jack Wolfe
Mary Rosenheim
Kent Findley
Notice they have decided that they are trying to get some more sand on their beach and dunes before Turtle Season as this is the only thing they can do at this time.
Check the BOLD section . They ask for more money ONLY when they can actually do something. They will not try and collect the original PRO TEC TUBE special assessment UNTIL they have the proper permits and resources. They do not threaten their homeowners with Liens and High rates of interest , they do not place liens on owners property.
Sometimes the Big Company really does get it right.
Monday, March 6
Dear WaterColor Property Owners,
Last September we presented a dune restoration plan at the annual meeting that we felt offered a long-term solution to the beach erosion issue that we have battled with for the last two hurricane seasons. At that time we introduced the ProTecTube system, a system designed to withstand high storm related wave action and maintain the natural esthetic look and feel of the existing dunes. Subsequently, the Property Owners approved a special assessment for 2005 hurricane clean up, replacement of stairs to the beach and for installation of the ProTecTube system.
The St. Joe Company, in unison with the WaterColor Board of Directors, has not changed our support of this system. We still strongly believe that the ProTecTube offers great promise against the storms that may hit our area and yet, does not endanger the habitat of the beach and dune area that is vital to WaterColor.
In our efforts to move forward with this installation, we are required to obtain the proper permitting by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). St. Joe submitted the application for this permit in October of 2005. Despite our best efforts and after several meetings and discussions it is now clear that we will not receive the necessary agency approvals prior to the turtle season which begins May 1st. The FDEP has over 150 applications for beach protection in front of them and have moved very slowly in their reviews. They are being very deliberate in their considerations given the precedent implications associated with what they may approve for dune protection. Our development team continues to vigorously pursue this permitting process to ensure that the installation of this product will be completed as early as possible.
While there is no way to predict the impacts of the upcoming storm season on our dunes this summer, we believe doing nothing exposes us to the risk of more erosion of the dune system. The only alternative option we see possible that provides some sort of protection is to bring in more sand as an interim buffer until the ProTecTube system can be installed. The sand would be placed via a conveyor system over the dunes and would be shaped with construction equipment.
In order to complete this work we need to purchase and place the sand prior to the end of April. We did not feel it appropriate to divert the money from the approved ProTecTube assessment to pay for the interim sand buffer protection and believe the best approach is to seek a separate assessment to fund this solution for the 2006 hurricane season. In the event that some or all of the sand remains at the end of the hurricane season it may reduce the monies needed to install the ProTecTube system.
Therefore, we are asking that each of you join with us in approving an additional assessment to each owner of $1,064 to obtain and place sand against the dunes as a protective measure until the ProTecTube system can be installed in the fall after turtle season. This amount has been computed assuming that the company will contribute funds associated with the units it controls (representing 23% of the assessment amount). The board will not seek the collection for the original $2,484.61 assessment until all permits are received from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and United States Fish and Wildlife Service and resources have been reviewed.
Be assured that every effort has been expended to bring this project to completion and we will continue to work diligently to see this project through to the end. We have begun the permitting process with the agencies for the sand conveyor to ensure installation before May 1st. Therefore, it is imperative that this vote be completed and returned no later than April 7th, 2006.
If you have any questions or would like to obtain additional information please contact Jack Wolfe, President of the WaterColor Homeowner’s Association at jack.wolfe@joe.com, Sandy Matteson-Pierson, Regional Property Manager at sandy.matteson@joe.com or any of the other Board of Director members.
We are grateful for your support and promise to update you as we move forward on this endeavor. Thank you for your patience and for your willingness to work with us to protect our beaches and our community.
Sincerely,
WaterColor Board of Directors
Bob Bolen
John Carr
Jack Wolfe
Mary Rosenheim
Kent Findley
