Storm coming?
SRIA gets tough on mooring boats in Little Sabine Bay
BY LISA NEWELL Gulf Breeze News lisa@gulfbreezenews.com

The Santa Rosa Island Authority passed a regulation prohibiting boats in Little Sabine Bay while the area is under a hurricane watch unless the boats are secured to a dock with the dock owner's permission.

The reason for drafting the regulation is because many boats that were moored in the inlet ended up crashing into and destroying homes in the Little Sabine subdivision.

Jim Miller of Pensacola told the board that finding alternate moorings is tough when a storm is approaching. He said the mast on his sailboat is too tall to go under many of the area's bridges and that his boat requires a half mile fetch.

"The bridges are too low and the water's too shallow. I have very few options," Miller said of moving his sailboat before a storm hits. He also said the wave action in Little Sabine Bay is much less than in the the bay during a category one hurricane.

SRIA member Bill Griffith said the regulation is needed to protect homes.

In other action the SRIA heard details of the planned Pensacola Beach Resort, which will occupy the space where the Holiday Inn Express stood.

The first phase of the project will include a 144 room hotel, the second phase will include 290 rooms and phase three will include another 144 rooms on the 20.73 acres.

The resort will be 14 stories high with two of the levels reserved for parking. Amenities will include a lifestyle spa/rejuvenation center, valet parking, indoor outdoor heated pools, gourmet restaurants, conference space, ballrooms, kids club, and a sound side water park with a lazy river, wave pool and an Olympic size pool to host professional and amateur events. Every room will face the Gulf of Mexico.

The plan also calls for four tennis courts and recreational path for rollerblading and walking.

Board members encouraged the planners to incorporate a boardwalk and a trolley service so resort guests can access the beach's core area.

The following items were approved for consent at the July 12 board meeting:

An extension for the Tiki Motel to remove asbestos and reconstruct the building;

A request for a Honey Baked Ham vendor at Comfort Inn during the Blue Angels weekend;

A request by Fred Simmons of Sandpiper/Gulf Aire Inn, Inc. to add a booking agent to for charter boat cruises;

A request by Sabine Marine Assoc. to sublease to the charter fishing boat Chulamar, Inc.

A request by Gary Powell of Pensacola Beach Holdings (Portofino Boardwalk) to sublease Unit #5 to The Cabo Grill, LLC, a restaurant serving beer, wine and liquor.

A request by Fred Simmons to extend the use of a portable kitchen on the Paradise Bar and Grill property for six months;

A request by John Mathis to construct a new eight-unit townhouse replacing a structure at Spanish Landing, 296 Fort Pickens Road.

A request to approve conceptual plans for the Pensacola Beach Resort and water park;

Revisions to the mooring regulations regarding mooring boats in Little Sabine Bay during storm conditions;

A clarification to the terms of emergency contracts not to exceed $50,000.

A request to move the September board meeting from Sept. 13 to Sept. 20 to accommodate an out-of-town meeting for SRIA staff members.