Island Uniqueness Threatened by Beach Retailer

To the Editor:

A Panama City Beach retailer is coming to St. George Island. The new store currently under construction on the Island will be leased by the owner of Jaws and Moby Dick on Panama City Beach. He also owns the Snappy Turtle in Apalachicola.

These stores are typical Myrtle Beach, SC, Gulf Shores, AL and Panama City Beach operations. Large stores that will do almost anything for their self-interest, i.e. Jaws on P.C.B. still sells baby turtles, they are large stores that sell 3/$10 cheap t-shirts. It's unfortunate that one of our local realtors has this vision for S.G.I.

We are in an election year, therefore I challenge our current county commissioners, our Planning and Zoning Department, as well as all candidates running for county commissioner to go on record either supporting this type of operation or denouncing this type of development growth.

The candidates should give us their vision of what they think S.G.I. should look like. Remember we vote for them. Apalachicola has codes regarding types of development, designs, and plans for their area.

Currently S.G.I. is unique!

Where are the controls preventing this Island from becoming just another area that "once upon a time" had something special to offer?

We are living in a "down" real estate market. So let's shoot ourselves in the foot and compound the problem by endorsing this type of change. When the real estate market stabilizes, realtors may find it difficult to explain to clients "the uniqueness of S.G.I." as they drive by a 6.0 sq. ft., 3 for $10 t-shirt shop.

There should be public outcry preventing this from happening!

The S.G.I Business Owners Association, the S.G.I Civic Club, the Plantation Owners Association, the 300 Ocean Mile Owners Association, and all other condo and homeowners associations on S.G.I., as well as the Franklin County Realtors Association, and all Island residents should address this issue, and unite telling our elected officials what is acceptable on S.G.I.

Use the telephone, e-mail, radio, billboards, newspapers, talk to your neighbors, call special meetings. A grassroots effort must happen.

Time is of the essence!

Thank You,

Mrs. George Smith