Commissioners Question Modular Homes at SummerCamp

At the April 22 meeting of the Franklin County Commission, the board moved to rescind the building permits for two houses at the SummerCamp Beach development on St. James Island at the east end of the county.
The board revoked the permit after questions were raised about the installation of modular homes in the SummerCamp development.
At the May 6 board meeting, Billy Buzzett appeared before the board on behalf of the St. Joe Company to request that the permits be reinstated.
Buzzett said the two modular homes at SummerCamp were originally 970 square feet, less than the 1,000 square feet specified in the PUD. He said that the architect and engineer for the project have now submitted plans expanding the master bedroom of each unit to increase the footprint to 1,000 square feet.
"It wasn't the size of the houses as much as it was something we didn't approve," said Commissioner Bevin Putnal. "We didn't approve these modular houses in SummerCamp."
Buzzett said "these houses are not only certified with the Florida Building Code, they are certified for up to 140 miles per hour winds.
"Some of these have been constructed in Walton County and one of those was named house of the year for the country and was pictured on the cover of Southern Living Magazine," he said.
"Summer Camp was meant to significantly contribute to the economy of the county. Prefab houses do not contribute to our economy," said Commissioner Cheryl Sanders. "It's not what I agreed upon when I signed off on the PUD in 2003. You're not employing local people."

Constructed Elsewhere But Completed Locally
Larry Fletcher, an employee of The St. Joe Company interviewed at SummerCamp said the prefab houses would be completed by Salty Dog Construction of Panacea.
"We were prepared to spend $300,000 on local people to install those modular homes, but we can't because we don't have a permit," said Buzzett.
The modular homes at issue were manufactured by Haven Homes, a company with factories in Pennsylvania and South Carolina that supplies modular units to the Eastern Seaboard and the Deep South.
"Times are difficult and we are trying to be creative. We're trying to save money and not skimp," said Buzzett.
"Are these meant to be model homes?" asked Commissioner Russell Crofton.
Buzzett said SummerCamp hoped to display them, along with several stick-built homes, at an upcoming tour of homes.
"We don't have somebody who said ‘Put that house there. I want to buy it,'" said Buzzett. "We just want to test the market to see if something else might work because things aren't working very well."
Land sales have been slow at SummerCamp. Tinbuktoo, the upscale restaurant located at the development, recently closed. A spokesperson for SummerCamp said it would reopen on Memorial Day with "camp cuisine," like burgers and hot dogs.
The commission asked Buzzett why the modulars had not been purchased from the GreenSteel Factory in Carrabelle.
"It is my understanding that we have met with him and are negotiating to work with him. It doesn't make sense to buy out-of-state when you can buy locally," Buzzett said.
"Before I move forward, I would like to see something worked out with Mr. Chiles," said Sanders, referring to Lawton Chiles Jr., co-owner of the GreenSteel factory.
According to Fletcher, the houses were originally located at Windmark Beach and were intended for use in the "Discovery Program," a sales campaign where potential buyers are invited to come and stay at the development to see how they like it. He said the units will be used for a similar program at SummerCamp.
The units are built of wood and designed around the same color palette as the stick-built structures already at SummerCamp. The interior features a sitting room, kitchenette and master bedroom, with a luxurious bath including a shower that can be entered through an exterior door for use by beachgoers.

Commissioners Don't Favor Allowing Interim Homes
Commissioner Smokey Parrish asked if having modular units in the development would devalue adjacent stick-built homes.
Buzzett said that the homes were of "stellar quality. Until they're finished, nobody will know what they look like. It's going to have a metal roof like all of the other houses."
Buzzett said there were really three issues at question.
"The first is these houses and whether or not they are legal. The second is the use of modular homes, and these are of stellar quality," he said, "Third, does it make sense to allow somebody, when money is tight, to go in and build a garage apartment first that they can stay in until they build the main house?"
The commissioners did not react favorably to the suggestion of allowing a small structure to be built as an interim home.
"Typically you would have five years to build a house at SummerCamp. If you don't build the house, you can be fined and a lien could be placed on your property," said Buzzett.
"This is not how I envisioned SummerCamp. Based on your word, I envisioned a nice neighborhood," said Sanders.
"I have tried to send a message that we want to be part of this county," said Buzzett. "I'm sorry that I am before this board. I'm sorry that I've created a sense of controversy. We're going to follow whatever the county tells us. Building bigger or smaller houses is up to you."
The board voted unanimously to table the St. Joe Company's request for new building permits until the new plans could be reviewed by Planning and Zoning and county building officials.