|
 |
|
|
| Polynesian Isles History |
|
|
Dear New Homeowner:
The members of the Polynesian Isles Homeowners Association would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our community. We are pleased that you decided to make your home here with us. We know you will enjoy living here as much as we do; and, we want you to know we are available to help you in any way possible in making your transition into our community a pleasant experience.
If you are new to Gulf Breeze and the State of Florida, we are sure there are one or two things you might find helpful, i.e., where is the Post Office, where do I go to get a drivers license, etc. To make your life a bit easier, we have included 'Helpful Hints' and 'Did You Know'. If there is something you are in need of and it is not included, please do not hesitate to call any of the Association officers listed in the 'Polynesian Isles Homeowners Association' section..
We are an active Homeowners Association, with an abundance of pride in our community. We would encourage and welcome your participation in our Association. If you would like more information, please contact any of the Association officers listed.
Welcome to the neighborhood!
This history of the neighborhood plays a vital part in the identity of its residents. If you have lived in the neighborhood for many years, the neighborhood history is a heartfelt reminder of days gone by.
If you have just come to call the neighborhood home, it is a way to learn more about the new community you have joined. We would love nothing more than to be able to share the history of neighborhood name with all who reside there. If you are interested in writing a brief history of the neighborhood to share with the community, please contact us!
**************************DRAFT VERSION*****************
Chapter 1 only--remaining to follow at later date.
POLYNESIAN ISLES HOMEOWNERS GUIDEBOOK
INTRODUCTION
Many of us have chosen to live in the Polynesian Isles area because the waterfront affords us unlimited recreation, relaxation and a beauty not found in many other places. We also know that it is a good investment, for there are no new venetian canal waterfront communities being developed today. Venetian canal design with its great size and length of canals limits water flow. Good water turnover is essential for the purification process. Because our canal system is fragile, steps to preserve and protect it must be taken. This booklet has been prepared to help achieve these goals.
CHAPTER I
POLYNESIAN ISLES HISTORY
In the beginning there was a small body of water called Redfish Bayou that drained into East Bay. In the mid 60's, Mr. Barba, a developer, purchaed all the land that is not called Tiger Point, Santa Rosa Shores, Bayridge Park, Polynesian Isles, Whisper Bay, and the Ebbtide Town Houses. The original plan was to call the whole area Santa Rosa Shores Resort Communities to include a golf course, an airport east of Tiger Point, and a large marina located in front of what is now Ebbtide Town Houses. Only the golf course became a reality. Santa Rosa Shores and the golf course was started first and Polynesian Isles was to be on the second phase, but the 70's proved to be a poor decate and Polynesian Isles did not really get started until 1983 when Duke Drive and all the finger canal cul de sacs were put in.
Construction of the Polynesian Isles Canal System was approved by the Santa Rosa County Commissioners in October, 1967 and by the Florida Bureau of Land Sales in January 1968. Construction began in early 1968. Aerial photos show all but the fourth eastern canal (coinciding with a tidal creek) begun by October 3, 1970 and mostly completed by October 10, 1972. The mouth of Redfish Bayou silted closed from excavation sometine in 1971. The developer filed a dredging application for a channel to Pensacola Bay some time in late 1970 or early 1971, but it was never acted upon.
On September 15, 1971, the Florida Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (TIITF, the predecessor to the Department of Environmental Regulation (DER), now the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) ordered the developer to cease unauthorized dredging and fill operations in Redfish Bayou on August 26, 1972, to close all artificial canal systems and reopen Redfish Bayou's natural inlet. The developer complied by bulldizing a sand plug across the mouth channel to Pensacola Bay excavated frm the eastern most canal in 1968/69 (later termed 'The Mosquito Ditch'). The TIITF/DER fought with the developer over the legality of connecting the canal system to Redfish Bayou until the plug washed out on February 16, 1979, causing the Eastern Cannel to silt down to a five foot width. The DER then changed its position to require the mouth of Redfish Bayou to be plugged with a dam 40 feet wide and 150 feet long and requested the U.S. Corps of Engineers' (USCOE) assistance to close an unauthorized canal system.
In late 1979, the developer rebuilt the sand barrier across the mouth of Redfish Bayou and in 1982, signed a consent order with the USCOE to construct the reinforced dam while allowing continued existence of five foot wide 'Mosquito Ditch'. The developer never constructed the dam. In the summer of 1984, Polynesian Isles' residents received a warning that the DER was planning to issue an order to close our access to East Bay. The DER wanted a permanent dam across the Redfish Bayou Inlet, and a culvert at the end of the Mosquito Ditch.
The DER intentions provided the driving force for the formation of the Polynesian Isles Homeowners Association as a means to collectively oppose the closure of the Redfish Bayou Inlet. Starting with a handful of residents and a few nearby lot owners, the group established dues to obtain funding for postage. Letters were sent to each canal front owner inviting them to a meeting to discuss the impending closure notice. Over a hundred people attended this first meeting to listen to the DER explain their plans for issuing a notice of violation. Faced with substantial resistance, the DER agreed to work with the newly formed association to achieve a better solution. Henceforth, the PIHA grew very strong and established itself as credible group to dealt with. The PIHA initially delayed the issuance of the notice of violation until July 29, 1986. Through subsequent PIHA formal intervention one year later, the issuance was delayed until 1988. In February 1987, the plug again washed out. On May 21, 1987, and June 1, 1987, the DER refiled an order requiring construction of the reinforced dam across the inlet (now measuring 150 feet 6 wide and the Eastern Channel (Mosquito Ditch) be made non-navigable. On July 1, 1987, the PIHA filed an intervention in the case.
During these days, the workload was tremendous and the volunteers outstanding. Hundreds of hours were spent by the few people available using their valuable talents by writing letters and making phone calls. Marv Carpenter, the PIHA's first President and still Board member, directed the Board's actions utilizing the various talents of retired managers, administrative assistants, marine biologists, legal professionals, and also with the help of many people working during the day who provided typing, reproduction, letter writing, research, working with media, etc. Everyone joined in to enlist the assistance of our local and state representatives in our endeavor to stave off the DER's assault. With the help of our local and state representatives, and a few trips to Tallahassee to visit the State Legislature and the Chief of the DER, an agreement was reached with the DER and USCOE in the Fall of 1988. The agreement cane during a meeting in the DER's chambers with the attorneys for the DER, USCOE, Developer, and the PIHA. The twenty foot wide by two foot deep present opening was presented by the DER and the USCOE as an alternative to a permanent dam, with our design of 60 foot wide and 5 foot deep rejected. A consent order was established with mandated the canal system environment be protected, i.e., that a drainage ditch be constructed from Highway 98 to the small pond in Bayridge Park with a concrete sluice inlet and small concrete weir outlet; that all the ends of the finger canals on Duke Drive be bulkhead with a 20 foot culvert, a permanent way to protect the canals from pollution (so came Santa Rosa County Ordinance 88-06), and a weir maintenance fund (so the Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) of $30 per year, per lot).
The original land developer paid for the present opening at a cost of $80,000. The land on either side of the weir and the land from the weir to the Mosquito Ditch was purchased for $8,800.
The consent order represented a major achievement for the property owners and without the efforts of a strong PIHA, the Polynesian Isles Community would not have either a closed canal system or at best Mosquito Ditch equipped with a three-foot culvert; however, the victory was not without some sacrifices. In spite of effort, time and materials, the PIHA racked up approximately $40,000 in debt combating the DER and the USCOE.
Again the Polynesian Isles Community came through to solve the problem. $100 to $500 was donated by property owners plus more time was donated to garage sales, Christmas tree sales, picnics with donated prizes from local merchants, aluminum can collections, membership dues, and there seemed to be someone always selling raffle tickets for something, plus a couple of sharp people who negotiated with our attorneys to reduce the debt pay off.
Since the tides, currents, and north winds continually work to fill the weir opening, the Association filed for a dredging permit on May 26, 1989. After thirty-one months of negotiations and more aid from our elected state and federal representatives, the permit was issued on January 10, 1992. Dredging of a 200-foot long, 30-foot wide and 2-foot deep pass was completed by the end of February at a cost of $14,000 funded from the $30/year MSBU.
No one has ever been satisfied with the size and particularly the depth of the opening mandated by the DER. Therefore, the Association continues its work towards improving navigation. In January, 1993, the Association applied for a new permit to enlarge the opening to 48 feet wide by 5 feet deep. As a normal formality for the DER, the application was returned asking for more information and, in particular, a hydrographic study. The cost of the study and additional information was estimated at $50,000. This drove the Association to ask the County for an additional one-year MSBU of $100. As with the first MSBU, the new one received unanimous approval at a quarterly membership meeting. The study was completed in January of 1995 and is waiting for a review by the DEP (formerly the DER) Engineer before any further action can be taken in the permitting process. In anticipation of successful permitting, the membership voted in 1994 to extend the $100 MSBU for another year to accumulate the necessary funding ($50,000 to $100,000) to widen, deepen, and dredge the opening.
Maintaining access to East Bay has always driven the Association, but numerous other community improvements should not go unnoticed. One of the first issues facing the newly formed Association was to establish mail service to the area. Since the Polynesian Isles Community was not a recognized development (i.e., more than 50% occupancy) the Post Office would not deliver mail. Working with the Association, the Postal Service erected our community mailboxes and began mail service. Postal service rules did not permit individual mai boxes. A successful Neighborhood Watch Program deterred inappropriate activities in sparsely developed areas. The Association started and continued to review housing plans and monitor building contractors for compliance and cleanliness. Semi-annual cleanups are still an important function in maintaining the appearance of our neighborhood and canal system. Our Community Enhancement Committee established the 'Yard of the Month' award and worked with the local agencies to maintain our mailboxes, fire hydrants, and replace our 'wandering' street signs. These were all voluntary efforts initiated with minimal funding during the Association lean years.
Community enhancement continues, but the Association launched larger projects with the elimination of our debt. In 1993, we spent $8000 to install the boat ramp located on Duke Drive. All Association members may use the ramp after signing the Boat Ramp Rules Form. The Association also worked with the neighboring communities to erect the new entryway sign at College Parkway and Highway 98.
Lately, our efforts have been directed toward elearing the park area at the corner of Duke Drive and Coral Strip Parkway. Members must still decide the equipment and activities that will go into the park. Finally, we've installed three (3) street lights and more are anticipated. The present lighting is funded from membership dues. Since Association membership is voluntary, street lighting throughout the neighborhood will require another MSBU. The membership voted against further MSBU funding until dredging of the canal opening is finalized.
Please note the Association is not all work and no play. A Spring party is held annually at the east end of the weir. When the weir was first completed, a Christmas party was held in celebration of the success. The Christmas Party has turned into a highly attended annual affair.
The eleven Board of Directors and Association's officers welcome all volunteers. We are a voluntary incorporated Association serving our community. Please attend the quarterly meetings to keep abreast. Our neighborhood will continue to prosper as we work and live together as a united community. Watch the Polynesian Isles signs at Duke Drive and College Parkway, and Duke Drive and Coral Strip Parkway for activities of our community.
(Keep checking back for the remaining chapters.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
