Pat Blackshear, FAICP was inducted into the 2012 AICP Col-

lege of Fellows on April 14th at the National Planning Confer-

ence in Los Angeles. The Emerald Coast Section is so proud

of Pat. Her FAICP Application included numerous letters of

support detailing examples of the her exemplary accomplish-

ments that had a positive impact on the profession of planning.

It is hard to summarize all of Pat’s works in a few sentences,

but here is an example of what her supporters had to say:

“Pat Blackshear has brought about real change in state and

intrastate planning for more than three decades. She has been a

leader for statewide natural disaster planning and a strong ad-

vocate for intergovernmental coordination. She led the way for

the protection of 100,000 acres of floodplain along the Choc-

tawhatchee, Apalachicola, and Escambia rivers in Northwest

Florida. In the 1980s she led and successfully coordinated

discussions between cities and counties along the Apalachi-

cola/Chattahoochee/Flint River and Bay System of Florida,

Alabama, and Georgia to develop a coordinated drought

management strategy. Her legacy provides for clean drink-

ing water and helps save lives and property. “

We asked Pat a few questions about herself and the future of

planning in Florida. See Page 2 for what she has to say to Coast Lines.

Pat Blackshear Inducted as Northwest Florida’s first AICP Fellow!

Section Members Get a “Behind the Scenes” Tour of

Pensacola’s New Community Maritime Park

A program for a pre-opening lecture and tour of

the mixed use development, Vince Whibbs Sr.

Community Maritime Park and Blue Wahoos

Stadium in Pensacola was attended by 19 mem-

bers on February 24th. The mixed use stadium

holds over 5.000 people, and will be used for a

number of events year-round, includ-

ing baseball, soccer, football, festivals, gradua-

tions and similar events. The multi-use stadium

will host the Cincinnati Reds double-A affiliate

the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

(Continued on Page 2)

SPRING/SUMMER 2012

Pat Blackshear, FAICP (pictured left) with Dr. Bruce

Stiftel, FAICP was inducted into the 2012 AICP College

of Fellows in April 14th in Los Angeles. Dr. Stiftel, FAICP is a professor and Chair of City and Regional

Planning at Georgia Institute of Technology. He was

professor of Urban and Regional Planning at FSU for 25

years, serving as the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies

and Chair of DURP.

Members tour the New Community Maritime Park.

Page One Articles Continued

Eco-Tour

Boardwalk

Ribbon-cutting

Upcoming Events

Message from the

Chair

2

3

3

4

4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Floridaplanning.org/emeraldcoast

Page 2

(Pat Blackshear, FAICP continued from Page 1)

CL: What would you consider to be your most satisfying achievement so far and why?

PB: The most satisfying

achievement for me would be

that I was the lead planner for

the regional water supply plan-

ning effort during the eighties.

This effort resulted in abandon-

ing Floridian Aquifer wells sus-

ceptible to salt water intrusion in

the coastal region and relocat-

ing the primary public supply

wells inland for the public utili-

ties in the three county area. I

was the NWFWMD staff person

assigned to spearhead the establish-

ment of the Walton/Okaloosa/Santa

Rosa Regional Utility Authority in 1986 and bring together the cities, counties, and pub-

lic supply utility companies to work together on long term needs and sources for the re-

gion. The results can be seen today in that long term coordination and water supply plan-

ning effort led to the construction of the inland Rock Hill Wellfield located in Walton

County serving South Walton and Destin. Along with inland wells in north Okaloosa

County providing supplemental supply to all of southern Okaloosa County. The planning

effort also included southern Santa Rosa County.

Thereby, it provided a sustainable potable water supply for the three county region for

years to come. As I drive U.S. 331 and see the Rock Hill Wellfield in production, I know

that my work made a difference for the region.

CL: Can you comment on any projects you are currently working on? If so, please do.

PB: Since retiring from the public sector, I incorporated and have operated Blackshear

Planning, Inc. It has been a rewarding experience working with several small cities and

the private sector. I have had several projects supporting neighborhood associations re-

garding implementation of Development Orders and protection of the public's interest as

an expert planner/witness. I have prepared several comprehensive plan amendments and

development order applications for the private sector varying from proposed subdivisions

to an RV Resort. I have worked as an expert planner and witness providing support for

several law firms on land use disputes and litigation.

CL: What do you consider the most difficult obstacle facing planners right now

(nationwide, not necessarily specific to Florida)? Also comment, if you can, on what you

see the most important issues being in the next 10-20 years.

PB: In my opinion the greatest challenge facing planners is the funding availability for

all types of planning projects whether at the local, state or national level. In my 38 year

career I have never seen the economy at the low point that we have seen for the last sev-

eral years. The challenge for young planners will be to broaden their technical skills and

be flexible when applying for jobs.

I think the most important issue facing our profession in the next 10-20 years will be re-

vamping our tool box to address the challenges of energy efficiency and alterna-

tives related to climate changes and encouraging the construction of healthy communities

with our planning programs.

Pat Blakshear, FACIP (pictured 2nd Row) in Los Angeles with the 2012

AICP College of Fellows.

(Maritime Park continued from

Page 1)

The Park will also have

retail and office space, an

outdoor amphitheater, as

well as and public park.

space. The stadium is situ-

ated facing the Pensacola

Bay.

Tour of the Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Page 3

Seaside Eco-Tour Shows Off Area’s Sustainability

By: Hank Woollard, AICP

Destin’s 20 year dream of a Harbor Boardwalk is now a reality. If ever a

project deserved celebration, this was it.

City officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 20th on

the future site of the Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza, which

provides a public connection between the Boardwalk and Harbor Blvd. (aka:

U.S. Hwy 98). A veritable who’s who of State and Local Officials, Commu-

nity Leaders, business owners and the property owners who granted ease-

ments for the Boardwalk to be constructed were there to celebrate. The just

completed 3500 linear feet of Boardwalk extending from the Marler Bridge

to the Destin Yacht Club represents the first phase of the key project in Des-

tin’s 2003 Harbor CRA Plan. The Harbor Boardwalk concept was envisioned by Community Leaders almost two decades

ago as a means of revitalizing the Harbor District by creating a public space destination that transcends amenities offered

by individual developments.

The boardwalk averages 25’ in width and includes decorative lighting with brackets for banners, typical street furniture,

and unique design features such as leaning boards and bollards. Bronze, Harbor District seals are inlaid in the surface of

the boardwalk at regular intervals. The Boardwalk has already become quite popular as evidenced by the numbers of peo-

ple seen using it. Ultimately, subsequent phases of the Harbor Boardwalk will connect Clement Taylor Park, north of Har-

bor Blvd. and fronting Choctawhatchee Bay with the Harbor View Park at the far east end of the Harbor.

This first phase of the Harbor Boardwalk was constructed at a cost of approximately 2.5 million dollars. CRA Chair, Sandy

Trammel says the project represents a significant achievement, not only in public infrastructure, but in the level of consen-

sus building and cooperation among harbor front property owners required to make it possible. Two other Harbor CRA

projects now in the works that will complement the Harbor Boardwalk are the aforementioned Heritage Park which will

serve as a public gateway from Harbor Blvd. to the Boardwalk and a 150 space public parking lot on the north side of Har-

bor Blvd.

The Seaside Eco-tour was held on Friday, June 1, 2012, at the Town of Sea-

side. Seven attendees met at Seaside Central Park where David Bailey, AICP,

Town Manager, led the group on a walking tour of the town development.

Mr. Bailey discussed the concept for Seaside, including all of its sustainability

elements, and also discussed current sustainability issues. From there, the

group walked to Watercolor Boathouse where everyone braved the

“paddleboard” mode of transportation for the eco-tour of West-

ern Lake, a Coastal Dune Lake in Walton County.

Ms. Brooke Sarri, Marine Science Extension Agent for the

University of Florida Sea Grant, talked to the group (while

paddleboarding) about the ecological uniqueness and signifi-

cance of the Coastal Dune Lakes.

Chair - Christy Johnson, AICP

Chair Elect - Anna Papke

Secretary - Stella Jones

Treasurer - Paul Miller, AICP

More - visit www.floridaplanning.org/emeraldcoast and click “About Us”

Your 2011-2013 Section Officers

UPCOMING EVENTS

6/27/12 Continuing Webinar Series - Law Review Pensacola

7/27/12 Section Annual Meeting - Ethics Review Destin

9/12/12-9/15/12 APA FL Chapter Conference Naples

October LEED Training Pensacola

If you have any ideas for monthly programs or potential speakers, we want to hear them! Please contact Stella

Jones, Section Secretary, at ejones@fwb.org or (850) 833-9797. Thanks!

It’s time to renew your membership with the Em-erald Coast Section FAPA! Membership dues are

paid each year by July 1 and are valid for one year until June 30. There are so many benefits for a very low annual rate of only $10, so download the

application from the website and mail, with pay-

ment to:

Attn: Stella Jones, Planning

105 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SW

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Page 4

Message from the Chair

Congratulations to Pat Blackshear, FAIP. She was inducted

into the 2012 AICP College of Fellows on April 14th at the

National Planning Conference in Los Angeles. Pat is the first

Fellow from Northwest Florida! Congratulations also to

Wade Reynolds, Professional Development Committee Chair,

and Alan Gray, section member, for passing the AICP exam.

The Emerald Coast Section was awarded a $1,000 Section

Grant from APA Florida in May. The purpose of the grant is

to offer a U.S. Green Building Council approved LEED work-

shop to help attendees build the level of knowledge they will

need to prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam and de-

tail how a LEED certified planner can positively impact their

communities through the development review process.

The program will be offered this fall. Please check your email

for upcoming details.

Our annual business meeting will be held in Destin on Friday,

July 27th in Destin at the City Hall Annex from 11:00 AM to

1:30 PM. The program will be Ethics in Planning and will be

presented by Pat Blackshear, FAIP. Nancy Linnan from Carl-

ton Fields will be on the phone to present the legal aspects of

ethics. A pizza lunch and drinks will be provided for $5.00

CM credits will be requested.

I will be representing the section the APA Florida 2012 Con-

ference in Naples September 12-15th. I will attend a section

chair meeting the morning of the 14th and will have a report

for you.

If you have ideas for future programs, please let me know.

You can email me at Christy.johnson@wfrpc.org.

Membership Renewal Time!