County action could protect Alligator Point road

The Franklin County commission agreed to change the plans for a proposed development in Alligator Point Tuesday that could help protect a large portion of Alligator Point Road. The board signed off on a change to the South Shoal Development that will allow residents to access Alligator Point on Tom Roberts Road and allow the county to abandon a portion of Alligator Point Road. That’s good news for residents who face the constant fear of losing access to their homes when Alligator Point road is damaged by storm surge. County planner Alan Pierce said the plan will protect between 1300 and 1500 feet of road from erosion and collapse, though it’s not a total fix – there will still be about 1400 feet of road further east that will still be in harms way. The agreement reached between the county and the developers also lowers the number of lots in the South Shoal development from 23 to 20 and removes the requirement for an Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. Instead the homes will be serviced by aerobic systems. The agreement also removes the requirement for a rock revetment in front of the development. And while the county and the developers have reached an agreement on the plan, there is still one more hurdle to cross. The agreement still needs to be approved by the bank which holds the mortgage for the development.