New 385 Lot Subdivision Planned Next To Beulah Elementary School

January 19, 2024

A new 385 lot single family residential subdivision known as “Helms Ranch” is proposed for Helms Road in Beulah.

The development is planned for 115 acres just west of Beulah Elementary School, on the south side of Helms Road between Beulah School Road and Woodside Road.

With a proposed density of 3.34 lots per acre, Helms Ranch will have underground utilities and asphalt roads.

According to property records, the acreage belongs to Elandrus, LLC of Cantonment.

Plans for the development are currently under review by the Escambia County Development Review Committee.

NorthEscambia.com graphic.

Comments

27 Responses to “New 385 Lot Subdivision Planned Next To Beulah Elementary School”

  1. Lone Chief on January 23rd, 2024 12:08 am

    Well there goes the neighborhood!! That tickty-tacky gaggle will be worse than the below par 2nd half of our neighborhood. That oughta drop my property value…again. Should make laws against these jammed-pack”hoods” these greedy people make.not healthy physically and mentally. Should be 1/2 acre lots only (although I agree with )James’ whole acre law. …Now add another 300 cars…next to an elementary school where traffic is already a zoo. Now add new crimes destined to happen. We seem to have lost the old ideals of a home. Grrrr!

  2. David Huie Green on January 21st, 2024 10:05 pm

    REGARDING:
    “More people per acre equals less
    Developed land to meet the needs of the growing population. I’ve been here 46 years and don’t like it but it is the only way unless folks here are so selfish they would prefer human population control.”

    True, more people per acre means fewer acres needed to contain all the people. More people means more land required to contain all the people at a given population density.

    “The U.S. population is projected to reach a high of nearly 370 million in 2080 before edging downward to 366 million in 2100. By 2100, the total U.S. resident population is projected to increase by only 9.7% from 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau population projections released” NOV. 9, 2023.

    Less than ten percent increase by the end of the century. After that it is projected to decline. It may not but seems apt to. Even now we only add some two to five people per thousand per year.

    The problem is that all of you are just too loveable. People are moving to Florida rather than staying in Michigan or Indiana or NEW YORK CITY (gasp, followed by a growl). Point out all our flaws as best you can and too many say, “Sounds like Heaven compared to where I live now.”

    Sure, they spend the rest of their lives telling us how much better California was, but they just won’t leave! I’m going to tell anyone sniffing around Bluff Springs how wonderful Beulah is. (Century somehow helps drive them away for us too, bless their hearts.)

    David thinking “better there rather than here”

  3. James on January 21st, 2024 2:45 pm

    Should only be 1 house per acre…otherwise you hear your neighbors flush….been there done that…

  4. Bonnie Exner on January 20th, 2024 1:34 pm

    @ Pfunk
    TRAFFIC STUDIES ARE NOT DONE BEFORE DEVELOPMENT IS IN PLACE IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY BECAUSE SCHOOL AND ROAD CONCURRENCY WAS REMOVED IN 2013 BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS .
    INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
    FARM LANDS ARE BEING SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDERS:DEVELOPERS..SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS NO ENOUGH FOOD TO GO AROUND?

  5. CW on January 20th, 2024 8:41 am

    Pack as many houses in there as possible! That way less will need to move northward.

  6. MA on January 20th, 2024 12:04 am

    Well folks like it or not, it’s going to happen so , we may as well make the best of it,, With the new sub division being connected to Woodside Estates, and Beulah, elementary school, to make it easier on everyone concerned especially safety wise, I highly recommended the county start putting in red lights up and down Mobile Hiway to ease the traffic..They’ve already installed one at Klondike, which will ease some but not all. Common since is to install a few more, especially on Woodside and Mobile hiway. where the School is and on up connecting to the light at Beulah Road.

  7. Mike on January 19th, 2024 10:19 pm

    Pfunk: There is a major flaw with your analysis: it is rational. Nobody can rationally argue any of your points, that’s why they will keep screaming: money, greed, rich developers, I was here when I was 6 and I liked it, now I’m 80 and I hate it, all you folks get out of here. I thought 50% have intelligence below average (by definition) now I doubt even this, which is not rational :)

  8. KWC on January 19th, 2024 8:50 pm

    Money

  9. Pfunk on January 19th, 2024 8:20 pm

    Does anyone here understand more people are born everyday than die? The population is growing and folks have to have a place to live right? High density housing is the best way to conserve land. More people per acre equals less
    Developed land to meet the needs of the growing population. I’ve been here 46 years and don’t like it but it is the only way unless folks here are so selfish they would prefer human population control. What about the land owners? Do they not have the right to profit from their land? Developers don’t steal or take the land they buy it, and pay more than anyone else. But are they any more greedy than the people we all work for? Every business is set up to profit. Is building homes for people such an evil thing to do? As far as traffic the developers will have to provide a traffic impact study as part of their submission and the county will require them to make the improvements the study recommends. This is a proposed development, if the improvements cost to much the developers will not build the development. The commission has to work according to the state and federal laws that regulate housing needs, infrastructure development, and land owner rights. The person who sold or owns that land has rights and the government cannot prevent them within reason from profiting from it. You can blame the commission but that is not a correct assumption. Also developers build where they can sell. If they can sell there is a demand. Escambia county has a housing shortage. Hard to believe but that’s a fact. People want to be here and they are coming no matter how any of us feel about it. So let’s take a look at a different perspective and stop complaining everytime a new development comes. They will continue. I personally don’t want to rob myself of joy because development is coming to my community. To many other things are a lot more important to worry about.

  10. Gail Preston on January 19th, 2024 6:29 pm

    My family moved to Beulah in 1964 (Yep 60 years ago). Back then everyone knew all the neighbors not just the ones that lived next to you Most of the roads were dirt and all the kids took the bus to school, {no drop offs}. Kids played football in the yard and got water from the hose and swam in the river. If we wanted to go to a friends house we either walked or rode a bike. We collected glass coke bottles to turn in for money. We were taught to behave on the bus and in the class room. We had daily chores to do and respected our parents. Yes ma’am and no sir were taught along with table manners. Yes I know the kids today are spoiled and treat most people awful. The cussing and bulling is an everyday thing for them. As I watch Beulah get smaller with more and more people it scares me knowing that the drugs will be here next. It saddens me to see the changes because so many are not for the good, My biggest complaint to Jeff Bergosh is the traffic . With each new subdivision it gets worse. We’re so crowded now there’s very little room to move in.

  11. John on January 19th, 2024 4:01 pm

    Problem is that even if the commissioners were to put a stop to a new housing development, it would likely be a temporary halt because rich land developers have a lot of money which means that they have lawyers and it would likely end with a judge ruling that the new housing development is to be built. As far as Costco, absolutely that would be great for OLF 8.

  12. Greg on January 19th, 2024 2:16 pm

    section 8 housing …… that is all this will be. crime will triple in a years time. buckle up and make sure you thank your county commisioners for all of this. After all they dont have to live here when they get run out of town……….. hopefully soon.

  13. John Connor on January 19th, 2024 1:35 pm

    CAN WE GET A COSTCO? I don’t care if the rest OLF field there remains grass. Just sell a portion to Costco.

  14. John Locke on January 19th, 2024 12:46 pm

    @Steve

    NFCU employs around 10,000 in Pensacola. The operations center here is larger than their HQ and other campuses in VA.

  15. Mike J. on January 19th, 2024 12:33 pm

    If they put four streets in the main block instead of five, they would not be able to have as many houses to sell, but the plot size for each would be larger and that would increase the overall attractiveness of the neighborhood. I would not want to live in such small tight neighborhoods no matter how modern and efficient the new homes are. I drive through Daniel’s Grove and saw how close those houses are to each other and said no way would I want to live so close that I could easily toss a ball from my window and hit the next house. Give people more space and it will be more attractive.

  16. Jason Cote on January 19th, 2024 12:29 pm

    Good luck getting out of the neighborhood in the morning with the school be there.

  17. Bonnie Exner on January 19th, 2024 11:50 am

    Because our county commissioners in 2013 removed ROAD CONCURRENCY and SCHOOL CONCURRENCY [ developers can't build new construction until there is adequate facilities in the area to service all the new growth] this over developement will continue. SCHOOLS and ROADS are already over extended there…IF YOU WANT TO STOP THE GROWTH, CHANGE YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS! FOLLOW THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS!!

  18. Not again on January 19th, 2024 11:43 am

    @steve asked: 1. Where are all the people working that are moving into the thousands of new apartments and houses?

    I’ll elaborate on this.

    Two real estate agents and a house flipper I know answered that same question for me.

    They all said basically the same thing. First, simply from new young families in this area. But also, a large number of empty nesters are moving in from Nashville, Atlanta, Memphis, Dallas/Ft Worth, Chicago, and Cleveland.

    My surrounding block neighbors are from Cleveland, Atlanta, Dallas, Roanoke, Norfolk, Syracuse, Newburgh (NY), St Paul, Ponchatoula, and Escambia natives (3). Only the Minnesota couple is not overly happy (they miss their family and grandkids). Teachers, electrical engineer, navy flight school student, CPA, home remodeler, military internet security, counselor, airline pilot, hardware box store manager, gym manager, homemakers, and an elderly person trying to stay out of assisted living whom everyone lends a hand to when a need arises. A mixture of religious and non religious, from the very devout to totally removed. Republican, Democrat, and Independent. Everyone maintains a private life, but everyone also watches out and provides for one another in times of need, from rides to the car repair shop to death of family members.

  19. Bici Ragazzo on January 19th, 2024 11:28 am

    It’s true, you never truly own your home. As others have stated, miss your tax payments and see who really owns it. Property taxes are evil. There needs to be some way to sunset property taxes for homeowners. Perhaps make it some type of formula tied to homestead exemption, for example: Homestead exemption + a minimum age requirement (and/or) minimum number of years at that address = no property taxes.

  20. EMD on January 19th, 2024 10:47 am

    Vacant Space must be like some strong vacuum to developers. Even vacant spaces of air allures them, as now tall buildings can be built down town. This used to be a nice place to live. Atlanta used to be nice, but now looks more like NYC. I’ve been to NYC. It is not a nice place. I have to wonder if developers are the ones pushing space travel, so they can build there. Some things are more important than money. Being packed like sardines is not healthy for humans. What will wildlife do when there is no more land for them? Will they develope concrete zoos and cages for them?

  21. Bewildered on January 19th, 2024 10:14 am

    I can’t understand why people are surprised. After all we voted to live like the rest of the Western World where government dictates where/how their „subjects“ are living. Dense population clusters are essential to offer efficient mass transportation, heating and cooling of homes via one energy source, etc. You can’t have it both ways – either live free and accept risks that may arise or have a safety net surrounding your existence – your government will take care of you.

  22. Steve on January 19th, 2024 9:38 am

    Two questions;
    1. Where are all the people working that are moving into the thousands of new apartments and houses?
    2. Is anybody considering the additional 700+ vehicles that will now crowd into the intersection of Helms/Woodside/Mobile Highway intersection EVERY day?

  23. anne on January 19th, 2024 8:53 am

    Got to love thy neighbor when crammed together living like sardines. I have to convince myself that this will be the new way of living.

  24. OhYouKnow on January 19th, 2024 8:23 am

    @mnon- You never own any property, be it house or land, miss those taxes a couple of times and see who “owns” it. wont be you.

  25. JJ on January 19th, 2024 6:05 am

    @mnom ????
    I wont own my house in 2030?

  26. Nom on January 19th, 2024 3:33 am

    I wonder what is going to happen to the endangered gopher turtles that are located where this subdivision is being built…Hopefully they are being relocated and not killed just so a company can squeeze 385 houses on top of one another to make an buck.

  27. mnon on January 19th, 2024 1:23 am

    Too bad you won’t own a single-family home by 2030, merely lease it from the state.