The Destin City Council on Monday reviewed design options for “The Shore at Crystal Beach,” a joint project with Okaloosa County that will provide additional public beach access on property purchased four years ago.

• The council discussed two potential parking configurations for the beachfront property. 

The first option would eliminate two parking spaces to create a one-way circular traffic pattern, allowing vehicles to flow through the lot without backing onto Highway 98. The second design would remove four parking spaces at the southern end of the lot to create a more spacious turnaround area with additional safety features.

“We’re trying to get this off center and finally build something,” said Craig Coffey, Okaloosa Deputy County Administrator, who attended the meeting to collaborate with council members on finding a solution that works for both entities.

The designs aim to address safety concerns while maximizing the number of parking spaces for beachgoers. City staff presented diagrams showing how each configuration would affect traffic flow, with particular attention to the southern portion of the lot where vehicles would need to navigate in and out.

• “I think this is the compromise,” Coffey explained, noting that the circular pattern would prevent vehicles from having to back out directly onto the highway. “It provides a pattern… and I think it’s a good compromise.”

The project, which began with property purchases in 2021, reflects the city’s strategic goals to improve beach access for residents and visitors. Councilman Jim Bagby, who has been working with staff on the project, emphasized its importance.

“We purchased the land to meet our goals in our strategic plan of providing beach access to our citizens and our visitors,” Bagby said.

City staff explained that certain aspects of the designs would require variances from the city’s development code, which prompted discussion about finding the right compromise.

• Councilman Dewey Destin noted the importance of the project, saying, “The amount of property we can acquire on the beach to put parks in is very limited and very precious.”

After nearly an hour of discussion, the council directed staff to continue working with the county on refining the proposed designs and return with options at the first meeting in April.