A couple hundred residents filled the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center on Tuesday afternoon to hear Okaloosa County’s preliminary plans for a 4-acre waterfront property the state purchased earlier this month for $83.3 million.

• Commissioner Drew Palmer, who represents the district, hosted the town hall and opened by outlining the timeline of how the project reached this point. He emphasized that the county was not involved in the acquisition itself but was asked by the state to manage the property after the Florida Cabinet approved the purchase in September.

“This is an amazing opportunity to create something special on that property for the benefit of Okaloosa County residents and visitors,” Palmer said. “We are committed to keeping this process open to the public and value their input as we move toward finalizing the details of this endeavor.”

The property sits at the end of Gulf Shore Drive, adjacent to the city-owned Norriego Point Beach Access and Park. The state closed on the acquisition Dec. 11, purchasing the land from Pointe Mezzanine, LLC and Pointe Resort, LLC. 

The sellers had originally planned to build 80 luxury condominiums on the site after purchasing it in 2016 and 2017 for approximately $7.9 million. Infrastructure improvements including a 53-slip marina, sea walls, road construction and utility connections were already completed before the sale.

The county has pledged $5 million toward park improvements.

County presents preliminary plans

Deputy County Administrator Craig Coffey presented an overview of the property and the county’s early concepts, stressing repeatedly that no designs have been finalized.

“We have not selected any design professionals,” Coffey said. “Not only have we not gotten approvals from the Board of County Commissioners, we’ve not selected design professionals.”

While much remains undecided, Coffey outlined a few certainties: 

• The marina will not be removed.
• Parking and other amenities will be necessary to support the recreational marina and park.
• The county will be required to build a park.

The draft management plan submitted to the state outlines potential improvements including approximately 100 parking spaces, pavilions, walking trails, food truck locations, and a one- or two-story building of 8,000 to 12,000 square feet. The building would house marina offices, public restrooms, a small store, a tourism kiosk and an observation deck.

Coffey said the marina “will not be proposed to be removed,” noting the state paid for the property with the marina’s value factored into the purchase price. He said the county does not plan to include an amphitheater or boat fueling, which had appeared in an earlier concept plan.

• The marina includes 53 slips ranging from 30 to 140 feet, with the majority in the 40- to 66-foot range designed to accommodate larger vessels.

According to the county’s FAQ page, the marina would operate “like other public marinas around the state” with short-term recreational stays “much like a land-based campground.” The county said it is not building a restaurant, though limited concessions similar to “a little league baseball field or high school football game” are proposed.

Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox also addressed concerns about emergency response, explaining how first responders currently navigate Gulf Shore Drive and would continue to do so.

City officials raise concerns

All seven Destin City Council members attended the meeting, with five speaking during public comment. Mayor Bobby Wagner, City Manager Larry Jones and City Attorney Kim Kopp also addressed Palmer and county staff.

Kopp opened by noting the city had retained a court reporter to prepare a verbatim transcript of the proceedings. She then outlined the city’s legal position.

Kopp said the property is designated high-density residential under Destin’s comprehensive plan and zoning code, and that existing development orders prohibit commercial activity. She said any commercial use would require amendments to the comp plan, zoning designation and development orders — all of which would need multiple public hearings before the City Council.

• “At this point, the county essentially is stepping into the shoes as a developer and must comply with local regulations,” Kopp said. “Absent these amendments, the proposed management plan is inconsistent with city rules and regulations.”

City Manager Larry Jones cited the Florida Constitution and state statutes that he said give municipalities exclusive authority over land development regulations within their boundaries.

“I hope you agree that any development, improvement or management action associated with this park must be consistent with the City of Destin’s adopted comprehensive plan and land development codes,” Jones said.

Councilman Torey Geile questioned the county’s characterization of the marina’s impact and cited a recent Army Corps of Engineers study that he said deemed the harbor “over capacity.”

• “The claim that a commercial marina has the same or less impact that a residential dock is a clear indication this board has limited knowledge on the zoning guidelines and the land development regulations,” Geile said.

Councilman Kevin Schmidt acknowledged the meeting was happening and thanked county officials for holding it, but said the actions leading up to it told a different story.

“I understand you said that nothing has been approved, nothing’s been decided upon because it takes a majority of your commission. I fully understand that and I get that,” Schmidt said. “But you have not taken really any input at this point for these preliminary designs that you’ve basically already presented – that you guys are about to present and that you want to do.”

He urged commissioners to listen to the feedback from the evening.

• “I hope that y’all, staff, city, county commissioners will take the input and take the advice and comments that are gonna be here for the next hour and 15 minutes, and I hope you guys will reflect on those and actually think about them and potentially put something in play,” Schmidt said.

Mayor Wagner said he still believes a partnership is possible but expressed concern about the process and priorities.

“I refuse to give up hope that we can do a partnership here,” Wagner said. “I really think there’s a win-win for everyone and we both represent the citizens of Destin. And I think it doesn’t really matter what we think. It doesn’t really matter what the state wants. It should be about the citizens.”

Wagner said government should not be chasing profit.

• “One of the biggest things that I believe in is that the government closest to the people are probably the ones that know most what the people need, want and reflect the values of those people,” he said. 

He added that he had hoped the project could help address longstanding issues like derelict vessels in the harbor.

Councilman Rodney Braden posed a direct question: “If the whole community of Destin don’t want it, you’re still gonna build it no matter what?”

Councilwoman Teresa Hebert and Councilwoman Sandy Trammell also spoke, expressing similar concerns about communication with the city.

Themes from public comment

Approximately 30 residents spoke during nearly 90 minutes of public comment. Several themes emerged.

Traffic on a dead-end street. Gulf Shore Drive is a narrow, two-lane road with no shoulders running through a residential neighborhood. Multiple speakers noted that every vehicle entering must eventually turn around to exit. Holiday Isle contains 1,925 residential units, according to Harold Summerford, president of the Holiday Isle Improvement Association.

Opposition to the commercial marina. Many speakers questioned why the county would operate the 53-slip marina commercially when the property was purchased for conservation and public access.

• “A commercial marina is just, it’s just too much,” said Guy Tadlock, a harbor resident. “I personally think that if you put a marina in this harbor, another marina, it’ll be the proverbial nail in the coffin.”

Calls to leave the property natural. Many speakers urged the county to make minimal improvements — walking paths, benches, perhaps restrooms — rather than the parking lots, buildings and commercial operations outlined in the draft management plan.

• “How can you improve on a nice white beach?” asked Ted Love, a Destin resident. “Leave it alone. It’s just that simple.”

Safety concerns. Several speakers warned about the dangerous currents at East Pass. One longtime resident, Alice Tadlock, recalled instances of children going missing in the water there.

Security and hours of operation. Residents of neighboring East Pass Towers condominiums described ongoing issues with trespassing, public urination and people remaining in the area after dark. They questioned how additional visitors would be managed.

County responds to concerns

According to the county’s FAQ page, the county was not involved in negotiations, the purchase agreement or appraisals for the property. However, the county “strongly supported the State’s efforts to secure this site for a public park rather than allow the previously permitted multi-story condominium project to move forward.”

The FAQ also addresses several questions raised during the meeting:

On tearing down the marina: “The State of Florida paid a purchase price with a portion of value derived based on this new marina. The marina is a great public asset that materially adds to the public access and use of the park. At a cost of over $5 million to construct, it would be a tremendous waste of public funds to tear down the marina.”

On why the town hall was scheduled between holidays: “This was the earliest opportunity to hold a public meeting after the State finalized the property purchase. We are eager to begin the public dialogue and gather input on the future of this project.”

On the management plan listing many potential uses: “The management plan with the State of Florida is a very thorough process that creates a 10-year timeframe document that essentially requires all proposed activities/improvements to be included. The County may ultimately implement some and not others over time.”

Palmer acknowledged the concerns raised during the meeting and said this was “the first of many” opportunities for public input.

• “I am one commissioner,” Palmer said. “In order to get anything done in the county, it takes the majority of five.”

He offered to meet with individuals and small groups and was also invited to attend the Holiday Isle Improvement Association meeting on Jan. 18.

What happens next

At least one advertised public hearing on the park management plan is required, along with any City of Destin hearings that may be necessary for zoning or land use changes. The county’s Board of County Commissioners has not yet voted on the management plan or lease agreements with the state.

• Residents can submit feedback online at myokaloosa.com/newparkinfo or by emailing newparkinfo@myokaloosa.com. The full town hall meeting is available on YouTube, and the draft management plan and presentation materials are posted on the county website.

Palmer closed the meeting by thanking residents for attending despite the timing between Christmas and New Year’s.

“I do enjoy hearing from you guys,” he said. “I do appreciate the input, even if we don’t agree on stuff. That’s okay. We’re going to work together and I’m going to make sure that we make this the best thing that we can do for the public.”