BAKER, Fla., May 8, 2024—Around 40 residents with lots of questions attended last night’s town hall at Baker School to listen to an update about the future land use study being conducted by the county.

Inspire Placemaking Collective, the company contracted to conduct the study, presented an overview of the results of public comments made the past few weeks about future development in north Okaloosa County.

The report was approved by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners during its regular 8:30 a.m. meeting session earlier yesterday at the courthouse in Crestview.

As outlined during Monday’s town hall held at the Crestview Community Center and the commissioners board meeting, the report identified three key findings based on community input:

• There is an overwhelming majority of people who want to keep north Okaloosa rural.
• Fixing the infrastructure before allowing additional development was also high on the list of priorities.
• Finally, there is a need for the county to build trust among residents due to a perceived lack of transparency and coordination in managing growth north of Interstate 10.

Following the presentation, the floor was opened up for questions.

The next hour-plus was filled with questions and comments ranging from transportation and infrastructure, to community services and utilities, to changing the county’s comprehensive plan that allows for higher density development on agricultural lands.

Unfortunately, the microphone quit working just as the Q&A session started, but the crowd adjusted by moving closer together so everyone could hear most of the discussions.

Although the priorities report is complete, the study is far from finished. Inspire would like the public to continue to provide comments, questions and feedback as the study continues. Residents can contact Inspire at northokaloosa@inspireplacemaking.com.

The next public meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Crestview Community Center. Topic of conversation will be how to preserve rural land in north Okaloosa County.

The format will be similar to the last two town hall meetings.