After nearly a dozen people spoke on behalf of the city of Destin being the manager of the four-acre parcel on Holiday Isle, the Okaloosa County Commission voted 3-2 to take it to the landowners – the state.
Commissioner Paul Mixon made the motion to send Commissioner Drew Palmer along with whomever the city of Destin so choses to Tallahassee “seeking the state’s desire for this moving forward,” Mixon said.
The motion passed 3-2 with Commissioners Sherri Cox and Carolyn Ketchel voting no.
Brief background
The state purchased the 3.9-acre parcel on Holiday Isle at the end of last year for nearly $84 million, and it’s been a hot topic of discussion for the past four months.
When the state bought the property in December, the intention was for it to be used as a public park and to be operated by the county in collaboration with the city.
In a town hall style meeting in December, the county showed a proposal for how it would like to develop the property and 53-slip marina. The county showed a slide presentation that talked of making it a public recreational marina for short-term stays, more parking and adding other amenities.
Residents at the town hall spoke against any commercialization in the area and expressed concerns about safety and increased traffic.
Since the property is inside the Destin city limits, the city proposed an interlocal agreement in which the two entities would collaborate on upcoming decisions. The county drew up its own interlocal agreement, but nothing has passed.
At Destin’s March 16 meeting, the city passed Resolution 26-05.
According to the resolution it is, “requesting that the state of Florida authorize the city of Destin to serve as the lessee and local managing entity for the newly acquired state park located within Holiday isle in the city of Destin; expressing willingness to commit city funding in an amount not to exceed $5 million to maintain the state park as valuable conservation land.”
Here we are now
At the April 21 County Commission meeting, about a dozen people spoke in favor of Destin managing the property.
Destin City Attorney Kimberly Kopp asked for the county to support the city’s proposal, “to lease and manage the Holiday Isle property and that we jointly approach the state with a unified request.”
The city also submitted a concept plan for the county’s review.
The plan provided for “passive recreation,” she said.
The docks would be for public use on a first-come, first-served basis for transient slips and a fishing pier.
The plan “provides over 100 parking spaces while maintaining approximately 3.5 of the four acres as unpaved conservation land,” Kopp said.
“We believe this is an opportunity for intergovernmental cooperation that ultimately delivers the best outcome for the public,” Kopp said.
She then asked the board for a motion that would support the city resolution, and that “the County and City jointly approach the state in support of the city’s obtaining the lease and management responsibilities for the park rather than kicking the can further down the road.”
Survey report
Destin City Manager Larry Jones spoke of a scientific survey the city recently had done asking the residents of Okaloosa County about their thoughts on the property.
“Everyone of your districts was represented,” Jones told the commissioners.
Jones said 90% of the residents that responded indicated that they wanted to have a low-impact park, very similar to what is on the ground today.
Currently, the city owns and manages the 14-acre Norriego Point Beach Access Park, just to the west of the Holiday Park property.
“That’s what the city is asking … that’s what the management plan would be like,” Jones said.
“A park that represents every citizen of Okaloosa County indicated in the survey that they wanted to see there,” he said, noting places such as Baker, Mary Esther, Niceville, Fort Walton Beach and Destin.
Time of decision
Destin City Council member Dewey Destin spoke of how he has had several meetings with Palmer and others to come up with a plan.
“We’re at the point that we need the commission to take the action so that we can go together to the DEP and say this is our joint plan for this area, and it is acceptable to you,” Destin said.
“I urge you to try to work with us to go forward with this plan, and if you need to modify the plan, feel free. None of it’s set in concrete, but it is a plan to have a park that is accessible to the public and also tries to preserve as much of the natural beauty.
“So, I ask you to take a position and let’s go forward and meet with DEP and see what their demands or guidelines are,” Destin said.
City council member Teresa Hebert also spoke and urged the commissioners to put a motion on the floor and support the residents of Destin.
Words from commissioners
“Thankfully we were not the buyers or sellers,” Mixon said of the Holiday Isle property.
However, Mixson said, “it is very beneficial that this is preserved and to be for public use.”
He then made a motion to continue working with the city of Destin and that they seek the state’s blessing together for this moving forward.
“I’m not dogmatic on who manages, but I believe we would do so much more together,” Mixon said.
“I don’t see any reason to consider this even a battle. I see reason to consider this a collaboration. Ending up more than likely with a tremendous park there, that enhances what the city already has,” Mixon said.
Before the motion passed, Cox, said she would more likely support Destin.
She spoke of handing off the jurisdiction of the park to the city of Destin. She cited the survey and how it shows a “general appetite” to keep it in its natural state.
Cox also said the county should pull out and let the city manage the park.
Ketchel also weighed in on the matter.
“I want to say to Destin, I’m really sorry that the state appointed us. I have no idea what happened,” Ketchel said.
Ketchel said she has walked the parcel and “really looked at it.”
“I love things left natural around here. We have so little of it left. We have so little property left for future generations,” Ketchel said.
“I absolutely want to give it back to the city of Destin. I never wanted this thing. I don’t even know how this happened,” she said.
Ketchel said she has talked with all the legislators, and they have said, “we don’t care what you do.”
“In that case, I vote with Destin,” Ketchel said.
This article originally appeared on The Destin Log: Okaloosa County votes to take Holiday Isle Park decision to state
Reporting by Tina Harbuck, The Destin Log / The Destin Log
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