TRC conditionally approves Blue Green Landscape retail improvements at 861 MacBayou Road

The Technical Review Committee on Oct. 1 conditionally approved a minor development order for the Blue Green Landscape retail project at 861 MacBayou Road in District 4, pending resolution of minor plan labeling and survey items and confirmation of an acceptable pedestrian path along MacBayou Road.

Staff entered the project as MIN25-000127 and reported that South Walton Fire and environmental review had signed off. Planning staff’s most substantial comments asked for assurance that outdoor merchandise would be fully screened after hours and that a sidewalk be provided along MacBayou Road or that an acceptable alternative be documented.

Dean Burgess of Emerald Coast Associates, representing the applicant, told the committee the team had responded to comments and was awaiting a survey to add the mean high-water line requested by staff. He also said a multiuse path being installed north of the property may continue in front of the parcel, which would obviate the need for a separate sidewalk: “I’ll check with Public Works. I know it’s…to the north of this property. It’s being installed. I believe it’s gonna go in front of this property. And if so, obviously, we don’t need that sidewalk if that 8 foot path is gonna continue in front of this property,” Burgess said.

Staff recommended conditional approval once outstanding comments are addressed; the committee moved, seconded and approved the recommendation.

Next steps: the applicant must provide the requested survey detail and satisfy remaining labeling and screening comments. Staff will confirm whether the county multiuse path satisfies the sidewalk requirement and that environmental and planning comments are cleared before the director issues the development order.

This item was considered as a minor development application.