Walton County approves Old Town Bayou final plat for 13 single-family lots; developer agreement credit applied to sidewalk buyout

Walton County commissioners on March 27 approved the final plat for Old Town Bayou, a proposed subdivision of 13 single-family lots on about 3.96 acres in District 5, county staff said at the Freeport land use meeting.

Kelly Shultz introduced the item and said the plat is consistent with a previously approved minor development order (MIN23000021) and that site construction required by the development order had been completed. The plat was submitted by PLS Group on behalf of Blue Mountain Beach Properties Inc.

Justin Tomlin of PLS Group said the development order was reissued Oct. 27, 2023, and that the developer had addressed staff comments and paid required fees; he described the plat as the final step before recording. Shultz and Tomlin said sidewalk construction is complete on the south side of the roadway where lots front; the north side was eligible for a sidewalk buyout because there are no lots on that side.

Resident Barbara Marano spoke during public comment; she raised historical questions and asked whether a 2015 developer agreement remained in effect. County staff and the developer said the 2015 developer agreement committed the county to participate up to $17,000 toward roadway completion and that the county applied that $17,000 credit toward a $24,000 sidewalk buyout, with the developer paying the remaining $8,000.

Developer Terry (last name recorded in the transcript as "Franksman") described the history of neighborhood maintenance and said he had been reimbursed under a county agreement for prior costs. A motion to approve the final plat was made and seconded and adopted by voice vote at the meeting. The transcript does not list recording conditions or an exact recording date for the plat.