Navarre developer wins rezoning for 68‑unit apartment proposal after residents press wetland and traffic concerns

The Santa Rosa County commission approved a rezoning request in Navarre to allow a residential development that the applicant said will be limited to 68 units, with plans to preserve wetlands and add buffers.

Developer Ryan Jones told commissioners he reduced his original request from R3 to R2 following community outreach and said the project would emphasize wetlands protection, buffers, and reduced density. "We lowered our density requests from R3 to R2, reduced traffic concerns by cutting the overall density, enhanced environmental safeguards," Jones said.

Neighbors registered multiple concerns about flooding, stormwater outfalls and privacy, and several residents opposed the plan during the public comment period. Alyssa Bailey, who lives one block from the site, said the area already lacks sewer capacity and that two‑story buildings would overlook yards: "We have no sewer on my block. The sewer system is at capacity in Navarre," she said.

Supporters and several commissioners emphasized that the revised plan preserves wetlands and that clustering higher density can keep those wetlands intact rather than requiring multiple single‑family lots with more wetland disturbance. Gail Acosta, a nearby resident who supported the plan after meetings with the developer, said Jones had adjusted the site plan to address privacy and wetlands concerns.

Commissioners approved the rezoning conditioned on a cap of 68 units and preservation of the wetland buffer. Commissioner Eddington, who represents the district, expressed reservations about apartments in general but backed the request because the applicant committed to protect the wetlands and limit unit count. The motion to approve passed 3–1.