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Okaloosa coalition pitches community land trust to Destin council; councilmember offers to sponsor resolution
Summary
A 22-organization coalition chaired by Chief Robert Bage of Fort Walton Beach urged Destin council to support the Northwest Florida Community Land Trust as a strategy for long-term affordable homeownership; a councilmember volunteered to sponsor a resolution.
Chief Robert Bage of the City of Fort Walton Beach, speaking on behalf of the Okaloosa County Health Improvement Plan, told the Destin City Council on Feb. 18 that a community land trust (CLT) could expand long-term affordable homeownership in Okaloosa County.
Bage described how a CLT works: a nonprofit holds title to land while residents own the structures, lowering the upfront cost of homeownership and preserving long-term affordability through long-term ground leases. He said the Northwest Florida Community Land Trust, already active in Pensacola and Santa Rosa County, had been vetted by 22 organizations convened after a housing summit.
Bage asked the council for three forms of support: (1) include CLTs as an option in any local housing plan, (2) indicate municipal support if the land trust seeks county cooperation, and (3) accept Northwest Florida Community Land Trust as a vetted partner if it proposes projects in Destin. Councilmember (name on record) said she would sponsor a resolution to show local support and the city manager and staff agreed to work with the organization on next steps.
No formal vote was required; councilmembers expressed general support and a willingness to consider a resolution and further staff work on a CLT option.
