Okaloosa County commissioners approve land-use change, tourist tax update, sidewalk and stormwater grants and a county-assets resolution

Okaloosa County commissioners on Feb. 18 recorded multiple unanimous votes on planning, tourism and infrastructure items.

The board approved a small-scale future land use map amendment and companion rezoning for a 0.42-acre property at 702 Bayou View Drive in Fort Walton Beach. Growth-management staff said the parcel abuts existing commercial zoning and that the change continues development along the commercial corridor. The planning commission had unanimously recommended approval at its Dec. 12, 2024 hearing. "This is a small scale land use map amendment and rezoning ... property contains about 0.42 acres," staff said during the hearing. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve both the future land use map amendment and the rezoning.

Commissioners also adopted an ordinance amending the county's Tourist Development Plan to reflect collection of six pennies of tourist development tax countywide, including an updated two-year budget as required by state statute. Charlotte Dunwood of the tourism department told…