Santa Rosa County creates citizens Land Development Code task force amid Avalon wetlands and drainage complaints

Commissioners on Feb. 10 moved to create a Citizens Land Development Code Task Force and directed staff to begin preliminary work on a proposed land‑development‑code amendment to realign the county’s rural agricultural line at the southern edge of the Munson and Allentown fire districts.

County Attorney Tom told the board that “It would require a land development code ordinance amendment,” and explained the procedure: planning staff would draft the amendment, send it to the zoning board, and return the item to the County Commission for advertising and adoption.

Board members agreed by consensus to direct staff to begin the process; no final ordinance vote occurred at the Feb. 10 meeting. County administration later confirmed the resolution creating the Citizens LDC Task Force and reported five volunteer names who had agreed to serve and that commissioners would appoint additional members from their districts. The board asked staff to update the resolution so each commissioner’s appointees must be Santa Rosa County residents.

The LDC discussion came alongside extensive public forum testimony from Avalon Beach residents and local advocates describing rapid clearing, sediment and standing water after development on Damon Drive and Furlong Drive. Arthur Hauck said the removal of trees on nearby lots “is well over 500,000 gallons of water on the average storm” that formerly had been absorbed by vegetation and asked where that water is now going. Multiple speakers—Jerry Cooley, Chris Curb (Flood Defenders) and Diane DeWiggens among them—urged stronger local enforcement and pointed to what they described as unpermitted clearing and sediment discharges that have harmed seagrass and caused fish kills.

Advocates cited specific code and permitting references. Chris Curb told the board the county’s erosion and sediment control code states: “any sediment and debris that leaves the development site shall be properly recovered by the building permit holder. Failure to comply with this requirement shall constitute a violation of this ordinance and shall cause for suspension of a building permit, or development order, and code enforcement action.” Curb also pointed to state environmental permitting requirements, including references to Florida Statutes section 373.036 and chapter 62‑330 (environmental resource permits), which determine when a water‑management district permit is required.

Commissioners and staff responded that enforcement and interagency communications are active. Commissioner Wright said the county’s hands are constrained in some respects by state law but that the commission is working to address problems going forward. County Administrator Brad Baker reported that the county has established a dirt‑road paving fund (approximately $500,000 per year) and that Damon Road had previously been added to a dirt‑road paving plan.

Actions recorded and next steps: - The board directed staff to begin drafting an amendment to the land development code to realign the rural agricultural (ag) line; Tom said the process requires a drafted ordinance, zoning board review, and an eventual public hearing and formal county adoption. - The commission approved (by consensus/proposed resolution) formation of a Citizens LDC Task Force and asked staff to require commissioner appointees be Santa Rosa County residents. Several volunteers were named in meeting backup and staff indicated they would update the resolution for the Feb. 13/Feb. 20 agendas. - Multiple public commenters requested immediate enforcement, suspension of permits where code violations occurred, and stronger compliance checks; staff and commissioners acknowledged those concerns and noted ongoing investigations and interagency outreach.

The task force and any ordinance amendment will return to the board for formal action after zoning‑board review and required public hearings.