Escambia commissioners keep Beulah Town Center talks open, set 30‑day window then consider other offers

The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners voted 4–1 on Feb. 6 to honor the 30‑day negotiation window it had given Beulah Town Center and to review any other offers that arrive after that period.

The action came after more than an hour of public comment and testimony from developers. Commissioner Stephen Berry moved the motion to proceed with the original 30‑day period; the motion carried by a 4–1 tally.

The vote followed public testimony both for and against changing the timetable or reopening the negotiations more broadly. Will Dunaway, representing Beulah Town Center, and Brian Spencer (association with the Beulah proposal) told the board they were ready to continue negotiating under the terms the group had submitted and that staff review and red‑line comments were expected. Ryan Bell, who said his team would match a $50 million infrastructure offer and had commercial prospects lined up, was also present and said his group could begin work within eight months if contract terms were settled.

Residents and community advocates urged the commissioners to protect the design standards in the Beulah master plan. Zachary Campbell and Cecilia Campbell said they supported the master plan’s sequencing and design code and asked the board to ensure any deal preserved those elements. Several public commenters pressed for clarity on the development schedule and for developers to respect the design code, not remove requirements that residents said were critical to the community’s quality of life.

Commissioners and staff discussed next steps for the contract review. Several commissioners asked county counsel and OMB staff to review any incoming offers and provide a summary of legal or budgetary concerns before the board considers them. Commissioners said they wanted to honor previously agreed timings while also making clear the county would accept and assess alternative proposals if Beulah Town Center did not reach agreement.

The board’s motion instructs staff to proceed with the 30‑day period already granted to Beulah Town Center; if a deal is not finalized, staff may accept, review and report back on other offers at subsequent meetings. The motion passed 4–1.

Members of the public and several commissioners said they want to see a project on the ground in a timely way but said the master plan’s design code and sequencing must be preserved.

The board did not adopt or approve any development agreement at the Feb. 6 meeting; the action was procedural direction to continue negotiations and to permit consideration of alternative offers if the initial period concludes without a finalized contract.