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Residents urge commissioners to halt rezoning and curb new development near Avalon Beach
Summary
Multiple residents spoke at public forum opposing rezoning and additional lot splitting in Avalon Beach/Country Lane and nearby Glade Drive, citing wetlands, floating septic concerns, traffic safety and loss of habitat.
Residents from Avalon Beach and surrounding neighborhoods came to the Santa Rosa County commission meeting on July 21 to oppose proposed rezoning and additional subdivision in low‑lying areas off Country Lane and Glade Drive.
Pauline Grimes, a long‑time resident, urged commissioners to stop rezoning and to protect wetlands and wooded areas that she said act as flood buffers and wildlife habitat. "This is wetlands. They are destroying the trees which soak up the water. They keep us from flooding," Grimes said, adding that septic systems in the area "float" and that certain lots are unsuitable for new homes.
Terry Kane, who identified his address on Glade Drive, told commissioners that a 7.5‑acre property currently zoned for half‑acre lots could become much denser if rezoned to quarter‑acre lots, which Kane said would lead to as many as 30 houses on the parcel and further stress the neighborhood’s infrastructure. "The area has already been kind of devastated with all the popular growth," Kane said, asking the board not to approve rezoning on Country Lane.
Public commenters also raised traffic‑safety concerns at a nearby intersection and asked for a traffic signal; commissioners and staff said the Florida Department of Transportation has the intersection on its list but provided no timeline. Commissioner Bogat told speakers she had raised the intersection issue with the Florida‑Alabama metropolitan planning organization and the state and that the light is on the DOT list.
Why it matters: Residents said cumulative clearing and denser development threatens wetlands that provide flood protection and wildlife habitat, could worsen septic and drainage challenges, and might increase collision risk without near‑term roadway or signal improvements.
Ending: Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and said staff would continue to pursue the DOT traffic‑signal request; no rezoning decision or ordinance was adopted at the July 21 meeting and the public comments will be part of the public‑record files for any future hearings on land‑use changes.
