Taylor County approves final reading to reclassify 250-acre parcel for Nammo expansion

The Taylor County Board of County Commissioners adopted a final ordinance (CPA‑24‑01) on second reading to amend the county'wide future land use map, changing roughly 250.79 acres from agricultural/rural residential to industrial to allow expansion of a Nammo energetics facility.

The ordinance, read in full at Tuesday's public hearing, updates the comprehensive plan under the Community Planning Act and cites the county'level process and a prior Planning Board recommendation. A county official opened public comment before commissioners discussed the proposal and voted.

Why it matters: the reclassification clears the regulatory path for an industrial expansion adjacent to the existing Nammo/ Martin Electronics site near Oak River. Supporters said the change is needed to expand production capacity and local jobs; several residents pressed officials to confirm environmental safeguards and long-term liability protections before the county accepts ownership or stewardship responsibilities.

Nammo representatives described the facility during public comment. “So Nammo ... it is an energetics facility. So we make defense products for the US military and other buyers,” a company speaker said, adding that the facility manufactures solid rocket motors and related energetics products. A county resident warned about potential contamination and long‑term cleanup liability: “I don't wanna see Taylor County get stuck with a big cleanup bill,” she said.

Commissioners asked about site location, proximity to existing Martin Electronics operations and the acquisition that motivated the application. Officials said the application (CPA‑24‑01, property owner Namu Perry King) includes a full legal description and that the Planning Board, acting as the local planning agency, previously held the required hearing and recommended approval. A county official summarized that the property is contiguous to the existing facility and that the amendment is intended to permit Nammo's planned expansion.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance on final reading. Commissioners present recorded “yes” votes for Commissioner Moody, Commissioner Newman, Commissioner Feagle and Commissioner Demps.

Clarifying details from the hearing: the ordinance text describes the land as containing 250.79 acres ("containing 250.79 acres more or less") and identifies the application number (CPA‑24‑01). During public comment Nammo said the current workforce is “between 100 and 150 people” and that the expansion is expected to roughly double employees at the facility. Officials and the company acknowledged that state and federal environmental rules would apply to any cleanup obligations.

Background: the ordinance cites the county'level adoption authority under Florida Statute 125.01 and references the Community Planning Act (Fla. Stat. 163.3161'163.3248) and the procedural sections used for large plan amendments. The county said the plan amendment will become effective after the state land planning agency confirms the application package is complete or, if challenged, after a final order of compliance.

The county clerk will file the enacted ordinance with the Florida Department of State as required by statute. The board indicated staff will return to the commission with any follow‑up items needed for implementation, but no specific mitigation conditions or contract terms were adopted as part of the land use ordinance.