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Board approves county land-use and rezoning steps for planned Bower Road fire station after public questions
Summary
Escambia County’s planning board approved a future land use amendment and subsequent rezoning for a Bower Road parcel that the county acquired from the Navy to site a planned fire station; residents raised flooding and right-of-way concerns and staff said stormwater and environmental issues will be addressed during site-plan review.
The Escambia County Planning Board approved a county-requested small-scale future land use amendment and a corresponding rezoning to enable a planned fire station on a roughly 5.2-acre parcel along Bower Road.
David Cordingley, a county facilities representative who testified under oath, said the parcel was purchased from the Navy and the county’s intent is to build an approximately 8–10-bed, two- to three-bay fire station to improve fire protection for Paradise Beach and Myrtle Grove. “This is about roughly 5.2 acres that we had originally purchased from the Navy with the intent to build a new fire station out on Bower Road,” Cordingley said.
Cordingley and staff described wetlands and flood-zone areas on the site but said the proposed future land use change (Conservation to Public) and rezoning (to a public district) would allow public infrastructure while still requiring site-specific review. Staff and the county emphasized that the land-use decision does not by itself grant development rights and that stormwater, wetland delineation and any endangered-species issues would be addressed in the engineering and permitting phase.
Two members of the public spoke during the small-scale hearing. Resident Sunny Burke Walbeck said her community still feels the effects of Hurricane Sally and asked for a town-hall meeting, a wetland delineation study, and clarification about gopher tortoise relocation and stormwater abatement. “We had 7 feet of water in my backyard,” Walbeck said, describing repeated flooding and asking how the project would affect her property.
Cordingley and staff responded that site-plan and development-review processes will address stormwater impacts and any required federal or state permits for threatened species. A county representative also said public review and notice would be part of subsequent site-plan steps and invited residents to remain engaged with the development review committees.
Another resident, Joseph Taverniti, requested a right-of-way access if fencing is placed along a shared property line; staff said those operational access questions will be routed to the county’s public works department for follow-up.
Following presentations and public comment, the board approved both the small-scale future land use amendment (SSA 2022603) and the companion rezoning (Z20226-05).
