Residents raise safety and delay concerns over Driftwood parking, stormwater work and emergency access

Residents pressed Walton County officials about delayed stormwater and parking work at a Driftwood site and requested solutions for chronic single-access safety risks in gated neighborhoods.

A resident said a parking lot tied to a stormwater project was removed in June of last year with a promised completion date in June 2026; she reported no progress and warned the timing would damage rental income during peak season. County staff acknowledged a contractor error (wrong rock) delayed work but said the problem was corrected and work should soon resume.

The conversation also turned to safety. Residents described cases when neighborhoods were effectively trapped during storms, citing a three-day cutoff during Hurricane Sally, and asked whether the county could pursue a secondary emergency access with a remotely operable gate. A resident who said she had paperwork showing the neighborhood was intended to have two access points was asked to bring documentation to a follow-up town hall so staff and engineers could investigate.

Separately, a resident asked why small raised markers (described as puck-like devices) were installed between the fire department and the hospital, arguing they might impede emergency exits; staff said the county engineer will address that concern at an upcoming meeting.

Next steps: Staff asked the Driftwood resident to provide the written documentation of promised access points at a follow-up town hall. County staff said they would circle back with engineering and operations staff to check contractor schedules and to evaluate options for alternate emergency access and roadway marker placement.