The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a conceptual Master Plan for developing Eglin Air Force Base’s orphan parcels toward housing and development needs.
- The plan, developed over six months by Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., outlines potential uses for eight parcels of underutilized Eglin property, with a focus on attainable housing, commercial development, and recreational spaces.
“This is very much a high-level conceptual master plan,” said Sheila Fitzgerald, presenting the plan to commissioners. “Just because you are seeing a parcel laid out in the manner that it is laid out in the plan, or whether it’s showing a commercial development or residential development, that doesn’t mean that the parcel will ultimately have to be developed specifically like it is shown.”
Chairman Paul Mixon emphasized that Tuesday’s acceptance does not finalize any zoning changes or specific developments. “This is not a zoning meeting. We’re not looking to change any zoning. We’re not giving designations today of what will be where. We’re just stepping along in this process together,” Mixon said.
The plan will now be shared with Eglin officials as the county continues dialogue about potentially developing the properties. Commissioner Drew Palmer noted this represents the beginning of what could be a decades-long process.
- “Nobody should get too worked up about what each parcel says,” said Palmer. “These are concepts. These are things that we’re using for planning and we’re talking 20 years worth of potential development.”
Each future development proposal would require additional board approval if the county pursues involvement in specific projects.
Key Parcels in the Master Plan:
- Camp Pinchot (264 acres): 200-300 residential units, neighborhood commercial space (±18,000 sq ft), plus 145 acres for recreation and natural resource management
- East Garnier Creek (264 acres): Mix of multi-family (875-1,025 units) and townhomes (225-275 units), commercial space (±410,000 sq ft), with 80 acres reserved for open space and recreation
- Poquito Bayou (91 acres): Multi-family residential (350-450 units), townhomes (20-30 units), hotel and convention center (±200,000 sq ft), proposed museum and welcome center
- North Nine (282 acres): Mix of multi-family (225-325 units) and townhomes (90-130 units), office space (130,000-190,000 sq ft), with 150 acres of open space
- K-21 (401 acres): Active adult community (80-120 units), townhomes (250-350 units), community commercial space (±175,000 sq ft), 190 acres for potential Northwest Florida State College expansion
- L-34 (200 acres): Public works and fire station facilities (±60,000 sq ft), recreation complex, neighborhood commercial (±25,000 sq ft), and open space
- L-24 (78 acres): Designated for open space and conservation (±60 acres)
- Addie Lewis (21 acres): Potential residential development (30-50 units) and future school expansion (±5 acres)
