Okaloosa County is progressing to the next phase of a planning study to address the needs of the rapidly growing northern part of the county.

• In addition to the public town hall meeting held in 2023, two more town hall meetings have been scheduled for March 2024.

“We are excited to move forward with the next step of this study that will address how we can responsibly manage growth and progress in the County,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon. “We want to ensure that the voices of Okaloosa residents are heard so that we can preserve what is most important to us. With sound planning, we can ensure our quality of life is maintained and enhanced.”

The purpose of these town hall meetings is to allow the consultant, Inspire Placemaking Collective, Inc., to gather public input regarding the issues that concern the citizens of north Okaloosa County the most.

The meetings will also serve to familiarize the public with the study and the consultant. The results of the town hall meetings will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners, who will provide further direction to the consultant regarding the study.

• The first town hall meeting will be held on Monday, March 25, 2024, from 6:01 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Baker Recreation Community Center, located at 5503 Hwy 4, Baker, Florida 32531.

• The second meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, from 6:01 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Crestview Community Center, located at 1446 Commerce Dr, Crestview, FL 32539.

Inspire has created a website for the study, which includes a project timeline and will enable residents to review and comment on draft reports and other aspects of the study once deliverables start. The website can be found at https://www.inspire-engagement.com/north-okaloosa-plan.