Opinion

Editor’s note: The vote on this issue took place Thursday, Feb. 26, after this was published. Commissioner Bobby Burkett made a motion to deny the request to upgrade the board room. Commissioners Ray Eddington and Rhett Rowell followed with a “yes to deny” vote. The budgeted item failed on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Colten […]

In communities across Florida, from Milton to Navarre, the quiet lines on zoning maps are being redrawn with alarming frequency. What was once a tool for thoughtful planning has become a revolving door for developers seeking exceptions. But zoning isn’t meant to be flexible on demand—it’s a promise to residents, a blueprint for sustainable growth, and a safeguard for the character of our towns.

In late July, as the sun blazed over Navarre Beach and vacationers flocked to the Gulf, a health advisory blindsided visitors and locals alike. The Santa Rosa County Health Department issued a no-swimming warning due to high levels of Enterococcus bacteria—a dangerous signal that the water could pose serious risks to human health. But while the advisory itself was necessary and scientifically justified, what followed—or rather, what didn’t follow—may have created an even bigger problem. The silence.