The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners followed the recommendation from the county’s zoning board, denying a request to rezone 503 acres off Berryhill Road for a subdivision and neighborhood shopping area that county staff said could hold as many as 2,000 homes.

Opponents of the proposed Navarre Beach boardwalk dominated the public forum at the Santa Rosa County Commission meeting on Sept. 22 in Milton, pressing commissioners on the project as a public workshop is now less than a month away.

Santa Rosa County commissioners on Sept. 22 unanimously renewed the county’s five-cent local option gas tax, extending the levy on fuel purchases that funds transportation projects.

Santa Rosa County has received a low bid of more than $8.3 million for the proposed Navarre Beach Boardwalk, a project that has dominated public comment at county meetings for nearly a month.

The Santa Rosa County Zoning Board voted 7-1 Sept. 10 to recommend denial of a request to rezone 503 acres north of Berryhill Road for about 1,500 homes and 10 acres of neighborhood commercial space after residents and board members said roads cannot handle more traffic.

Santa Rosa County commissioners agreed Sept. 8 to direct staff to draft an ordinance regulating animal tethering countywide.

Santa Rosa County will receive $525,000 in state grants to design an expansion of Whiting Aviation Park and to buy land near NAS Whiting Field to protect the base from encroachment, according to a news release from Santa Rosa County officials.

The Santa Rosa County Library System will hold its fourth annual Kindness Food Drive Sept. 1-30.

Santa Rosa County commissioners denied a request on Aug. 27 to build a 150-foot cell tower behind the Walmart in Tiger Point.

The Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter has received a $25,000 grant to pay for free spay and neuter services for as many as 500 stray cats, the county announced Aug. 26.