Here are three things you need to know.
Legacy Lands Conservation ask
The Santa Rosa County Commission will either approve or deny a recommendation made by the Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation District to accept a priority list and commit $500,000 of conservation funds to purchase easements for three projects totaling 103.4 acres.
Adopted in March 2026, the Legacy Lands Protection Program was spearheaded by Commissioner Rhett Rowell.
The program saw 46 landowners apply, totaling more than 9,900 acres for conservation easements. The funding will be used to purchase three “pioneering projects” that were chosen by the Blackwater SWCD.
Milton Interchange Park
Commissioners will either approve or deny a utility infrastructure easement and payment of $32,741 to Florida Power & Light for underground utility work with the Milton Interchange Project.
The 192 acres of land were purchased in 2022 through grant funding with Triumph Gulf Coast and are managed by the county’s Economic Development Office.
If approved, the work will allow more parcels of land to be set up with electrical services, allowing development to continue.
The money is coming from the county’s economic development budget.
Navarre Beach public comment
As a proposed boardwalk goes out to bid, residents of Navarre Beach will have the chance to provide public comment to the commission.
The proposal is a 10,000-square-foot multiuse building with additional space for retail, a food truck space and covered areas. The bid process began Aug. 4, with the period ending Sept. 3.
Beach residents have started online petitions against the proposal, with one having more than 1,000 signatures.
Opposition to the project stems from potential environmental concerns, such as how light pollution will affect sea turtle hatchlings.
