Residents, wildlife advocates urge Santa Rosa County to pause Navarre Beach boardwalk plan

Hundreds of residents and multiple conservation groups used the county’s public forum on Sept. 10 to press commissioners to pause plans for a boardwalk, parking garage and event center at Navarre Beach. Chair Colton Wright opened the meeting and repeatedly noted the boardwalk was not on today’s agenda; speakers said that did not stop them from asking the commission to reconsider the project and hold more public engagement.

"Dunes are not empty sand waiting to be developed," said Pascal Roban, executive director of Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, warning that additional development will increase displaced and injured wildlife and that his organization is "bursting at the seams" with more than 1,300 animals treated with limited staff. Carmen Reynolds of the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center said the center is a nonprofit and described prior discussions with county staff about replacement parking and an agreed replacement building; she said the plan presented to the public later was "not what the turtle center discussed." Alex Fox, the center’s COO, said the county previously agreed to build the exterior of a replacement building while the center would outfit the interior.

Residents raised traffic, emergency access and paid-parking concerns. "Are we suddenly going to pay to park in that three-tier garage?" asked a public commenter; another, Becca Taylor, said "Navarre doesn't need anything to bring more tourists" and urged investment in roads and sidewalks instead. Several speakers asked the commission to table decisions until newly elected commissioners take office and called for a workshop or special meeting at an evening hour so working residents can participate.

Not all commenters took the same position: Shanda Ryan, speaking for the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, said the area needs a conference center but urged consideration of a mainland site to support economic development without putting every new attraction on the island. Ryan said the chamber is "eager to help engage residents, businesses and visitors" in the planning process.

The commission did not vote on the boardwalk plan during this meeting. Chair Wright said a dedicated workshop will be scheduled in the future and reminded attendees the project was not on the published agenda for the day.