This past May, a team led by DPZ (Consultants included: Crabtree Group Inc, Clark Partington, GIT, Impact Campaign, Gridics, Jacobs, Urban3, and Larry Davis) and Walton County held a community engagement charrette that welcomed opinions and insight from local community members to provide an evaluation and appraisal update to the comprehensive plan, and propose a physical vision. The county’s goal is to ensure the anticipated growth and development over the next few decades can be well balanced with the preservation of their environmental and natural resources.
The main topics for the Charrette included the following:
- Environmental Preservation: Strong desire to preserve natural beauty, including beaches, wetlands, and trees. Emphasis on responsible development practices, such as tree preservation and wildlife habitat protection.
- Infrastructure & Traffic Concerns: Prioritizing infrastructure to support current and future developments, and addressing traffic congestion while ensuring pedestrian safety is a top concern.
- Smart Growth and Planning: Advocacy for long-term sustainability and quality of life through controlled density, effective zoning laws, and maintaining a balance between local and chain businesses.Community Engagement and Governance: Desire for greater transparency and local government engagement, communication, and adherence to existing regulations.
- Economic Diversification: Recognized need to diversify the economy beyond tourism to include white-collar, creative class, and small business job growth.
- Maintaining Quality of Life: Maintain and improve quality of life by enhancing access to amenities, addressing affordability concerns, and promoting social cohesion within communities.
As part of possible recommendations for evolving the Comp Plan, the team is proposing to create a more predictable framework for development by further assigning Place Types across the county into 4 broad categories: centers, corridors, settlements and special areas.
The Assessment of the Comp Plan is expected to be completed mid 2025, and will build upon the impactful Comprehensive Plan “South Walton TRUST Plan”, also completed by DPZ in 1996.
Learn more about the project here.
