Regular Council Meeting

Council tabled the Hidden Cove annexation application. The City Attorney expressed concern that the proposed 80-foot-wide strip creating county road connectivity would constitute an illegal fingerlike pattern and create an enclave, violating Florida annexation law requiring compactness. The applicant and attorney agreed to table and work with city staff to resolve the legal issues.

Where: Highway 20

Part of project: Hidden Cove Annexation

Council tabled the annexation of The Oaks at Black Creek property. Similar to Hidden Cove, the proposal to carve out a portion of the property would create an enclave and complicate planning with split city-county jurisdiction. The applicant offered to work with county property owners to get them to annex voluntarily.

Where: 3280

Part of project: The Oaks at Black Creek Annexation

Council adopted ordinances amending the Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map for approximately 1,056.76 acres (Ordinance 2025-01) and 3,321.78 acres (Ordinance 2025-02) of Carr property, changing designations from urban development and rural residential to industrial and mixed-use. This is a long-range plan expected to develop over 10 years.

Where: 12-1S-19-23000-003-0000; 13-1S-19-23000-003-0000; 24-1S-19-23000-001-0010; 18-1S-18-14000-002-0000; 35-1S-19-23000-002-0030; 36-1S-19-23000-001-0020; 36-1S-19-23000-001-0000; 01-2S-19-24000-001-0005; 01-2S-19-24000-001-0000; 01-2S-19-24000-001-0050

Part of project: Carr Large Scale Amendment and Rezoning

Council held first reading of Ordinance 2025-03 updating the Land Development Code with clarifications on lighting standards, parking for community pools (25% of bathing load), exceptions for small storage sheds, capacity fee documentation requirements, and clarification that daycares/nurseries are allowed in all mixed-use and commercial zones. Second reading was advertised.

Council approved the Crews Holdings PDP on 437.5 acres including 529 single-family lots, 569 multifamily units (townhomes and apartments), and 82,205 square feet of shopping center. Density is 2.5 units per acre. Project includes a 17-acre park donation, an east-west roadway connector, and a 20-foot buffer along the western boundary per Ashton Park resident requests.

Where: 331 North

Part of project: Crews PDP

Council approved a single-family residential subdivision on 80.23 acres at the end of John Wesley Road with 80 lots (1 lot per acre density). Project includes buffers adjacent to neighboring developments, preserved wetlands, organic walkways, and developer agreement to participate in road maintenance.

Where: John Wesley Road

Part of project: Hidden Bayou PDP

Council approved the plat signature for Owl's Head Farms Phase 2A.

Part of project: Owl's Head Farms Phase 2

Council approved a 60-month lease renewal at $452.19 per quarter, reducing costs from the current $632.76 per quarter.

• $452.19 · quarterly cost for 60-month postage meter contract
• $632.76 · current quarterly postage meter cost

Council approved a proposal by Dewberry for planning, surveying, and design work for a sidewalk continuation from Kylea Laird to Highway 20. The city received a $168,000 grant award through the USDOT Freeport Multi-Modal School Safety Action Plan.

• $52,140.00 · Dewberry design proposal for 331 Business Sidewalk
• $168,000 · USDOT grant award for sidewalk project

Council tabled the waste management contract until the last meeting in May or first meeting in June to allow time for county-level contract negotiations on service levels in North Walton County to be completed.

Council directed the City Manager to task Engineering with determining the average consumptive use rate to calculate an average sewer bill for customers with private wells connecting to sewer only. Customers must have legitimate, permitted wells and comply with water/sewer connection standards.

Council approved purchase of parts to upgrade well 8 from a transition well to a distribution well to serve new property owners in the Wagon Wheel area.

• $15,788.00 · cost of parts for well 8 upgrade at Wagon Wheel

Council approved purchase and installation of a monument honoring fallen Deputy William (Will) May at Barrier Free Park pavilion, similar in size to the Purple Heart memorial at the Veterans Memorial.

• $4,500.00 · cost of monument for Deputy May
• $425.00 · cost to add Deputy May's picture to monument

Council approved purchase of a Wanca Full Matrix digital sign to direct traffic to the sports complex.

• $27,115.57 · cost of Wanca Full Matrix sign for sports complex

Council approved rental rates for the new Community Center: $20/hour for Freeport residents and $30/hour for non-residents (up to 5 hours), $150 for residents and $250 for non-residents for over 5 hours, with a $500 refundable deposit and $25 cleaning fee. Council requested changes to specify Walton County residents only and added an age restriction of 25 and up.

• $20 · per-hour rental fee for Freeport residents at Community Center
• $30 · per-hour rental fee for non-residents at Community Center
• $150 · Community Center rental for Freeport residents over 5 hours
• $250 · Community Center rental for non-residents over 5 hours
• $500 · refundable security deposit for Community Center rentals
• $25 · cleaning fee for Community Center rentals

Council approved purchase of 16 low-profile rubber speed bumps for the sports complex parking loop to enhance pedestrian safety.

• $4,044.89 · cost of 16 speed bumps for sports complex parking loop

Council approved purchase of 4 sets of solar-powered pedestrian crossing signs for the sports complex to meet Greenbook standards and protect children at the crosswalk from ballfield to restrooms.

• $22,199.16 · cost of 4 sets of solar pedestrian crossing signs for sports complex

Parks Director reported the splash pad will open May 1, 2025.

Parks Director reported the pool will open on Memorial Day weekend (Saturday).

Parks Director reported that a skate park at Helen McCall cost $500,000 to build; current costs would be approximately $750,000. The sports complex currently has no available space, and the 2022 council decision against a skate park cited liability, insurance costs, and lack of space. No action taken.

• $500,000 · cost to build skate park at Helen McCall
• $750,000 · estimated current cost to build a skate park
• $30,000 · amount raised by skate community

Council approved consent agenda items including bills, prior meeting minutes (Interlocal Agreements Workshop April 7 and Regular Council Meeting April 8), and Revenue & Expenditure Report through March 2025 on passed on consent agenda.