Destin City Council Weighs Conservation, State Talks Over $84M Land Deal
DESTIN — Just days after residents packed a town hall on Okaloosa Island to question a controversial state land purchase and the county’s early concepts for developing it, the Destin City Council wrestled Monday night with how aggressively to press Florida officials and how far the city should go to preserve the shoreline.
The four-acre parcel, located next to Noriega Point Park, was purchased by the State of Florida in December for roughly $84 million. The deal has drawn attention because of its price, the seller’s criminal past and political contributions, and uncertainty over how the land will ultimately be used.
City Attorney Kimberly Kopp told council members the immediate question before them was whether to open talks with the state about officially designating the site as conservation land.
“This agenda item asks the council if you would like us to reach out to the state and start having conversations about the use of the property for conservation land,” Kopp said, adding that any change would require multiple public hearings involving residents, the county and the state.
Mayor Bobby Wagner said his instinct was simple: “My quick answer is absolutely.”
A motion, then a retreat — and a narrower plan
Councilwoman Sandy Trammell initially moved to direct staff to take “all required steps” to change the zoning from high-density residential to conservation. But several members quickly warned that moving too fast could eliminate the city’s only bargaining chip.
Councilman Jim Bagby argued that leaving the zoning in place forces the state or county to negotiate with Destin before pursuing any new use.
“The only leverage we have is when the state or the county comes to us and requests that we change it,” he said. “Once we give up that zoning designation… we’re just not in a good position.”
After discussion, the council scrapped the broader motion and unanimously adopted a substitute directing staff to begin conversations with state officials about conservation zoning, without triggering formal changes.
Residents warn of intensity, parking crunch
Residents echoed many of the worries voiced at last week’s town hall on Okaloosa Island, where Okaloosa County Commissioner Drew Palmer walked through the timeline of the deal and said nothing presented was final. There, several speakers warned that commercial activity tied to the purchase risked overrunning Holiday Isle.
At Monday’s meeting, Guy Tadlock, who lives near the site, urged city leaders to step in.
“I’m afraid that what the county has planned for this park is going to really affect Noriego Point Park,” Tadlock said. “Those people didn’t buy their properties with a commercial marina there.”
Another resident, Jeff Shapiro, praised the park’s existing improvements but said he worried that growing visitation could strain infrastructure.
“It seems to me that the number of trash receptacles that are there is woefully inadequate,” he said. “I would hate to see that beauty be, you know, downgraded.”
County plan, price tag draw scrutiny
The Okaloosa County Property Appraiser values the land at roughly $10.5 million, far below the state’s purchase price.
The seller, Louisiana businessman Bobby Guidry, previously convicted in a 1990s bribery scheme, controls the property through Pointe Mezzanine LLC and stands to realize a significant gain.
County officials have said the state, not the county, set the price based on two independent appraisals. At the town hall, Palmer acknowledged frustration, but said the state followed its process.
“There were two state-certified appraisals that were independent of each other and came within a couple of hundred thousand dollars of each other,” Palmer said at the town hall meeting. “When you’re talking $84 million, that’s pretty close.”
Public discussion has also focused on campaign contributions tied to entities associated with Guidry, including funds given to Palmer and Commissioner Paul Mixon. However, neither official has been accused of wrongdoing.
What kind of park?
On Monday, multiple Destin council members said the county’s conceptual plan, which included large boat slips and a restaurant component, would overwhelm nearby neighborhoods and compete with the city’s own park next door.
Councilman Dewey Destin called it “totally out of character with conservation.”
“We want to give them an alternative… that accomplishes what they meant to do when they bought the property,” he said, pushing instead for transient boat access and restoration work.
Councilman Kevin Schmidt said the city needs to speak directly with Tallahassee decision-makers and not rely on intermediaries.
“We need to talk to the people that matter,” he said. “We don’t want to bend over anymore.”
Council narrowly rejects call for investigation request
After voting 6–1 to open dialogue with the state, the council turned to a separate question: whether to ask Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Blaise Igodala, to investigate the deal.
Councilman Torey Geile argued the city should ask the state to verify that everything was “true and accurate.”
But others warned the move would look like an accusation and damage relationships with the Department of Environmental Protection and the city’s legislative delegation.
“You don’t turn around and slap them in the face,” Bagby said. “The state can slap us a hell of a lot harder than we should slap them.”
Councilwoman Sandy Trammell agreed, saying, “I don’t know how anyone can react to us in good faith when we’re turning around investigating.”
The resolution failed on a 4–3 vote.
Next steps: conversation, then decisions
Kopp said city staff had already spoken with DEP officials before the holidays and plan to reconnect now that the sale has closed and the county has presented its draft plan publicly.
“I believe that DEP will want to hear from the city and to hear from the residents,” she said.
For now, the city’s strategy is to press its case, build allies and keep its leverage intact.
As Destin summed up: the city wants to be “a partner, not their adversary.”
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