Planning Board - October 6, 2026

At its October 6, 2026 meeting, the Escambia County Planning Board considered proposed changes to the OLF-8 land development code and a related rezoning for the former Navy landing-field property. The applicant, TriW Development and Chad Henderson Enterprises, sought adoption of a new master plan and design code and rezoning into mixed-use, employment, commercial, civic, and residential districts. The applicant and county staff said the proposal met the applicable planning criteria; the applicant cited more than 100 acres of proposed open space and anticipated job creation. The board recommended approval of the land development code changes by a 6–1 vote and, in a separate quasi-judicial hearing, recommended the rezoning by a 6–1 vote. The rezoning recommendation was not made contingent on the sale closing. Final decisions remain with the Board of County Commissioners; the applicant said related hearings were scheduled for October 15 and November 5.

Public testimony raised concerns about the county’s land-sale terms, valuation, traffic and road capacity, stormwater, infrastructure costs, compatibility, and whether warehouse uses could include a data center. Speakers cited a reported change from a 2025 contract for about 541 acres at $42.5 million to a 2026 restructuring involving about 367 acres for roughly $28 million, and questioned the absence of an updated appraisal and competitive process. The applicant and supporters emphasized economic development, employment land, and the proposed mixed-use plan; staff cited state-agency correspondence indicating no anticipated adverse impacts to state roads. No new procurement award was made; the hearing concerned land-use approvals connected to a county property sale and redevelopment proposal.