Santa Rosa County (Florida) residents are pushing back against a developer’s plan for a 96-lot RV park on a 10-acre waterfront parcel near Garcon Point, a proposal that has reignited long-standing disputes over land use along Escambia Bay.
The developer, who has owned the property since 2019, is asking the county to approve the project, which would place the RV park on more than 400 feet of waterfront.
According to an article published by Wear News 3 on September 25, the debate came when residents of Michael Drive voiced opposition at a Santa Rosa County Commission meeting, arguing the project does not fit their neighborhood.
Commissioners acknowledged the controversy stretches back decades, predating Hurricane Ivan.
Residents attended the meeting to raise safety and quality-of-life concerns. They pointed out that access to the site requires traveling through their subdivision’s narrow roads, which they say are not built to handle the increased traffic.
Another expressed concerns about hurricane preparedness and potential bottlenecks during evacuation. “A break down of one RV on Michael Drive in the event of an evacuation, and they break down all the time, would cause major backlogs in getting everyone out safely.”
Beyond evacuation risks, the report said the proposal threatens the community’s character. “Beyond safety, this is about protecting the character of our neighborhood. Families moved here for peace, quiet and a tucked away environment.”
The site has a history with RV development. Before Hurricane Ivan struck in 2004, part of the land was home to an RV park that was destroyed and never rebuilt.
Two years later, in 2006, commissioners rezoned the property for residential use, with plans for homes that never materialized.
Commissioner Kerry Smith noted he could relate to residents’ concerns. “I was one of them,” said Smith. “I wouldn’t be here if a campground didn’t try to come to my neighborhood.”
Smith emphasized his support for the neighborhood, saying RV parks and residential developments often conflict.
“I think it’s a terrible idea. 2019 it was passed as a P2. P2 allows for that kind of development on that land,” Smith said. “I don’t know what happened with that former board. But what you have to do to get through that campsite is go through an R1 residential area.”
For now, the proposed RV park remains under review, as residents and officials weigh the balance between waterfront development and neighborhood preservation.