Walton County leaders, in collaboration with leaders from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties, and Eglin Air Force Base, are hosting a public meeting on Monday, June 1 to discuss compatible community growth and encroachment issues relating to Eglin Air Force Base.

The meeting will be held at the Freeport Community Center, 16040 U.S. Highway 331 South, Freeport, FL, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm.

A Draft Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) document is now available for public review and comment at www.tri-countybrac.com. The JLUS is an ongoing land use planning effort between Eglin Air Force Base and surrounding communities to promote compatible community growth while protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public and addressing encroachment to Eglin AFB. The public is encouraged to log-on and review the chapter applicable to their respective community. Copies of the document will also be made available at the Coastal Branch Library, Freeport Library and DeFuniak Springs Library.

JLUS consultants will be on hand to address the study’s findings to date and receive public comment regarding recommendations in the Draft JLUS Report. The meeting will include an open house format with exhibits for the study area and a brief presentation to provide a general overview of the JLUS project.

The JLUS program is a Department of Defense initiative providing assistance through the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) for state and local governments to participate with military installations in developing land use plans compatible with their mission. The JLUS program encourages cooperative land use planning between military installations and adjacent communities so future community growth and development are compatible with the training and operational missions of the installation.

The Eglin JLUS has been an ongoing study since 2007 and incorporates a variety of land use related strategies and policies for the tri-county area including the three counties and eleven incorporated cities/towns.

For further information, contact the Okaloosa County Growth Project Coordinator, Jeff Fanto, who is coordinating regional meetings as the one in Freeport, at 850-609-3014.