Okaloosa County soon could have a new restaurant and entertainment district just north of Destin Commons on Choctawhatchee Bay.
County commissioners have agreed to consider a request by Destin developer Peter Bos to approve a festival marketplace – similar to Harborwalk Village – that would allow open container drinking.
See a map of the proposed festival district. >>
Bos appeared before the board Tuesday night to lay out his vision for the development.
The so-called Regional Activity Center will be bounded on the north by the bay, on the west by Danny Wuerffel Way, on the south by U.S. Highway 98 and on the east by the Regatta Bay subdivision.
Bos said the festival marketplace would connect Destin Commons northward to the bay, using linear parks and walkways.
“It is our desire to commence as quickly as possible,” he said.
Bos also shared plans to bring Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s, a popular burger and seafood eatery in Gulf Shores, next to Legendary Marina. Lucy is sister of tropical troubadour Jimmy Buffett, whose Margaritaville restaurant opened on the harbor in February.
Bos declined to elaborate on the restaurant Wednesday but said it’s in the middle of the county permitting process. He said his intent with the festival marketplace is to create a “walk-around friendly environment.”
“This is on the bay, which is a very underutilized asset,” he added. “... It’s beautiful.”
Commissioners noted the county’s required buffer of 1,500 feet between Destin Middle School and the proposed entertainment district’s alcohol sales. They instructed county planners to explore reducing that to about 300 feet.
Commissioner Wayne Harris said the buffer is not a priority for him.
“I grew up in a Catholic school,” he said. “We had a bar beneath the church. The kids are gonna get booze. They’re gonna get booze from home, more than anything else.”
Harris said he would like the board to explore Bos’ proposal further.
“My feelings are let’s go forward,” he said. “See what the pros and cons are ... I think it’s a viable opportunity.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.