DESTIN — Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner says the debate surrounding Noriega Point is not just about a single parcel of land, but about who controls the future of Florida’s coastal communities, and how far local voices are being pushed aside.
In an extended interview with Mid Bay News, Wagner addressed a sweeping range of issues facing the city in 2026, including the $84 million purchase of Noriega Point, harbor safety, conservation versus commercialization, the statewide push to eliminate property taxes, the Destin Crosstown Connector, and broader concerns about the erosion of municipal authority in Florida.
“My constituents are my bosses,” Wagner said. “And if they’re not part of the conversation, then we’re doing government wrong.”
Wagner said he first learned of the idea to acquire Noriega Point nearly a year before the deal became public, during legislative delegation meetings in Tallahassee while advocating for stormwater and infrastructure funding.
At that time, he said the proposal was framed as a conservation effort to prevent a condominium tower from being built on the narrow peninsula at the east end of Destin Harbor.
“That sounded like a fantastic idea,” Wagner said. “A condo there would have obstructed views of East Pass and boxed in the harbor even more.”
But Wagner said that understanding changed once details emerged showing the property could include dockage, parking and event space, all uses he said conflict with the surrounding residential zoning and homeowner association covenants.
“What we were sold was conservation,” he said. “What we’re seeing now looks like commercialization dressed up as conservation.”
Wagner said neither he nor the Destin City Council was consulted as the plan developed, despite the land being inside city limits and at the end of a residential roadway.
“That land is zoned residential. The HOA doesn’t allow commercial. The city doesn’t allow commercial,” Wagner said. “And yet the county is trying to make it commercial.”
Wagner said the proposed dockage raises serious safety and navigational issues, citing an Army Corps of Engineers study that found Destin Harbor is already over capacity.
“That study says we’re over capacity with zero boats on those docks,” he said. “And now we’re talking about adding more vessels.”
He said the docks extend into shallow water, potentially requiring dredging to make them usable, and questioned whether the structures meet accessibility standards due to their height above the water.
“These aren’t small details,” Wagner said. “They affect safety, water quality and long-term cost.”
Wagner also challenged the definition of “public” dockage, noting that in the marina world, public access often means the right to rent slips, not unrestricted use, raising questions about who benefits financially.
“If there’s revenue generated, it shouldn’t leave Destin,” he said. “It should offset harbor cleanup, a harbor master, water quality and safety.”
Wagner said paving portions of Noriega Point for parking or event space would undermine the purpose of preserving one of the last undeveloped beaches in Destin.
“No one comes to Florida because there’s a concession stand on the beach,” he said. “They come for the beach.”
He said converting sand into asphalt would introduce stormwater problems, require additional infrastructure and contradict the rationale used to justify the purchase price.
“If this is conservation land, then conserve it,” Wagner said. “Don’t monetize it and call it preservation.”
Wagner warned the city could lose significant property tax revenue if the land is removed from the tax rolls without compensation, potentially forcing service reductions.
“We’re not going to raise taxes on locals to cover decisions made elsewhere,” he said. “But if revenue disappears, services eventually get cut.”
He said Destin has already implemented cost-saving measures, including purchasing materials directly to avoid paying sales tax through contractors, a move that saved hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
“But there are limits,” Wagner said. “You can only tighten the belt so much.”
The mayor also addressed a statewide proposal to eliminate or reduce property taxes, an idea gaining more traction among lawmakers and voters.
“I like the idea of keeping more money in people’s pockets,” Wagner said. “But people need to understand what they’re giving up.”
Wagner said roughly 30% of Destin’s ad valorem tax revenue comes from homesteaded properties, with the majority generated by non-homesteaded properties, such as resorts and short-term rentals. Even so, he said eliminating property taxes would weaken local governments and shift power to Tallahassee.
“Expect roads to deteriorate. Expect fewer services,” he said. “And expect decisions to be made farther from your front door.”
He said reduced taxes should be paired with increased civic participation.
“If you want less government, then people have to do more,” Wagner said. “That means volunteering, helping neighbors and stepping up where government steps back.”
Wagner also discussed safety improvements at East Pass following the drowning death of Trinity Eslinger in June 2025. He said restoring navigational aids is an important step but not a complete solution.
“East Pass is beautiful, but it’s extremely dangerous,” Wagner said. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be life-threatening.”
He said residents have proposed creative ideas, including modifying jetty designs to create calmer water areas, though no formal plans have been approved.
“Government can’t eliminate all risk,” Wagner said. “But we can give people better tools and information.”
Among the projects Wagner said he is most optimistic about is the Destin Crosstown Connector, a long-planned east–west route designed to relieve congestion on U.S. 98.
“This project started when I was in middle school,” Wagner said.
He said the road is designed not just for traffic flow but for quality of life, moving vehicles away from residential front doors and behind backyard fences while incorporating sidewalks, green space and traffic-calming features.
“We’re not just building a road,” he said. “We’re building parks and designing for people first.”
City leaders are already planning for future bottlenecks created by the connector, Wagner said, emphasizing proactive rather than reactive infrastructure planning.
Wagner said Destin faces increasing pressure from rising housing costs and population growth, making it harder for workers and young families to live in the city.
“We’re at a point where even locals are being priced out,” he said.
He said future growth should prioritize residents’ needs, not just tourism-driven development.
“The places we need to grow are the places that serve locals,” Wagner said. “Not every piece of land needs to be monetized.”
Wagner said the issues facing Destin reflect a statewide trend of diminishing local authority.
“The further power moves away from local government, the less freedom people actually have,” he said.
As debates over Noriega Point, taxes and development continue, Wagner said trust, not policy, is the actual stake.
“When government hides behind definitions and process, people lose faith,” he said. “And once that trust is gone, it’s very hard to get back.”
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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