Okaloosa County approves land use change for planned veterans retirement community

In Brief:

🏡 County commissioners approved land use changes allowing development of Victory Village, a retirement community for wounded veterans and military spouses.
🗺️ The 79.99-acre property was reclassified from “Federal Reservation” to “Mixed Use,” clearing a key regulatory hurdle.
📝 The project now awaits final review by the Florida Department of Commerce before it can proceed.

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners on July 1 voted 2-0 to approve a series of land use changes that pave the way for Victory Village, a planned retirement community for aging wounded warriors and surviving military spouses.

The decision comes after months of planning and public discussion regarding a 79.99-acre parcel at the northwest corner of Poquito Road and Sunset Lane.

The land, previously designated as “Federal Reservation” due to its historical association with Eglin Air Force Base, is now reclassified as “Mixed Use” under the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

The rezoning was accompanied by an extension of the Urban Development Boundary to include the site.

Elliot Kampert, the county’s Growth Management Director, confirmed that the changes were recommended for approval by the Planning Commission in March and had undergone state review without objections.

“Staff has received no correspondence in opposition,” Kampert said. “The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval.”

The property, which is now owned by the nonprofit Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV), will be developed into Victory Village—a community designed to serve wounded veterans, surviving spouses of retired enlisted service members from all military branches, and retired enlisted couples.

“We want to create a place that takes care of the nation’s aging wounded service members and their caregivers,” said Jeffrey McInnis, who represented AFEV during the hearing. “We appreciate your consideration of these requests.”

Commissioner Trey Goodwin supported the project but took time to clarify what the board was voting on.

“We’re not voting on Victory Village. We’re voting on a land use change to Mixed Use,” he said. “This property could be sold to a commercial developer tomorrow.”

Goodwin acknowledged that while the board trusts AFEV’s intentions, land use changes must be considered independent of specific projects.

“That confidence I have in the applicant is not part of the criteria,” he said. “We must make decisions based on policy, not promises.”

McInnis later added that the property does carry private deed restrictions that limit its use to purposes consistent with the mission of AFEV, effectively safeguarding it from incompatible commercial development.

However, Goodwin pointed out, those restrictions are not enforceable by the county.

The approved Mixed Use zoning allows for up to 25 dwelling units per acre, meaning nearly 2,000 units could be built on the site. The Victory Village campus, as currently envisioned, would include independent and assisted living residences, recreational facilities, medical and therapy offices, a restaurant, a church, and a community center.

Victory Village is designed as an expansion of the existing Air Force Enlisted Village campus, which already includes multiple living communities, support facilities, and services tailored to retired enlisted personnel and their families.

According to county staff, the existing AFEV site is nearing capacity and has a growing waitlist.

With the land use amendment and rezoning approved, the package will be sent to the Florida Department of Commerce for a final review. If no deficiencies are found, the changes will take effect 31 days after the state confirms the submission is complete.