Okaloosa County approved a 15-year agreement letting D.R. Horton phase parkland for its 1,222-home Independence subdivision in north Okaloosa. The plan allows 22.1 acres of parks across 10 phases instead of 5 acres per phase, clearing the way for continued construction near Highway 90.
Okaloosa County commissioners unanimously approved a long-term development agreement allowing D.R. Horton to move forward with its 1,222-home Independence subdivision in north Okaloosa County while modifying how parkland requirements are met.
The 15-year agreement, approved Jan. 6, applies to a roughly 612-acre site north of Old Spanish Trail, west of Brookwood Lane and east of Clint Mason Road. Two phases of the subdivision already hold approval. The new agreement authorizes progress on phase three and establishes standards for the remaining phases.
County regulations would normally require each development phase to include a minimum 5-acre park. Applied separately to all 10 phases, that approach would total 50 acres of parkland. Under the agreement, D.R. Horton may instead provide 22.1 acres of park space distributed throughout the project, supported by surety bonds to guarantee completion.
County officials said the agreement does not grant overall project approval, which was secured previously through an overlay district incorporated into the land development code. The arrangement focuses solely on parks and recreation obligations.
At least one park must include a parking lot and multipurpose field, along with a playground, picnic pavilion and walking trail. Bonds posted for each phase would be released as improvements are completed. County staff noted the plan results in more parkland than required under a formal phased development order, but less than would be required if every phase stood alone.
The project also operates within the Independence Community Development District, approved in 2023, which provides a financing structure for amenities with an estimated $3 million budget.
Public comments raised concerns about traffic, emergency services and school capacity. Commissioners responded that many of those issues were addressed earlier in the review process and emphasized ongoing coordination with transportation agencies regarding Highway 90.