Emerald Breeze Resort recently requested a development order from Okaloosa County, and emerged victoriously. They can now move forward with their plans to build the privately-managed hotel atop military land on Okaloosa Island.
Lease agreements are still pending between the Air Force and Rich Chism, program manager for the Emerald Breeze Resort Group, and until those details can be finalized, building permits will be withheld. The Air Force would like to see the development order before they execute the lease. The land will remain the property of the Air Force while the $24 million beachfront hotel will be built, owned and managed by the developers. The Air Force will also maintain radar equipment on one of the building’s roofs.
One of the reasons why developers likely targeted the land is that military land is exempt from property taxes. This has other island hotels up in arms, but improvements to the Emerald Breeze Resort will be able to be taxed. Additionally, bed taxes will be collected from each reservation and paid to Okaloosa County.
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