Environmental Assessment for Coastal Upland Development Compliance in Walton County, FL
Northern Gulf Environmental, LLC (NGE) prepared a detailed Environmental Assessment (EA) in compliance with Walton County Land Development Code (LDC) habitat protection standards. This project centered around a coastal parcel intersecting the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) and the Coastal Protection Zone (CPZ)—areas subject to stringent preservation requirements for coastal upland natural communities such as Coastal Scrub and Beach Dune.
To ensure regulatory compliance and protect these sensitive habitats, our team utilized RTK-grade GPS and high-resolution FLCCS mapping to delineate natural communities and developable areas with sub-meter accuracy. This level of ecological and spatial precision allows landowners and developers to maximize property value while meeting or exceeding conservation thresholds, such as 95% or 100% habitat preservation where applicable.
Our approach integrates ecological science, local code knowledge, and state-of-the-art geospatial tools to align built environments with the surrounding landscape. The EA process not only supports informed site planning, but also satisfies County requirements for development approval, wildlife lighting, and habitat retention—ultimately streamlining the path to a building permit.