Gulf Breeze Unveils 5-Year Plan Focused on Environment, Heritage

City aims to move from planning to implementation, with a focus on climate resilience, public access, and celebrating local history.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The city of Gulf Breeze, Florida has developed a new five-year strategic plan that emphasizes addressing climate-related challenges, expanding recreational opportunities, and celebrating the city's rich heritage. The plan, which was informed by resident surveys, outlines initiatives to protect shorelines, improve stormwater infrastructure, restore natural habitats, and establish a historic preservation program to highlight Gulf Breeze's history dating back to 1828.

Why it matters

Gulf Breeze is a coastal community facing increasing climate-related threats, and the strategic plan aims to position the city for long-term resilience through infrastructure upgrades and environmental conservation efforts. Additionally, the plan's focus on celebrating the city's history and cultural heritage aligns with a growing desire among residents to preserve the unique identity of Gulf Breeze in the face of development pressures.

The details

The strategic plan calls for updating the city's stormwater master plan to account for sea level rise, storm surge, and rainfall intensity projections. It also proposes expanding 'green infrastructure' like bioswales and permeable surfaces, as well as initiating living shorelines and seagrass restoration projects to reduce erosion. To highlight the city's history, Gulf Breeze plans to pass a historic preservation ordinance, establish a Historic Preservation Commission, and create a repository for historic artifacts. The city also wants to better promote the Naval Live Oaks Reservation as a 'nationally significant historic and natural resource'.

  • The five-year strategic plan covers the period from 2025 to 2030.
  • A survey of Gulf Breeze residents was conducted in 2025 to help inform the plan.
  • Gulf Breeze's first strategic plan was implemented over the previous five-year period.

The players

Joshua Smith

A senior assistant with the city's Administrative Services Department and the author of the strategic plan's foreword.

Samantha Abell

The Gulf Breeze City Manager, who wrote the introduction to the strategic plan.

Naval Live Oaks Reservation

A nationally significant historic and natural resource that Gulf Breeze plans to highlight as part of its heritage preservation efforts.

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What they’re saying

“The next five years the city should turn its attention from planning to implementation”

— Joshua Smith, Senior Assistant, Administrative Services Department

“Through implementation of its first strategic plan, the city was able to pull down $21.95 million in grant investments, and has already attracted another $27.8 million in grant funds 'even before this next one is finalized.'”

— Samantha Abell, City Manager

What’s next

The city plans to circulate another survey alongside the draft strategic plan to obtain additional citizen input on the proposed initiatives.

The takeaway

Gulf Breeze's new strategic plan demonstrates the city's commitment to proactively addressing climate change impacts, preserving its unique environmental and historical assets, and enhancing public access and community pride - all with the goal of positioning Gulf Breeze for thoughtful, sustainable growth.