Grayton Grand final approval

Odom's Grayton Beach project gets final OK


An appellate court decision handed down on March 24 has cleared the way for developer Jay Odom of Destin to build The Grayton Grand, a hotel, condominium and retail project in Grayton Beach in Walton County.

The development earned the county's approval two years ago but has been held up in legal limbo because opponents sued to challenge the county's decision.

Following Thursday's ruling by the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, "Grayton Grand is grand," Odom said. "Anybody now who says this project doesn't meet every requirement known to man is probably just not living in reality," he said. "Today is a good day for property rights in Walton County."

Two years ago, members of the community groups Beach to Bay Connection, South Walton Community Council and Blue Mountain Beach Community Association, as well as South Walton residents Linda and Lee Eyer, sued the county. They said county commissioners violated the county's Comprehensive Plan when they approved the project.

They contended that The Grayton Grand would harm wetlands and that it is not a conforming use for the Grayton Beach area. In 2004, a Walton circuit judge upheld the county's decision to approve the project, which will be built on 7.35 acres on County Road 283 near Logan Lane.

Those suing the county appealed that decision to the 1st District Court of Appeals, which ruled, without comment, eight days after hearing the case on March 16. Grayton Beach is a traditional, small beach community that's one of the oldest beach villages in the Southeast.

Plans for The Grayton Grand include a 75-room hotel, 78 condominium units, 1,000 square feet of retail space, a 3,600 square foot exhibition area, a 6,000 square foot restaurant and a 160 seat conference center. Site work on The Grayton Grand has already started, and the buildings should start going up in about eight months, Odom said.