Navarre man haunted by zoning dispute

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office received the report from the Okaloosa-Walton Medical Examiner’s Office on July 23, along with investigative information provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
A press release from the sheriff’s office reported that Rohlman did suffer two wounds from bullets fired by a Special Response Team member, but the Medical Examiner’s Office says neither of those wounds was life-threatening. One bullet struck Rohlman’s right elbow. The other struck his left thigh region.

Rohlman shot and killed Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Anthony Forgione on July 22.

In Feb. 2007, Mark Rohlman petitioned the Local Planning Board to rezone property he owned on the corner of Jewell Road and East Bay Boulevard from residential to highway commercial.
A story in Navarre Press reported that he wanted to build a three-story, solar powered concrete dome shop, serving smoothies, coffee drinks and solar-cooked food.
The Santa Rosa County Commission agreed with the Local Planning Board that the limited commercial uses available in neighborhood commercial would be more appropriate to the largely residential area. He was told he could still build a domed residence, but if he chose to use the building for any commercial activity, he would have to resubmit plans to the Planning and Zoning Department.
Mark Rohlman later filed a lawsuit with the county, which was dismissed.

For more details on this story, see the July 31 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe to our online edition.