About the Project

The NAS Pensacola Compatible Use Study (CUS) is a collaborative planning effort between Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, the City of Gulf Breeze, state and federal agencies, the general public, and other interested and affected stakeholders. The purpose of the Study is to address land use and other activities that are incompatible with NAS Pensacola’s mission and effective environmental stewardship while fostering community growth and economic vitality.

 The CUS is funded by a grant from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Department of Defense, and contributions by the Study sponsor, Escambia County. The planning effort will directly benefit both NAS Pensacola and the surrounding area by:

The primary Study goals are to decrease potential resource conflicts between the installation and surrounding communities, reduce environmental degradation, and identify recommendations for ensuring ongoing collaborative planning and enhancing compatible development opportunities. The objectives of the CUS process are:

The NAS Pensacola CUS will focus on the existing development context, mechanisms for improving planning coordination, and opportunities for mutually beneficial growth. The Study will provide project partners, stakeholders, and the public:

In relationship to military readiness, compatibility is the balance and/or compromise between community and military needs and interests. The goal of compatibility planning is to promote an environment in which both entities can thrive through mutually beneficial, collaborative, and coordinated planning and resource use. 

Compatibility Factors are general categories, or types, of compatibility issues that can arise from growth and development near military installations. A set of 25 Compatibility Factors will be used as a framework for identifying the specific issues impacting NAS Pensacola, surrounding jurisdictions, and/or other area stakeholders and to direct the development of appropriate mitigation strategies. Although issues pertaining to all 25 Factors may not be identified in the Study Area, the approach ensure a comprehensive dialog and assessment of all potential concerns.

The heart of the CUS is a set of consensus-based recommendations and Implementation Plan for improving communication and coordination between the military and project partners and for mitigating or avoiding identified issues, Recommendations may range from formalizing communication protocols and notification requirements to policy and regulatory changes.

The Implementation Plan will include these recommendations, as well as suggested lead agencies, potential funding sources, and timelines for implementation in order to facilitate the next stage of compatibility planning. The Implementation Plan is promoted as a non-binding, working playbook from which Study partners can adopt and adapt strategies, as is practical their interests and needs, with confidence in mutual benefits and outcomes.