Seems a bit late since the new Publix went in with the massive parking lot, bright lights and traffic signal. There is a Walmart in FWB, Destin, and PCB. Between FWB and PCB there are nine Publix stores, I don't think Walmart is asking for too much.
All nine Publix stores you mentioned are not in the Walton County portion or what is left of their portion of the US 98 Scenic Corridor. I think Walmart is asking to errode more of what is a very finite area of escape that visitors come down to the panhandle to enjoy. As soon as you put up all the Walmarts and Walgreens and Walls you want to block out the beauty of the area, the tourists will have to go find somewhere else to visit, where the commercial machine hasn't gobbled up their reason for going there.