- March 4, 2025
The Ormond Beach Planning Board approved a master plan July 11, for the Ormond Crossings development.
BY WAYNE GRANT | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Ormond Crossings, a 2,924-acre planned business and residential development, moved one step closer to reality July 11, with the Ormond Beach Planning Board's approval of the project's master plan.
The board also unanimously approved rezoning of the area from “agricultural” to “planned mixed-use," pushing the process along to the Ormond Beach City Commission, which will consider approval in two meetings tentatively set for Aug. 20 and Sept. 3.
Having the city control the property will help maintain the project's vision, according to Planning Board member Rita Press.
“We’ll have a planned development with architectural standards,” she said. “It will have green technology and hopefully increase jobs.”
On commission approval of the zoning and master plan, Tomoka Holdings, the property owner, can begin on infrastructure. But first, site plans will have to be approved and permitted by several state and federal agencies before any construction can begin.
“(Ormond Crossings) will allow us to diversify our tax base and create job opportunities,” said Ormond Beach Economic Development Director Joe Mannarino.
The location's high visibility, along Interstate 95, will help attract business, as well, he added.
Currently at a residential-to-commercial ratio of 75% to 25%, the city should see a shift to 44% residential and 56% industrial after a full build-out, according to Mannarino.
Work on the development's master plan, by Tomoka Holdings along with city staff, started February 2010. It allows for a maximum of 2,950 residential units, more than 3 million square feet of commercial/industrial space and space for an elementary school and churches.
A series of retention ponds are also planned to control potential flooding, planner Clay Erwin said, in response to citizen concerns. And about 3,000 acres of wetland in and around the development will remain untouched.
The plan contains architectural and signage standards, as well, and requires a system of sidewalks and trails. The plan requires 20% open space, “green” development, underground utilities and affordable housing.
The map also shows areas designated for a town center and residential areas with low, medium and high densities.
In order to mitigate potential traffic impacts, Tomoka Holdings has agreed to improve certain exterior roads to allow for higher volume. The number of residences to be built has been approved by the Department of Transportation.
Press also pointed to the fact that the plan provides both residential and business areas, which would allow people to live and work there without driving outside, as an advantage. That would cut down on traffic outside the development, as well, she said.
