- February 24, 2025
Annexation agreement signed.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
A planned housing development on the scenic Loop, controversial when approved by Volusia County in 2012, will likely be part of Ormond Beach one day. The City Commission approved a water, sewer and annexation agreement for part of the land with the owner, Plantation Oaks of Ormond Beach, at their meeting Aug. 18.
The plans call for 1,500-unit retirement community, including mobile homes, villas and small single-family homes, in a 1,033-acre site on the west side of Old Dixie Highway, north of Tomoka State Park. The area extends along Broadway Avenue almost to U.S. 1.
When first proposed in 2002, and approved in 2012, people came forward at County Council meetings and complained that mobile homes did not fit the area and the development would bring more traffic to the scenic Loop. The development was approved with an agreement for a corridor of trees along Old Dixie Highway. To alleviate traffic, the main road will allow access to U.S. 1 as well as Old Dixie Highway.
The city signed the annexation agreement only for the first 400 homes, because that is the limit of the current water supply pipes. For more than 400 houses, the developer will be responsible for building more infrastructure, said City Manager Joyce Shanahan.
With the water connection comes the understanding that the land will eventually be annexed.
None of the plans for the development can be changed, even when the area is annexed into the city.
“Those agreements are all vested in,” Shanahan said.
There is currently no development on the property, but the owner is hopeful now that the economy is picking up.
“I’ve had more interest from builders in the past year than I have in five years,” said Ronnie Bledsoe, of Plantation Oaks. “I wish I could say something is about to start.”
Citizens speak out
Rita Press, of Ormond Beach, told the commission she did not oppose annexation, but she disagreed having the matter in the Consent Agenda, which consists of items approved without comment. She said it should have been in a Public Hearing.
The only reason she was able to speak is that she asked the mayor to pull it from the Consent Agenda.
“An item like this is so controversial,” she said. “This will have a profound effect.”
Mayor Ed Kelley responded that all of the information about the agreement is in the agenda packet, available to the public. He said if people have questions they can ask their commissioner.
Press also wanted to know when annexation would occur and City Attorney Randy Hayes said there was no specific time set. Shanahan has said the city would not be interested in annexing land until it is developed with infrastructure in place.
Joe Jaynes, chairman of the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail, told the commissioners that he is in favor of the water/annexation agreement.
“They have to adhere to city standards for water and wastewater,” he said. “That’s a good thing.”
Wetlands, historic site protected
Plantation Oaks of Ormond Beach also calls for an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and land designated for a school. The permitting allows retail, service and medical businesses.
According to material in the meeting agenda, the area contains 99.81 acres of wetland, but only 1.39 will be impacted and it will be mitigated with enhancement of wetlands and a buffer.
An old foundation and chimney was discovered in the area of the main road near Old Dixie Highway and it will be preserved in a median.
