- July 21, 2024
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During the economic downturn a few years ago, Sea Ray closed down many of its manufacturing plants and relocated the templates and molds used to build different size boats into the remaining plants, the Flagler plant being one of them.
The plant employs around 700 people. Much of the existing parking lot is now being used to store the additional boat molds so many employees must park along the sides of the road, in swales and every vacant area leading into the plant. Customers must navigate a gauntlet of haphazard parking to get to the sales office. In the interest of safety, another parking lot is needed. The company has made application to Flagler County for a land use change on an adjacent parcel, which they have under contract, to facilitate permitting of the parking lot.
I find it incredulous that the Flagler Beach City Commission took action and passed a horrible resolution opposing Sea Ray’s efforts before first inviting Sea Ray to a workshop or even talking to them!
It was clear that the city had been heavily lobbied by a few people that don’t need to work anymore; that moved into their expensive homes knowing Sea Ray was nearby (some even sold and relocated closer to the plant) and now won’t be happy till Sea Ray leaves Flagler County, with total disregard to the impact that may have on the community. The city never even gave the company a chance to defend itself or explain the truth.
Many of us struggle to understand what the Flagler Beach City Commission’s intentions were when they voted to send their resolution to the county. Besides making a statement, was there a clearly defined goal? What did they hope to accomplish with the resolution? Was the intent to encourage Sea Ray to leave Flagler County?
Facts and the truth lead to better decisions than emotion, half-truths and “spin.” It’s unfortunate, but the Flagler Beach City Commissioners were "played" by a small number of residents with selfish, personal agendas. It’s disappointing that they chose to help a vocal minority to the detriment of the entire community’s economic wellbeing and its reputation for being job / business-friendly.
For the last five years and following about 65 inspections by the Department of Environmental Protection, Sea Ray has not been cited for a single violation. Since the company is not asking to expand its manufacturing operation, speculation about the operation’s environmental impact is not relevant to this application. Yet the “spin” centers on the technical confusion of environmental impacts. Parking lots are rather mundane and simple; when you start hearing emotional, technical or conspiratorial arguments against a parking lot, you are being “spun”!
Sea Ray wants to build a parking lot so employees have a safe place to park. The company has no ulterior motives or hidden agendas in this request. I am hoping that at Monday’s Flagler County Board of County Commissioners meeting and any other public meetings we limit our discussion to the germane issues of a parking lot.
The Flagler County Planning Board couldn’t get past the spin. The Flagler Beach City Commission couldn’t get past the spin. I encourage the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners to be more astute and support Sea Ray’s effort to build a parking lot. Anything less will have a devastating impact on our reputation for years to come and Sea Ray will likely be forced to relocate.
Seriously, this is about a parking lot.
