- November 28, 2024
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“I’ve talked to all of them.”
Developer Paul Holub, on what grocery store could be on his planned development
The City Commission will be considering a land use amendment that paves the way for a future development on Granada Boulevard. The Planning Board voted to recommend the amendment at their Jan. 14 meeting. It will go before the Volusia County Growth Commission and then the City Commission, tentatively on March 15 and April 5.
The development, south of Granada Boulevard and east of the intersection with Tomoka Avenue, would be a retail center with possibly a restaurant and grocery store, but it’s too early to know who the occupants would be, according to Paul Holub, of Holub Development, who spoke to a neighborhood meeting on Jan. 6.
The neighbors were curious about what grocery store might be there, but Holub did not know.
“I’ve talked to all of them,” he said.
It’s also too early to know the size of any development.
The project will need to go through land rezoning and approval of a planned business development, which will also require City Commission approval. Those living within 600 feet of the development will be notified by mail about neighborhood meetings on the development plans.
The developer also owns land north of Granada Boulevard, but would only develop one parcel, Holub said. At a future date, as the plan is more finalized, Holub said that he will offer to donate the land to the city to enhance Three Chimneys, a historic site that is adjacent to the area.
Most of the planned development area is already zoned for retail. The vote before the Planning Board was to change the land use for nearby now-wooded acreage that is bordered by Bennett Lane both on the east and south that is now designated residential. The Planning Board approved recommending a 2.6 acre section to be changed to retail development, and a six-acre site to be changed to open space/conservation, so that a retention pond can be built to compensate for the development.
Maps and more information can be found in the agenda for the Planning Board meeting of Jan. 14. Visit Ormondbeach.org, click on Boards and Committees and then click on Planning Board.
Holub said there would be a privacy wall and vegetation between any development and Bennett Lane. There will also be a natural buffer and a fence around the six-acre retention pond.
“I’m told this is only to approve land use, but when we come back later to argue the site plan, they will say it’s too late because it’s already been approved for that type of development.” A resident who lives near development
One nearby resident spoke at the Planning Board meeting and said he received a letter about the land use change, but it did not mention the planned future development. He said more people would be there to voice their concerns if they knew about the entire project.
Also, he was concerned that there was no discussion of impact by future development.
“I’m told this is only to approve land use, but when we come back later to argue the site plan, they will say it’s too late because it’s already been approved for that type of development,” he said.
He said he was against the land use change because it would eliminate the buffer of woods and noise from Granada Boulevard would carry into the neighborhood.
City attorney Randy Hayes said that by law, the board must first consider the land use change, which only allows someone to submit an application for development. The next step is to consider rezoning and then the site plan.
“You can’t discuss the merits of the project until the land use is approved,” Hayes said.
Another nearby resident said her family had lived in the area since the 1800s. She said the wooded area is now home to deer and other wildlife.
“It’s a wonderful place,” said Barbara Bennett. “It means a lot to us.”
The land is currently zoned residential, so housing or uses such as a day-care center could be built there without any approval from the city.
Board member Rita Press said that in some point in the future, the land would likely be developed.
But Press took issue with the current requirement for notifying residents about land changes. She said people who live near the area are notified about hearings by mail, but development affects everyone in the city with traffic, etc. She suggested signs be placed notifying people about a land use change going before the Planning Board.
“People will see what is going on,” she said.
Hayes said there are specific state requirements on meeting notices and any sign policies adopted by the city could conflict with state statutes.
