- February 6, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
City Council members shared their thoughts on the current traffic situation on Dunlawton Avenue and the possibilities of alleviating congestion during the Tuesday, Feb. 6, meeting.
Councilman Drew Bastian pointed out that while the city is growing, he doesn't see Port Orange's popularity as a place to move coming to a halt. Councilman Chase Tramont said that he believes the greatest alleviation of Dunlawton traffic would be the the Pioneer Trail exit.
"If that comes to fruition ... that is the biggest thing that would give us a relief," Tramont said, adding that "not a lot can be done."
Councilman Bob Ford said that another option could be the Madeline bypass, which would extend Madeline Avenue to U.S. 1 and out to Tomoka Farms Road over Interstate 95.
"That is going to be a necessity if we're not going to end up in a total gridlock," Ford said.
No furloughs for firefighters
Mayor Don Burnette reiterated that he would not consider furloughing firefighters as a way to meet the budget. The comment was made after a previous workshop when City Council discussed the possibility of having a fire assessment fee implemented.
The assessment would be a tool to raise revenue in the event that voters approve a state constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead exemption and decrease local tax revenue.
“If we lose revenue due to a referendum that passes, this is one option to pay for part of that general fund that lost revenue,” City Manager Jake Johansson said during the Tuesday, Jan. 23, workshop meeting. “Obviously, there are many ways to do it, this is just one of them.”
According to Johansson, raising the millage to make up that difference would be another option.
During the workshop meeting, Burnette and Bastian both stated they were not in favor of furloughing firefighters or police officers to make ends meet.
Approval of multi-tenant building off Dunlawton
After a second reading, the City Council also approved an amendment to the Master Development Agreement and Conceptual Development Plan for the Port Orange Gateway Center Planned Commercial Development, which would allow for a multi-tenant building to be developed off Dunlawton Avenue between the Chick-Fil-A and Panera Bread.
The land, currently owned by Target Corp., would be subdivided for the outparcel, which would have four tenants. Two of these tenants would include a jewelry store and First Watch restaurant, which would have a 10-year lease. The project is set to cost $3 million, according to Glenn Storch, attorney for Target.
Summer Trees Road renaming
City Council members approved the renaming of the northern part of Summer Trees Road, north of Taylor Road, to North Summer Trees road.
According to the agenda, the renaming was due to the duplication of the similarly named intersections of the two intersections at Summer Trees Road and South Williamson Boulevard, which has caused confusion with emergency dispatches and responses.
Since Taylor Road and South Williamson Boulevard are county rights of way, city and county officials will work on bringing in new street signage.
