- November 7, 2024
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Ormond Beach will be getting a new standalone Starbucks at Shoppes on Granada, as the City Commission approved 4-1 a resolution to approve a drive-thru restaurant at the second phase of the development. The current Starbucks on West Granada Boulevard will relocate to the new building.
The special exception allows a 2,400 square-foot two-tenant building, which will also house a hair salon, at the 1246 W. Granada Boulevard plaza. City Commissioner Troy Kent voted against the resolution, citing increased traffic concerns due to the upcoming Aldi as the reason why he believes a Starbucks shouldn't open in that location.
"That Aldi, I'm so glad it's coming and so glad it's there, but it's going to be jammed up," Kent said.
Roger Strcula, president of Upham Inc., represented the developer at the meeting, and addressed citizen traffic concerns by providing alternate routes to travel to Ormond Towne Square, all of which were under 4 minutes of travel time. As for Aldi increasing traffic, he said people are already driving west on Granada to reach Walmart and Publix.
"We almost always vote together, and that says something. And sometimes we don't, and that also says something. It's healthy, I think."
City Commissioner Troy Kent on Starbucks vote.
Strcula said Aldi hopes to open sometime this September.
Three residents spoke on the item, two of which asked the commission to vote against the resolution. The third asked the commission to be conscious of the traffic patterns that will be affected by the development.
Ormond Beach resident Bonnie Powell said developers have rights, but that they should stick to what a zoning district allows, without seeking special exceptions.
"[Aldi] should be the last high-traffic business permitted there," Powell said.
Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington supported the project, but said he would have felt more comfortable if a deceleration lane was added to the project, due to the recent traffic fatalities in the city.
"That traffic is there, is my feeling one way or the other, whether this goes in or not," Partington said. "That traffic is going to be there."
A deceleration lane would help, he added.
A special exception request by Granada Surf Shop to permit outdoor activity was unanimously approved by the City Commission at the July 30 meeting.
Owner David Mongeau sought to authorize a daily display and rental of two surfboards outside his 220 E. Granada Blvd. shop. A city memo on the request stated that Neighborhood Improvement Division and Planning Department staff received a complaint over the surfboards at the Granada Surf Shop and the special exception request was to bring the business into compliance.
The city also updated its solicitor ordinance at the meeting, with the commission unanimously approving an amendment to the definition of a "commercial solicitor."
A city memo states that prior to the change, a commercial solicitor required a city permit for door-to-door sales of goods or property, but didn't mention sale of services. The city brought up the update due to the increase of tree trimming service solicitation activity without a permit.
Now, tree companies must have a permit to solicit their services in local residences.
