- November 23, 2024
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The Ormond Beach City Commission chambers were full of Tomoka Oaks residents on Tuesday, May 18, as the neighborhood rallied to plead the city’s help in preserving as much of the golf course’s greenspace as possible.
The golf course property recently sold for $2.6 million, and the developers wish to build single-family homes on the land. Though no site plans have been submitted to the city yet, residents are worried about the possible addition of 300-350 new homes to the area. The developers are hosting a meeting to discuss the project, and residents’ concerns, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 20, at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Tomoka Oaks resident Beth King said she and her neighbors expect to take discussions with the developer seriously.
“We want to emphasize to you that we want you to do the same,” King said.
A petition on Change.org to preserve the land of the golf course has been signed by over 1,690 people as Wednesday, May 19.
Some concerns include added traffic impacting Tomoka Oaks’ single main entrance, the clearing of large oak trees and the loss of wildlife habitat.
Yes, it is early in the process, said resident Mary Greenlees, who has lived in Tomoka Oaks for 20 years. She asked the city take 90 days to explore how to retain greenspace.
“How many cities do we all know that have had good intentions for growth to later find themselves scratching their heads, wondering how the traffic suddenly became a liability and not an asset for our community?” Greenlees said.
The Ormond Beach City Commission voted to table a request to approve an interlocal agreement for the distribution of the local option fuel tax revenues, as the city will lose $45,000 in revenues this year and $230,000 per year after that due to the new formula.
The current formula, negotiated in the late 1990s, is largely based on population, city documents state. It will expire on Aug. 31. The new formula has been discussed between the city managers and county manager for almost three years, and is proposed to be based on lane miles. The commissioners chose to table their vote to get answers as to what would happen if they voted against the agreement.
“This is not a good deal for the city of Ormond Beach," Finance Director Kelly McGuire said. "We agree.”
Though the commission voted 3-2 to demolish the church building at 56 N. Beach St., members of Ormond MainStreet and the Ormond Beach Arts District asked the commission to reconsider its vote.
They asked the city hold off on demolition to allow community workshops to be held.
The commission unanimously approved a request by Publix to allow geometric patterns as part of the renovation of the former Lucky’s Market building at 101 E. Granada Blvd. The project is 60% completed.
