- October 10, 2024
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In 2004, the city of Ormond Beach annexed 3,095 acres of land for a planned community.
The community, known as Ormond Crossings, was approved to have a business park, town center and 2,950 residential units, according to the development order. Ormond Crossings is projected to span “5 million square feet in industrial and commercial office space, create approximately 11,000 jobs, increase the local annual property revenues by $42 million and stimulate construction spending by $575 million over a 20-year period,” the development’s website states. Planning between the city, county and Tomoka Holdings began in 2002.
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, representatives from Meritage Homes met with the Ormond Beach Site Plan Review Committee to discuss constructing 2,500 single-family homes on the property, which is located next to the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport along the east and west sides of I-95 and south of U.S. 1 within Volusia and Flagler counties.
In 2013, the City Commission approved an ordinance rezoning the property to a Planned Mixed-Use development.
The first development within Ormond Crossings was Security First Insurance, which opened its $38.2 million headquarters in 2019.
According to the meeting’s minutes, if Meritage Homes moves forward with the development, the company anticipates it will phase the project from north to south.
A new school would need to be constructed. The Volusia County School Board prefers a K-8 over an elementary school.
Though there are 743 acres of wetlands within the planned residential areas of the property, Meritage Homes said the development has been designed to reduce impacts. About 7.6 acres of wetlands are proposed to be impacted. The concept plan proposes 45 acres of parks.
The members of the SPRC were concerned about traffic, particularly about access points on Tymber Creek Road.
“The thought of 2,500 homes dumped into Tymber Creek Road, which is a two-lane road, is scary,” City Planning Civil Engineer David Allen said.
Meritage Homes said the property owners have spoken with the Florida Department of Transportation about plans to widen Tymber Creek to four lanes, as well as for connection to U.S. 1 and the addition of a traffic signal at that entrance.
After receiving a bid of $157,575.56 for a roof replacement for the Pilgrims Rest Church at Bailey Riverbridge Gardens — a bid that came in more than $110,000 over budget — the City Commission unanimously voted to reject the bid at its Oct. 4 meeting, asking the city to adjust its process to attract more local bids.
The item, which was part of the meeting’s consent agenda, was pulled by Commissioner Travis Sargent, who said he had issues with only one company bidding on the project — despite the fact that a Port Orange company gave them an estimate.
The roof replacement was estimated at $45,000. The bid received was over 250% higher and came from a company from Fort Lauderdale.
Because it is a historic property, the city was planning to replace the cedar shake roof using the same material. If the commission wants to explore using a different material, it would need to be first discussed by the Historic Landmark Preservation Board.
Three master gardeners will share their knowledge about Florida palm trees during a free workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Ormond Beach Regional Library, at 30 S. Beach St.
The master gardeners — Jennifer Condo, Chris Nott and Shani Hervey, will provide tips on caring for palms, according to a Volusia County press release. They will also discuss the palms’ environmental importance.
The free workshop is sponsored by Volusia County’s ReGrow the Loop initiative, created by the County Council to enhance the 30-mile Ormond Beach Scenic Loop and Trail, which is both a Florida Scenic Highway and a National Scenic Byway.
ReGrow the Loop, in collaboration with UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County and other local organizations, aims to eradicate invasive plant species, increase native vegetation, attract more wildlife and pollinators, and bring about sustainability practices to the Loop.
Registration for the workshop is required. Visit https://tinyurl.com/regrowtheloop.
