- December 18, 2024
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Single-family homes or apartments?
If the choice is between the two, Planning Board members said they’d favor the homes, and that’s how they voted on Thursday, Dec. 12, regarding a zoning map amendment and development order for the construction of a new 31-home subdivision. The board recommended the items for approval in a 4-2 vote, with board members Mike Scudiero and Barry du Moulin voting against. Board Chair Doug Thomas was absent.
“There’s a housing need,” Board member GG Galloway said. “... and the alternative is, do you build apartments? Which is not the American Dream.”
The subdivision, to be known as “Little Tomoka Village” is being proposed for a 50-acre property located north of West Granada Boulevard and east of Shadow Crossings Boulevard. In addition to the 31 homes, an Eastern Orthodox church will also be constructed on the property.
A little under 17 acres of the property is currently zoned for medium density residential, and as the land is part of the Hunter’s Ridge Development of Regional Impact, approved in 1991, it was approved for the construction of 50-multifamily units already. The rezoning, according to staff documents, to a Planned Residential Development, would allow for the construction of 31 homes instead.
Residents voiced concerns before the board regarding traffic, the impact on wildlife, and flooding issues from the Little Tomoka River, which bisect the property along the northern and western portions.
Citizen Ted Rhodes said he believed the developer needs to go back to the drawing board and redesign the proposed development. He recently started an online petition to halt all residential growth in the city.
“Since just the time I’ve been here, I’ve talked to people about traffic and I’ve talked to people about the quality of life here — almost every resident that I’ve talked to has really had enough with all of the development in this area,” Rhodes said.
He added that there was a lot of real estate representation on the board, and that it may not be “representative” of the Ormond Beach community at large.
Galloway, and fellow board members Angie Shull and Troy Railsback all work in the real estate industry.
Railsback said it’s “obnoxious” for a resident to insinuate that the board members are serving their own interests by being on the board. He lives off State Road 40 too, and said the community’s concerns regarding traffic are valid.
“This one development is not going to, I think, push something over the edge and be a tipping point,” Railsback said. “It’s just going to contribute to it and as a community, we do need to advocate to get a light there.”
But, he added, he doesn’t multifamily apartments there instead.
People are entitled to move to Ormond Beach, said du Moulin. However, he was concerned about worsening flooding issues caused by the lack of maintenance of local waterways.
Scudiero said he shared the community’s traffic concerns and said he would have been more in favor of the development if it didn’t include the church and community center.
Residential homes, he said, will generate less trips than those buildings.
The Ormond Beach Planning Board reccommended approval by a 6-0 vote for a special exception redevelopment plan for the construction of a new drive-thru coffee shop in town.
Dan Sundell, of SunBros Cafe in Flagler Beach, seeks to demolish the existing building at 14 S. Yonge St. and construct a 250-square-foot standing drive-thru coffee shop at the former Massey Auto Brokers property. He is seeking a waiver for landscaping requirements and for building wall signage standards.
His proposal was met with praise from the board.
“I think this is a massive step in the right direction,” board member Troy Railsback said.
“I like it,” board member Mike Scudiero said. “I think it’s much better than what’s there now. I hope we can move this up unlike the one last month.”
At the board’s meeting on Nov. 14, the members voted 4-1 against a redevelopment plan for an Ellianos Coffee at the Winn-Dixie parking lot, based on traffic concerns. Scudiero was the only lone yes vote.
Starting Jan. 1, 2025, single-ride fares on Votran will increase to $2, up from the current $1.75.
One-day passes will cost $4. The cost for three-day, seven-day, and 31-day passes is also increasing, according to a county press release. Votran Gold Service fares will be set at $3.50 per ride. Reduced fares will remain available for individuals with disabilities, seniors 65 and older, and youth 17 and under.
“These changes are necessary to maintain Votran’s high-quality services amid rising operational expenses,” the county press release states. “This marks the first fare increase in a decade, and even with the adjustments, the new rates will remain below the average for transit systems in Florida.
The city’s 18th annual Holidays at The Casements event will be held on Thursday, Dec. 19.
The event at The Casements, located at 25 Riverside Drive, will begin at 6 p.m. with an open house. A dessert social will follow at 6:30 p.m. and at 7 p.m., The Moonlighters will perform a holiday concert.
Th Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Ormond Beach Police Department filled the MRAP with gifts for children with the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League on Friday, Dec. 13.
“This is what the holiday spirit is all about—coming together to make a difference,” the chamber wrote on its Facebook page.
