- April 26, 2025
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After Mayor Mike Norris announced on Facebook that he had reversed his stance on Belvedere Terminals’ plan to build fuel storage tanks near a residential community, the rest of the Palm Coast City Council on April 8 confirmed its unanimous opposition to the plan as well.
The plan would build enough tanks to store 300,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel fuel and a one-mile railroad spur along the tracks west of homes — too close to homes and a city water treatment facility for many residents.
Norris, who had advocated for the facility as a “strategic asset” for the state’s fuel supply, acknowledged in his Facebook post that the city lacks industrial development, but yielded to the “quite vocal rejection” of the plan by residents.
Referring to Belvedere Terminals and its CFO Tim Schwarz, Norris suggested: “Maybe they can find other properties adjacent to the rail, south of the city, for consideration, but that would be for county to consider whether or not they would want to keep that project in the county.”
Most of the public commentary has been negative. Ormond Beach officials also fought the project when it had been proposed for their city two years ago.
At the April 8 City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri praised Norris for changing his stance on the facility. She had led the way in the April 1 meeting to slow down the process and challenge Belvedere to considering another option instead.
“I’m very grateful that you were able to reverse course,” Pontieri told Norris. “That’s a hard thing to do, so I want to give you credit for that. …
“The decision to not move forward, I believe, is unanimous," she continued. "This is not our brand. This is not what Palm Coast wants to bring for economic development. And I want to make a statement to those who call this an anti-business decision: This is not anti-business. We’re just not desperate.”
City Councilman Ty Miller pointed out that the Flagler County Commission is the entity that would be required to take the next step, which is to accept a $10 million load from the Florida Department of Commerce.
But, he said, “if it were to come before us, I would not be in support of it.”
City Councilman Charles Gambaro agreed. He also thanked the community for sending emails, which helped to persuade him, although he said he had been skeptical from the beginning.
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