- April 25, 2024
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Flagler County commissioners froze development at Hunter’s Ridge Monday in a unanimous vote. Commissioners said the developer wasn’t meeting its obligations.
The development, which sits at the southwest corner of Flagler County and extends into Volusia County, was planned with a capacity of around 2,300 residential units as well as commercial properties. The county-ordered freeze will halt its progress during its first phase.
The development order for Hunter’s Ridge required its developer to turn just under 2,000 acres of conservation land over to the county, some of which has been mortgaged by Hunter’s Ridge Residential Golf Properties Inc. The developer's failure to do so led commissioners to approve a notice of noncompliance aimed at Hunter's Ridge.
Allan Feker, president of Hunter’s Ridge, said the development’s noncompliance was a response to today’s harsh economic climate in a letter to Craig Coffey, county administrator.
“We deeply regret putting the project into a noncompliant situation but the dire circumstances resulting from the depressed real estate environment have left us with very limited financial capability to do those things we certainly would do otherwise,” Feker wrote. “We will be continuing to work diligently to execute those actions that will bring us into compliance.”
Commissioner Nate McLaughlin said he felt the county had extended Hunter’s Ridge as many chances as possible, but that he didn’t think its developers were taking their obligations seriously.
“I want to make sure this board understands what this developer has done to you in your good faith efforts,” he said. “It’s beyond disappointing; it’s downright aggravating.”
Overall, the commissioners focused on protecting the county’s budget in its decision to suspend development at Hunter’s Ridge.
“I’ve been waiting 20 years for this,” Commissioner George Hanns said. “This is something we have to do…It’s overdue, and it’s something that’s unfortunate, but it’s something we need to do to protect the taxpayers of this county.”
Hunter’s Ridge will not be able to resume its first phase of development until it realigns itself with the terms issued in its development order.
