- December 16, 2025
City beautification increases property values, according to officials. A gateway sign at the toll bridge is under consideration.
The Palm Coast City Council, at its Jan. 31 workshop, agreed that a gateway sign, to be seen by cars coming into Palm Coast from the Hammock Dunes toll bridge, is a top priority for city beautification through 2013.
The city’s beautification program has been in place for almost 10 years, according to City Manager Jim Landon. This year, the program’s budget is $200,000.
Staff presented three projects. The gateway sign could cost about $154,000 if done in-house.
The second project was the fourth phase of the Belle Terre Parkway median, which stretches from Whiteview to Royal Palms. The City Council also agreed to do the design of the stretch from Royal Palms to State Road 100.
The final project was Palm Coast Parkway median landscaping and irrigation on the west side of the city — between Brushwood Lane and U.S. 1.
According to the presentation, community beautification promotes economic development by increasing property values by 7.5%.
“We’ll get it done,” Landon said.
Reducing street lamp redundancy
In a cost-savings effort, Palm Coast will soon remove 50 street lamps that have been deemed redundant, according to City Manager Jim Landon. For example, when the continuous street lamps along Belle Terre Parkway North were installed, some were built in close proximity to an existing street lamp near an intersection. (Per city policy, street lamps have previously been installed at every intersection on roads that do not have driveways.)
Each lamp costs the city an average of $9 per month. After removing 50 lamps, the city will save approximately $5,400 per year. The upfront cost to remove each lamppost is about $200, or $10,000 total.
The city will get a return on its investment within two years, Landon said.
“It’s the green thing to do,” he said. “It’s about efficiency ... tightening the belt, like usual.”
Palm Coast also hopes to become Florida Power & Light’s pilot city for using LED street lamps along Belle Terre Parkway South. LED lights are more energy efficient and last longer.
Residents can request lamp installation from the city by calling 986-3700.
FP&L also will put up security lights near people’s homes upon request, if the residents pay the difference in their electric bills. Visit www.fpl.com and search for “security light request.”
