- April 18, 2024
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The city would construct a mangrove island for a breakwater.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
A floating boat dock may be added to the Halifax River at the southwestern corner of the Granada Bridge to attract boaters who would patronize restaurants and other businesses in the downtown. Proponents say it would bring visitors without adding traffic.
The idea, which came from Ormond Beach MainStreet, is in the early stages.
The eight-foot-wide concrete dock, located 70 feet south of the existing fishing/walking pier, would accommodate 10 boats with an average length of 26 feet. The channel for boats using the launch at Cassen Park would be moved south.
In its application, the city states the dock will be a public service, because there are no transient boat slips within 25 miles.
At a recent City Commission meeting, the officials agreed to apply for a grant for $200,000 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with a total project cost of $657,100. The city also plans to apply for a 50% construction cost grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District, but not until next year, after a decision is made by the Conservation Commission.
Mangrove breakwater would be created
To reduce wave action caused by wind, a breakwater consisting of an oyster reef and mangrove island would be constructed south of the area.
“The City is providing for an innovative, ecologically, and aesthetically pleasing breakwater by utilizing the dredged material to create a bar that will be seeded for an oyster reef and mangrove islands,” the application states. “This bar will naturally promote cleaner water and land growth, as these species, clean water and trap sediments.”
Dredging would be needed to accommodate the vessels. The project would be permitted through the Florida Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Details yet to be decided
Whether the boat dock would be open for overnight stays, or only day boaters, is yet to be determined. Original plans called for the dock to be open only during the day, but a member of Ormond MainStreet, Jerry Janero, supported the idea of overnight stays at the commission meeting.
Janero said if it were open only during the day, visitors would not stay during the dinner hour, because day boaters generally don’t travel at night.
“We’ve been to so many places along the East Coast that are not even as nice as Ormond Beach and get a big play from Intracoastal Waterway cruisers,” he said.
City Manager Joyce Shanahan said the vote before the commission was only to apply for the grant, and policy decisions, such as operating hours, could be decided later. The commission voted in favor of the grant application, leaving operating matters to be decided later.
“This will probably come up in a workshop,” said Mayor Ed Kelley.
