- December 16, 2025
Board hears about community center, dog park
Wayne Grant
News Editor
The Planning Board gave the OK for a funeral home usage at Tuscany Shoppes, 1185 W. Granada Blvd., at their meeting May 14. A final decision will be made by the City Commission in two readings, tentatively set for June 2 and 23.
Paul Holub Jr., representing the retail strip which is between Hidden Hills Drive and Old Tomoka Road, asked for an amendment to his planned business development so that the usage could be allowed.
Board member Rita Press said she changed her mind during the meeting. She said when she told people that a funeral home was planned for Tuscany Shoppes, they were quite surprised. They pictured a hearse parked out front and funeral processions through the parking lot.
But her concerns were alleviated by explanations from Holub and Skip Knopke, of Baldwin Brothers Funeral Home, who said funerals have changed in recent years.
“Seven out of ten burials in Florida are cremations,” Knopke said.
His company does not even own a hearse, but rents one occasionally when needed. They transport urns in a Town and Country automobile.
The funeral home would be on the east side of the center, which does not face Granada Boulevard. Knopke said if there is a procession, it will exit onto Old Tomoka Road, rather than through the lot to Granada.
Holub said he also initially said no when he received the proposal, but put conditions in the lease that there can be no cremation or processing of bodies at the office.
“We find it’s a perfect fit for the center,” he said “It’s a profitable, successful center and we don’t want to have an impact on other tenants.”
Knopke said the business space will be used for meeting with clients and conducting services.
The lone “no” vote came from board member Pat Behnke.
“I wouldn’t want services in a shopping center and have to go out the back door,” she said. “I can’t vote for this.”
On board with west-side community center
the Leisure Service Advisory Board made their recommendations to the City Commission for capital spending for coming years. The information will be used by the officials when approving the budget this year.
The board recommended an idea put forward recently by Commissioner Rick Boehm to construct a community center west of Interstate 95, an area that has seen population growth. The members recommended $50,000 for a feasibility study.
The facility would have space for two basketball courts, which could also be used for large community events.
Board member Doug Thomas pointed out that since the YMCA on Sterthaus Drive plans to close its basketball court in the next couple of years in its planned renovations, and the city will be left with only one basketball court at the Nova Recreation Center and one at South Ormond Neighborhood Center.
The board also recommended partnering with the YMCA in their plans to construct a dog park as part of the renovations.
YMCA CEO Teresa Rand showed the plans for the dog park to the board, which include a pavilion for shade, lighting, supervision, dog wash, water feature and agility course. She said the park will be open to the public with no restrictions and construction could start near the end of next year.
She said the YMCA had received two estimates for constructing the dog park, and both are more than a half million dollars. She said she was surprised at the cost and requested the city help pay for it.
The city has plans for a dog park at Nova Recreation Center which would be larger, but would not have the amenities planned by the YMCA. Leisure Service Director Robert Carolin said the city dog park is projected at four years out.
The board voted to use whatever funds are planned for the city dog park to be provided to the YMCA. The amount is not known at this time, because the city has not finalized the costs of constructing one at Nova Recreation Center.
Some board members were concerned that the YMCA dog park, planned for 1.43 acres, would not be large enough for Ormond Beach. One member said the average dog park is two acres.
The City Commission will make the final decision when approving the budget.
