- April 25, 2024
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Some Grand Landings residents are concerned about changes that may bring new residents to their community — specifically, they’re worried about how proposed growth there could affect the HOA, their property values and the amenities offered to residents, they told City Council members at a council meeting Aug. 6.
The residents addressed the council because it was considering an application by the developer, JTL Grand Landings Development, to increase the number of permitted single family homes in the community from 749 to 890, and to add an option to develop some of the land into multifamily units.
JTL Grand Landings had, months prior, proposed a more ambitious plan that would have involved adding 113 acres and raising the number of units to 1,150. But, after bringing that plan before the city’s Planning Board and facing resident opposition, it opted to table its proposal and revise it.
"Keep them posted. … That's the only thing I would encourage you guys to do, is communicate with the homeowners."
— JACK HOWELL, Palm Coast City Council member, addressing JTL Grand Landings developer Jeff Douglas
The Planning Board considered the revised option in July and recommended the city approve it, with some changes: A requirement that the multifamily buildings not exceed 35 feet tall, and that a construction entrance be added off Citation Boulevard. JTL Grand Landings agreed.
Councilman Jack Howell urged the developer to maintain communication with the residents. “Keep them posted,” he said. "That's the only thing I would encourage you guys to do, is communicate with the homeowners."
The council approved the proposal 4-0. Mayor Milissa Holland was absent.
Flagler County has obtained about 100 Stop the Bleed kits, and provided about half of those to the city of Palm Coast. The kits contain tourniquets, bandages and other tools designed to allow EMTs and paramedics to quickly halt hemorrhaging.
The kits are not being placed in locations around the city; they're being placed on fire trucks.
"Within five minutes, any fire truck is going to get to any incident within the city," Fire Chief Jerry Forte said at the Aug. 6 council meeting.
He added that a joint task force including local municipal government staff and the Flagler County Sheriff's Office has been planning and implementing active assailant training.
Councilman Jack Howell is trying to draw aviation-related businesses to Flagler County to create high-paying jobs for residents.
Howell, himself a pilot, has been working with staff to produce a video targeting businesses that are members of the National Business Aviation Association, he told council members at the close of the Aug. 6 meeting. He's seeking businesses tahat have 500 or fewer employees.
"We hope that this will be an incentive for some of them to decide to come here," he said. He asked for other council members' support. "They pay well, these companies. And they don’t have to be right at the airport," he added.
"If it’s good for the city, it's good for me," Councilman Eddie Branquinho said.
"Go fishing, Jack!" said Councilman Nick Klufas.
He's one of the country's best-known and best-loved forest critters: Smokey Bear, the Aug. 9, 1944, joint creation of the U.S. Ad Council and the U.S. Forest Service.
The Palm Coast City Council recognized Smokey's 75th birthday with a proclamation Aug. 6, also recognizing the Florida Forest Service for responding to more than 190 wildfires within Flagler County over the past five years.
"Throughout history, we’ve known many bears that have been wonderful for the community, going back to Teddy bear, who was in honor of Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt, to Baloo from Kipling's The Jungle Book ... to Winnie the Pooh, who taught us patience and don't stick your hand in the honey pot," Palm Coast Fire Chief Jerry Forte said. "But out of all of the bears you can imagine throughout history, no one has been making the fire service and the United States more secure than Smokey Bear, and the members of the Florida Forest Service."
The Smokey Bear wildfire prevention campaign is considered the longest-running public service campaign in U.S. history, according to the proclamation.
In another proclamation at the Aug. 6 meeting, the council named Aug. 21 National Senior Citizens Day in the city of Palm Coast. Deborah Susswein accepted the proclamation.
