- April 25, 2024
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Supporters of the "Defend the Loop" campaign had cause to celebrate on Tuesday, April 20, after the Volusia County Council voted 6-0 to purchase the 36-acre parcel of land in Plantation Oaks for $988,000.
The pending purchase is made possible through the ECHO Historic acquisition/stabilization grant program, which was given a unanimous recommendation for approval by the ECHO Advisory Committee on April 1. The property qualified for the grant due to it having historic remnants of the original Old Kings Road as well as structural remains and artifacts of a late 18th or 19th century home, according to the agenda item summary. The property will be purchased using $234,647 from the county park improvement funds; a $15,000 joint contribution from the North Florida Trust and Dream Green Volusia; a $249,647 ECHO grant match; and $488,706 via a direct county expenditure of ECHO funds.
While the property will remain largely undeveloped, the county does plan to add a three-quarter-mile-long nature trail that could later connect to Ormond Tomb Park and Bulow Creek State Park, picnic tables, a pavilion, and interpretive panels that commemorate the history of the land.
These additions would cost about $34,000, and the funds would come from the county parks, recreation and culture budget, with annual maintenance costs of $6,500.
And though the vote was unanimous (County Councilwoman Barb Girtman was absent), some council members expressed disdain for the purchase. County Councilman Fred Lowry likened the purchase to putting "a square peg in a round hole," and said that he would "hold his nose" as he voted in favor of it because he felt the ECHO grant process was not handled according to the standards outlined for the program's renewal during last election's campaign season.
“I would just like to say I really don’t want to see another grey area like this come up before us in regards to ECHO," Lowry said.
County Councilwoman Billie Wheeler said she agreed, and that the way the process transpired for this property went against what was promised to the voters.
“We fit the square peg into the round hole because we were forced to in a lot of ways," Wheeler said. "... I absolutely wanted to preserve the Loop, but I still had the question, ‘Was this the property?’ Or should we have gotten another property that didn’t have any 175 foot easement?”
However, many of the people who spoke at the meeting were in favor of the purchase. Former Circuit Judge Joe Will said he's lived in Volusia for 40 years and that this is the first time he felt a governmental body was standing up for the environment.
“This is a significant event in Volusia County right now," Will said.
Among the speakers were also Spruce Creek High School student Natalie Pilipczak who started the Change.org petition to preserve the Loop. The petition has been signed over 71,000 times. County Councilwoman Heather Post commended her efforts, noting her young age and dedication to helping the environment.
Pilipczak said she felt this purchase was one of the best opportunities for land conservation in the Loop for several years.
“The Loop is worthy of our protection and it’s more than just trees along our byway," she said.
One of the driving forces behind the purchase of the land was Dream Green Volusia, who along with the North Florida Trust had raised $26,250 at the time of the meeting. Drea, Green Volusia Founder Suzanne Scheiber said that anyone who opposed the purchase and felt there were other parcels in the Loop that should be preserved should also act and make their voices heard.
“We are simply activists trying to achieve land conservation on the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail," Scheiber said. "We’re not elected officials.”
