- April 24, 2024
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Just hours after the Volusia County Council expressed a desire to explore the purchase of a 36-acre lot in Plantation Oaks, the Ormond Beach City Commission unanimously approved three amendments to the development order, one of which lifts the age-restriction within the project's first phase.
The other two amendments were administrative zoning changes. In addition, all homes that will be built in phase one will now be single-family homes, rather than manufactured housing, which will be limited to phase two of Plantation Oaks — this section has already been cleared and has over 30 homes built. The clubhouse is part of phase two. Plantation Oaks landowner Parker Mynchenberg said he already has a builder for the first part of phase one, and if the amendments are approved in a second reading, homes will be built quickly.
“We’re excited about building some houses," said Mynchenberg at the commission meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The Plantation Oaks development, located between U.S.1 and the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail, dates back to 1986. At the time, the National Gardens Development of Regional Impact approved 3,930 residential units on 2,009 acres. Later, when Volusia County approved the project in 2002, the density was reduced to 1,577 residential units on 1,033 acres. It originally included a 100-foot buffer on Old Dixie Highway, but was increased to 175 feet in 2012.
Mynchenberg and his partner, the late Ronnie Bledsoe, signed an annexation agreement with the city in 2015, and the land was annexed in 2019.
A handful of residents spoke at the commission meeting, and while none were adamantly opposed to the amendments, they did voice some concerns. One said the residents that have already bought homes in phase two (the manufactured housing portion) did so with the knowledge they would be living in an age-restricted community.
Commissioner Troy Kent asked Mynchenberg about this, who said that all the phases of the development are independently gated, and thus, the age-restricted portion of Plantation Oaks will be closed off to the rest of the community.
A couple residents also asked the commission consider closing the entrance of Plantation Oaks Boulevard onto Old Dixie Highway. However, that road was approved as part of the 2002 development order with Volusia County.
If the county purchases the 36 lots abutting the 175-foot-buffer, more land will be preserved next to the Loop, and Mayor Bill Partington said they could direct staff to write a letter of support to the council for this decision.
“I think [the Loop] will always look beautiful because we will make sure that it does," City Commissioner Susan Persis said.
