- April 26, 2024
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Last week, the Daytona Beach Planning Board recommended approval for a preliminary plat for Avalon Park Daytona’s first phase — to consist of 1,609 residential units and 90,000 square feet of commercial property — and local officials remain wary of the project.
Avalon Park Daytona is planned to include 10,000 residential dwellings west of I-95. The development group has previously stated it will add $2 billion in ad valorem values to Daytona Beach and Volusia County.
Ormond Beach City Commissioner Susan Persis, who represents neighborhoods across from the proposed project, said she worries about the traffic influx this project will bring, and said it’s time to think about the future of their cities.
“I just hope that the developer really considers the traffic impact that we’re going to have on Granada because of this development,” Persis said.
In contrast, members of the Daytona Beach Planning Board viewed the project in a favorable light at their meeting on Thursday, March 25. Board member Helen Humphreys said liked the idea of Avalon Park’s community mindset.
Daytona Beach Planning Director Dennis Mrozek said it will be a walkable community that brings people together.
“When we see projects come in that are using smart growth techniques, using traditional town planning techniques, we get very excited about that, and that’s what we’re seeing with a development like this,” he said.
"Daytona’s appetite for out-of-control ravenous growth is going to be detrimental to all of Volusia County, particularly on the eastern side.”
Bill Partington, mayor of Ormond Beach
According to the agenda item documents, the commercial portion of the development in this first phase would front on Granada Boulevard. The phase includes the construction of six parks, two amenity centers and the preservation of wetlands at the southern portion of the project.
What the proposal doesn’t state is whether Ormond will be providing utilities at a wholesale price, a result of a 2006 comprehensive settlement agreement with Daytona. Ormond Beach Planning Director Steven Spraker attended the Daytona Planning Board meeting to clarify the issue, but the city’s attorney said that utilities will be looked at in the final plat. Staff has not spoken to the developer since last spring.
Mayor Bill Partington said millions of dollars will need to be spent on infrastructure before this project moves forward, and the court order requires Daytona and the developer work with the city.
“You can see how much stress LPGA is under right now and they’re willing to put 10,000 homes out there?” Partington said. “ It’s mind-boggling.”
Three people, including a 4-year-old girl, died in a crash on I-95 near Ormond Beach on Sunday, March 28.
Florida Highway Patrol reported that 10 people, all family and friends returning to Maryland, occupied the van when it left the road and overturned, ejecting multiple people.The deceased are a 37-year-old man, and two sisters: a 19-year-old woman and a 4-year-old girl. A 5-year-old child was also transported to Arnold Palmer Hospital with minor injuries. FHP reported no car seats were located at the scene. Troopers believe some people were sleeping in the back of the van.
Two people were transported to AventHealth in critical condition, and four people were sent to Halifax Health in stable condition. A puppy was also found in the wreckage and returned to its owner.
The Volusia County School Board appointed a new principal for Seabreeze High School on Tuesday, March 30.
The new principal, Dr. Earl Johnson, is a Seabreeze alum.
The Volusia ECHO Advisory Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 1 to review the purchase of 76 lots within the Plantation Oaks development. The land qualifies for ECHO as a historic acquisition.
