- April 24, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Correction: A previous version of this story estimated about 50 people attended the meeting. The city reports this figure is closer to 100.
Avalon Park Daytona is coming, and the city of Ormond Beach wants to make sure citizens are kept up to date with the latest information available regarding the large-scale development.
On Tuesday, Nov. 9, the city launched its new mini-series of OB Life, concentrated on development impacts on the west side of the city. The “Westward Focus” two-part civic engagement workshops is modeled after the 2018 initiative that helped the city in updating its strategic plan.
The first OB Life workshop, attended in-person by about 100 people at Calvary Christian Church, was centered around transportation and economic impacts.
“So you might be saying to yourself: Why are we talking about Avalon [Park] Daytona when it’s not in our city?” City Manager Joyce Shanahan said. “What we’re really here to do is find out what’s important to you so that we can listen to that feedback and provide it to the folks at Avalon Park.”
Avalon Park developer Beat Kahli was at the meeting.
So what do we know so far about the project? Originally planned to be a 10,000-home development with 1 million square feet of commercial retail by 2045, Avalon Park is focusing currently on constructing 3,250 homes and 200,000 square feet of commercial retail by 2030, to be split into two phases in the parcel of land south of State Road 40 that was formerly owned by Minto Communities.
Volusia County has approved the methodology for a traffic study for the development, the next step in the process.
“I’m hopeful that [Kahli] will work with us to make his project successful in Daytona Beach, understanding the impact it’s going to have on the surrounding community,” Mayor Bill Partington said. “I think he wants to do that. I think the better we can learn about the project and express our concerns, the better we can help him do that.”
City staff provided workshop participants — about 45% of whom lived west of I-95 — with information regarding the history of the Avalon Park land parcel, which annexed into the city of Daytona Beach in 2002. In 1999, Indigo Development Inc. (later known as Consolidated Tomoka Land Company, Inc.) asked to annex 2,890 acres into the city of Ormond Beach, but was denied due to density issues, as well as the developer’s request to use St. Johns River Water Management District wetland standards — which were less stringent than the city’s — and the continuation of agricultural uses.
The majority of the estimated 7,000 residents that live west of I-95 work outside of the area, impacting roadways, said Brian Rademacher, economic development director for the city. A poll conducted at the workshop showed that over 20% of the meeting’s participants reported driving west of I-95 were spread evenly over three levels of frequency: 1) weekly, but less than once per day; 2) one to two times per day; and 3) three to six times per day.
Rademacher reported the median household income of residents on the west side is over $85,000, and that the existing retail marketplace doesn’t support the current demand.
Avalon Park could create more jobs, diversify the economy and offer services to those residents, lessening the amounts of trips east of I-95.
The next OB Life meeting is scheduled for Dec. 2.
Beginning Nov. 29, the city of Ormond Beach Utilities Division will temporarily use a new disinfectant for the city’s potable water system, according to a notice on the city’s website.
The disinfection will be performed “with application of free chlorine (a stronger disinfectant) rather than chloramines (a longer-lasting disinfectant comprised of combined chlorine-ammonia),” the notice states.
This will be done until Dec. 20.
“During this period the water continues to be of the highest quality and totally safe to drink,” the notice reads. “Customers may experience a slight difference in the taste and odor of the water as a result of the alternate disinfectant used.”
This temporary conversion is a common practice, according to the city, and s recommended by the Department of Environmental Protection.
The city asks residents contact its Public Works Department with any questions at 676-3220.
Land Sea Homes Corporation recently announced that it closed on the final 43 available homesites at Bulow Creek Preserve at Halifax Plantation in Ormond Beach.
According to a press release, this means Landsea Homes will be the last remaining homebuilder in the coastal community, located between the 16th hole at Halifax Plantation’s golf course and the historic Bulow Creek State Park.
The homes will range from 1,813 square feet to 2,607 square feet. To learn more, visit https://landseahomes.com/florida/bulow-creek-preserve/
The monoclonal antibody therapy treatment site at the Ormond Beach Senior Center, located at 351 Andrew St., is now closed.
