- April 18, 2024
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Two residents made the case, at the Aug. 16 Palm Coast City Council meeting, for improved pedestrian safety measures in the Cimmaron Drive neighborhood. Resident Al Krier estimated that close to 100 public comments have been made at city meetings on this issue over the years (including many of his own).
Krier also referenced the Smart Growth America report that found that the Volusia-Flagler area was No. 1 in the United States in pedestrian fatalities per capita, at 4.25 per 1,000 residents.
“All the groundwork has been laid to take the collector streets and make them walkable communities,” he said, “and we have to just continue on that path. … We just have to get it started on one of these streets. I’d love to have Cimmaron as that street.”
The City Council heard the results of a study on June 14, presenting five options for adding sidewalks to the busiest roads. All were costly. Read that story here.
Central Place resident Samantha Mendez said on Aug. 16 that she has been advocating for improved safety in the area since her daughter was in fifth grade. “She just started seventh grade,” Mendez said, “and we’re no closer to having a safe way to travel” to the bus. “Please make Cimmaron Drive a top priority … before someone gets hurt.”
Florida Park Drive resident Steve Carr, who makes a public comment at nearly every meeting and has done so for about a decade, encouraged the city to add traffic calming strategies “in all neighborhoods where the traffic is a problem.” He said the city can’t rely on the Sheriff’s Office to enforce traffic in all residential neighborhoods at all times.
In other city news ...
The developer of the age-restricted Ryan’s Landing has worked with Palm Coast city staff to add a second entrance on the south of the 29-acre proposed development, which is bordered by Rymfire Drive, Royal Palms Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway. The developer also worked with Flagler Schools to move the bus stop away from the Ryan’s Landing entrance, to improve children’s safety.
As part of the agreement, the owner will deed 17 lots abutting the Seminole Woods neighborhood park to the city; the owner no longer requests recreational impact fee credits in exchange.
The City Council voted 4-0 to approve an ordinance to rezone the property to master planned development.
The City Council approved 4-0, on first reading Aug. 16, the creating of the Landings Community Development District, which would serve the future phases of the Grand Landings community, on the west side of Seminole Woods Boulevard, in Palm Coast. Those future phases include plans for 399 more homes in the development.
The developers have identified $23.3 million of costs for future district facilities, which could be funded by future residents in the boundaries of the CDD, including $3.7 million for private roads; $9 million for potable water, sewer and reclaimed water; and $5.9 million for the master stormwater system.
The final vote on the creation of the CDD is scheduled for Sept. 6.
Residents from the C Section, at the Aug. 16 City Council meeting, voiced their opposition to a proposed cell tower in their neighborhood.
“This tower is not right,” said Joe Runac, who lives 300 feet away from the proposed site. “It will completely change the nature of the area.”
With assurances that the tower would be built to look like a tree, and with assurances from city staff that other alternatives near the Palm Harbor Golf Club were not viable, the Palm Coast City Council on June 21 voted to allow Diamond Towers V LLC to proceed with the next steps toward building a communications tower on city-owned land at a utility pump station off Clubhouse Drive. A second tower is also planned southwest of the intersection of Town Center Boulevard and Royal Palms Parkway.
Dennis McDonald cautioned the city against giving Diamond or residents the impression that towers must be built on city-owned property.
Celia Pugliese, of Carson Lane, added that the recent neighborhood meeting with Diamond was “very contentious” and asked the City Council to “preserve our quality of life.” She added, “Who is going to pay for the terrible depreciation of our homes? … Look for another location for this tower.”
W Section resident Rich Goellner told the City Council that his family members who recently visited Palm Coast “were absolutely astounded at the cleanliness” of the city. He said most people do take pride in the city and pick up trash when they can.
