- April 26, 2024
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When the Tymber Creek Apartments project came before the Planning Board for review on Thursday, Dec. 8, board members were unanimous in their concern: The increase in density sought by the developer was too high.
The board voted 5-0 to recommend a denial of the project.
“I have a real problem when we change density to maximize a property,” Board member GG Galloway said.
The property owner — VCP Ormond Beach II, LLC — is asking the city for a rezoning of the property to a Planned Business Development and an issuance of a development order for the construction of a 300-unit apartment project at 36 N. Tymber Creek Road, behind the existing Walgreens. The 19.62 acre property currently has three zonings: Volusia County Resource Corridor, Volusia County A-2 Agriculture and Ormond Beach B-8 Commercial.
The developer first submitted a site plan for review in 2020, and resubmitted another plan in December 2021 after the first application expired. Ten residential buildings were initially proposed, though due to concerns from residents of the nearby Indian Springs subdivision, the developer agreed to remove one of the buildings facing the community.
Citizen concerns also included the worsening of traffic on Tymber Creek Road and West Granada Boulevard.
“Your decisions are permanent,” resident Mike Lambert said. “To say that the quality of life in the areas of Moss Point, Indian [Springs] or Tymber Creek will not change is absurd. The traffic already on Tymber Creek Road is horrific.”
Several residents expressed that they didn’t have a problem with apartments being built on the land — only the increase in density needed for 300 units. The city’s land development code allows for 164 units to be built without any amendments.
Mark Watts, an attorney with Cobb Cole representing the developer, said the project meets the traffic standards set by the county, the city and the Florida Department of Transportation.
“That’s important, because whether it’s this project or something else, that traffic is going to be generated by the uses associated with this property,” Watts said. “Our hope is that we can hope in partnership with you and the residents in the area to make sure we’re doing it in the best way for everybody involved.”
When residents asked if another building could be removed from the site plan — building nine, which also faces the Indian Springs subdivision — Watts said the team would be happy to continue working with the neighborhood to reduce its impact, but that they wanted to keep the building.
Board member Angeline Shull said with 300 units, it won’t add 300 cars on the road, but likely closer to 600.
“I’ve lived in that area,” she said. “I know that area. I know that intersection; it is horrendous, it is not planned well, and we have more growth coming up the road.”
Board Chair Doug Thomas mentioned that nearby Flagler County is also growing — the school district has expressed a desire to build an elementary school on the Flagler portion of Airport Road.
“Now I know that some people will say, ‘Well you’re just supposed to look at this issue only,’” Thomas said. “I can’t do that. You’ve got to look down the road. ... 300 units out there — I just can’t see it. It doesn’t make sense to me.”
The item is tentatively scheduled to be reviewed by the Ormond Beach City Commission at its meeting on Jan. 24, 2023.
The Ormond Beach Planning Board unanimously recommended approval for two self-storage projects in the city at its meeting on Thursday, Dec. 8.
The first project is proposed for 1 S. Old Kings Road in the Ormond Central development. The developer, Ormond Central Investors LLC, seeks a Planned Business Development amendment to build a three-story indoor self-storage facility across the street from the Reflections Village subdivision.
The second project is proposed for 1405 North U.S. 1. The developer, Vanacore Commercial Properties LLC, seeks a Planned Business Development amendment to also allow a three-story indoor self-storage facility.
Planning Board member Mike Scudiero joked that “Storage Wars” will soon be filming in Ormond Beach due to the amount of applications for self-storage projects that they’ve reviewed recently.
“There must be a demand for it or we wouldn’t be doing this,” Scudiero said. “I get it though. ... I look at these and I see the agenda packet and I go, ‘another one?’”
A neighborhood meeting for the Boot Hill Saloon Outpost located at 1081 and 1089 N. U.S. 1 will be held on Monday, Dec. 19, at the business.
According to the neighborhood meeting notice, the Boot Hill Saloon Outpost is applying for a permanent special exception to continue its itinerant vendor use and outdoor live entertainment.
In 2020, the City Commission approved a special exception for outdoor activities, but this had a three-year time limit.
The special exception would allow the outpost to continue live outdoor music from 2-10 p.m. on weekends and during special event periods like Bike Week, Biketoberfest, Speed Weeks and the Fourth of July.
The last day for Florida Department of Environmental Protection staff to be at the county’s building at 440 S. Beach St. in Daytona Beach will be Friday, Dec. 16.
FDEP staff had been in Volusia since October to provide coastal permitting guidance to residents.
