- April 19, 2024
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More homes will be built along the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail.
On Tuesday, June 6, the Volusia County Council approved a future land use amendment and a rezoning of two adjacent parcels totaling 64.1 acres located on the west side of Old Dixie Highway in a 5-1 vote. Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post was absent.
The development, known as Dixie Ridge, is located in unincorporated Volusia County north of the Ormond Beach city limit, and the parcel is part of the National Gardens Development of Regional Impact that was approved in 1986, and amended in 2002 to reduce the maximum number of units. With only 166 vested units remaining in the DRI, the project's engineer — Parker Mynchenberg — sought approval to build 144 single-family units in Dixie Ridge, with all access into the property being through the Halifax Plantation subdivision; there will be no access to Dixie Ridge from Old Dixie Highway. The landowners also agreed to donate 13.21 acres along Old Dixie Highway to the county for a public park. It connects to the 36 acres Mynchenberg sold to the county last year, which the county hopes eventually becomes part of a Florida state park trail system.
Prior to Tuesday's approval, 64 homes could be built on the two parcels, including 20 lots that had an existing preliminary plat, approved by the county in 2006. The council approved a future land use amendment from Rural to Urban Low Intensity, and a rezoning from Rural Agricultural Estate and Urban Single-Family Residential to a Planned Unit Development.
Brower, the lone vote against the project, said that he gets daily requests to reduce density and have less development, especially in the Loop.
"[DRIs] have been going on for many years, and things change over many years," Brower said. "Part of what's changed is the public's attitude. We represent the public and we have to consider that."
The state eliminated DRI requirements in 2018, but existing ones were allowed to continue, according to county documents.
Brower said he was against the project because he felt the density was too high for the area.
Mynchenberg countered that Dixie Ridge was slated to be a low-density residential development, per zoning standards, as the lots are proposed to be clustered and the development is preserving wetlands, in addition to the donation of a park for tree preservation. Low-impact development standards also promote clustered housing.
He also pointed out that there had been no public opposition to the project at the county's Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission meeting.
"I think what we need to do is not look a gift horse in the mouth here," County Councilman Danny Robins said. "And also what we need to do is learn how to compromise a little bit better."
He said that after the county's purchase of the 36 acres in Plantation Oaks, the county ended up increasing the density of the Loop since Mynchenberg went back to the city to amend his development order. Mynchenberg's request to add 163 to the subdivision was approved by the City Commission on May 17.
"At the end of the day, we may not like it, but this can be a hell of a lot worse," said Robins, who added that government lacks consistency when considering development proposals, and that the council should have considered that before they bought the 36 acres of land in the Loop for preservation, comparing it to the #MeToo movement on sexual abuse and rape culture. "... We have to pick a direction and not keep flip-flopping on issues."
Brower said he was being consistent with the voters he represents, and their instruction to not keep developing in the same manner.
"I think we need to consider a little consistency for the voters as well," he said.
County Councilwoman Barb Girtman said she appreciated Brower asking questions and trying to see if there was another way to develop the project, but said the county is not going to be able to say no to building.
"We can say, 'How do we go forward? What's the best way forward, and who are the best partners to go forward with? Who's making concessions and making a difference?'" Girtman said. "I think this project, although it is challenging because it is more (housing), I think there have been concessions made, and I too feel better that there's not a crowded room standing against it."
