- April 28, 2024
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Dear Editor:
Where do developer property rights end and Tomoka Oaks adjacent property rights begin? What adverse impacts will result from building 272 homes on the former golf course? How are 60-foot and 80-foot lot widths compatible with Tomoka’s surrounding 100-foot lot widths?
Will 2,774 additional vehicle trips a day compromise traffic safety? On streets not designed for such traffic volume? How will the extra traffic impact intersections at Nova Road and at State Road 40? Will hurricane evacuations be impeded?
How will fire trucks navigate a single-entrance subdivision with narrow streets? Has FDOT confirmed a date certain for installing a traffic signal at the Nova Road-Tomoka Oaks intersection?
What happened to the original written covenants that protected the Tomoka Oaks golf course? Why did the city zone the golf course “residential” instead of “open space recreation”? Do implied, unwritten protective golf course covenants, upheld by federal courts, apply to Tomoka Oaks?
Does the project ignore a city land use goal to preserve natural open space in urban areas? How many trees will be cut for this development? What will become of countless wildlife species?
Why compromise a water retention area deemed vital by the St. John’s Water Management District? Will extra stormwater runoff from impervious roofs and paved surfaces be captured? Can the planned retention protect the Tomoka River, a Florida Outstanding Waterway? Will digging up the golf course turf release chemicals, airborne toxins and toxic runoff?
What quality of life hardships will be imposed during five years of construction buildout? Is this fair to Tomoka Oaks residents who have paid premium property taxes for over 60 years? Will squeezing a subdivision inside a subdivision depreciate Tomoka Oaks property values?
Why did the Planning Board unanimously recommend denial of this proposed rezoning? Is this proposal an example of “the ever-present threat of overdevelopment” Ormond Beach historian Alice Strickland warned about in her 1980 book, Ormond-on-the-Halifax?
If fire codes and public safety limit the number of people who can occupy a building, then why can’t we place legal limits on new development that seeks to occupy an established community, overwhelming roads, schools, hospitals, and greenspace?
Will these questioned be answered when Ormond Beach residents attend the Nov. 7, 6 p.m. City Commission meeting at Calvary Christian Center, State Road 40, west of I-95?
Jeff Boyle
Ormond Beach
Dear Editor:
A fundamental constitutional right of every voter is to have the ability to address grievances to the government. Current procedure of Volusia County Council meeting agenda items is: A Q&A between county staff and council members, then council discussion (five minutes each, with multiple opportunities to speak again), then comments from the public limited to a maximum of three minutes, and then sometimes more discussion by council members before a vote.
During council member comments of the Oct.17 Volusia County Council meeting, Councilman Troy Kent stated his hope to hear comments from the public prior to council's discussion on the agenda items. I agree with him — that is a good thing.
However, the public isn’t provided an opportunity to comment on amendments to agenda items or decisions made during closing council comments. For example, the decision to move the allotment time for when the public may comment on agenda items.
I was reminded of the Ormond Beach City Commission meeting in February 2019 when I (and other residents) spoke during public comment to add a term limit question on to the special election ballot. I was pleased when the City Commission adopted the request. However, the way the ballot question was worded required other election questions to pass as well to provide for term limits. I would have loved to speak to the way the question was worded because it was not the single-issue, term limits-only that was the intent of the public. The election results showed two-thirds in favor of term limits, but the will of the voters were not implemented due to the contingent ballot measures failing.
My hope is that both the Volusia County Council and Ormond Beach City Commission (and governments elsewhere) adopt procedure to enable the opportunity to exercise First Amendment on substantive government body decisions.
Joe Hannoush
Ormond Beach
