- December 9, 2025
Flagler County has met the deadline for a land acquisition application to purchase 153 acres of land from the massive Summertown development.
The application is to amend Florida Forever’s boundary through the Flagler County Blueway project. The 153, currently owned by the developers for the proposed Summertown and Veranda Bay projects in Flagler Beach, abuts the Bulow Creek conservation land.
The land is the site of the future Bulow Creek Headwaters Regional Park. One of the concerns facing the Summertown development is how the project will impact the floodplains. But selling the land to Flagler County will ensure the floodplains are preserved.
The deadline to submit the application was Monday, Dec. 8, according to an press release from Flagler County. In an email to the Flagler County Commissioners, County Administrator Heidi Petito said the application was submitted on time.
“This milestone reflects our community’s strong commitment to protecting the headwaters of Bulow Creek and ensuring that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty,” she wrote.
The boundary amendment application still needs to be ratified by the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners at its Dec. 15 meeting.
The additional land will preserve wetlands and wildlife habitats that are vital to the health of Bulow Creek and the Halifax River estuary, expand recreational opportunities at the future regional park, safeguard the community from flood risks and protect open space in a rapidly growing area, the press release said.
Flagler County staff, including Petito and Commissioner Andy Dance, met with developer representative Ken Belshe and attorney Michael Chiumento on Dec. 3 to discuss the potential sale of the land. At the Flagler Beach City Commission workshop meeting on Dec. 4, Dance spoke to the commission and said his original gaol “was 100% protection of the flood plain,” but has reached a compromise with the developer.
“We've compromised to about 80% protection of the area, not 100% but anywhere in a 75 to 80% range.”
Chiumento, in the Dec. 4 Flagler Beach meeting, characterized the meeting with Flagler County staff as a “long, productive meeting.” He said it would be a long process of potentially a year or two to complete the sale.
The press release did not include a potential price for the 153 acres. The Flagler Beach Commission committed in the workshop meeting to sending a letter of support for the sale alongside the Florida Forever application.
If the sale is successful, it will potentially resolve one of the main hurdles facing the developers for a successful annexation into Flagler Beach.
“This is the first step,” Dance said. “This is just you know, nothing other than giving them the data for the project or for the proposal.”
The Acquisition and Restoration Council will review this proposal at its meeting on Feb. 14, 2026. If approved, the next steps will involve pursuing acquisition through Florida Forever, the St. Johns River Water Management District and Flagler County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands program, the press release said.
“There is the potential to share funding for either fee simple purchase or conservation easement,” Petito said. “This is the beginning of a long process, but it was essential to start with a willing seller, and I’m pleased to report we were able to secure that commitment today.”
