- August 17, 2026
Flagler County commissioners agreed July 13 to make the Hammock Overlay a dedicated topic during upcoming Land Development Code (LDC) workshops, responding to a request from the Hammock Community Association (HCA) for another opportunity to discuss development standards and other community concerns.
The decision follows the HCA's withdrawal of its lawsuit against Flagler County over the approval of Hammock Harbour, a stacked boat storage facility planned along State Road A1A. In a press release, the organization said it still believes developments in the Hammock should comply with the county's Land Development Code and A1A Scenic Corridor Overlay but ended the lawsuit because of its limited resources.
Near the end of the July 13 Board of County Commissioners meeting, Chair Leann Pennington told fellow commissioners the HCA had requested "some sort of workshop" to discuss issues including the Hammock Overlay, the county's comprehensive plan, Land Development Code regulations and parking concerns.
Commissioner Greg Hansen said he already meets regularly with Hammock residents and believes the county has remained responsive to their concerns.
"You know, I basically have a town hall with them every month," Hansen said. "And we address all their issues. Adam and I talk about them. We get back, report back. They're treated pretty well."
Hansen added that the Hammock Community Association routinely submits letters regarding proposed developments and that county staff carefully considers those comments during the review process.
Commissioner Kim Carney recalled that commissioners had previously agreed to hold a workshop with Hammock residents following discussions surrounding the proposed Hammock Harbour boat storage project. However, she said the meeting was postponed after the HCA filed its lawsuit challenging the county's approval process.
"We said yes," Carney said. "They filed a lawsuit, and Attorney Michael Rodriguez said we should hold off on this get together until this gets resolved. So that's what they're asking us for, is that moment in time when we said yes."
County Attorney Michael Rodriguez told commissioners the legal matter had effectively concluded because no appeal had been filed before the deadline.
"That appeal appears to be dead," Rodriguez said.
Rather than scheduling a separate workshop, Commissioner Andy Dance suggested incorporating the Hammock Overlay into the county's upcoming Land Development Code workshops.
"We're going to have LDC meetings," Dance said. "The overlay would be a great item to discuss during that."
Pennington agreed, noting the Hammock Overlay was already expected to be part of those workshops, and asked commissioners whether there was consensus to make it a specific agenda item.
"Is that the consensus, to make sure that they're addressed, they have a specific line item?" Pennington asked.
The board agreed by consensus, meaning the Hammock Overlay will be included as a dedicated discussion item during future Land Development Code workshops, where commissioners are expected to review potential updates to the county's development regulations.
According to the HCA, the lawsuit challenged the county's decision to accept Hammock Harbour's site plan after settling litigation with the developer, alleging the project did not comply with the county's Land Development Code and the A1A Scenic Corridor Overlay. The association said that while the boat storage facility itself can no longer be stopped, the lawsuit was intended to ensure future developments in the Hammock follow the county's planning process and development regulations.
The HCA said it remains committed to preserving the Hammock's "Old Florida" character and will continue working with Flagler County and other organizations to encourage responsible development that complies with county regulations and the area's special zoning and building standards.
