Mike Norris, Palm Coast mayor, speaks during Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Matanzas Loop Road project in Palm Coast. Photo by Rich Carroll
Mike McGlothlin, Palm Coast city manager, speaks during Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Matanzas Loop Road project in Palm Coast. Photo by Rich Carroll
City leaders and project partners participate in Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Matanzas Loop Road project in Palm Coast. Photo by Rich Carroll
From left, Greg Hansen, Flagler County commissioner, and Charles Gambaro, Palm Coast city council member, participate in Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Matanzas Loop Road project in Palm Coast. Photo by Rich Carroll
From left, Ty Miller, Palm Coast city council member, Dave Sullivan, Palm Coast city council member, and Mike Norris, Palm Coast mayor, participate in Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Matanzas Loop Road project in Palm Coast. Photo by Rich Carroll
Charles Gambaro, a Palm Coast City Council member, speaks during Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Matanzas Loop Road project in Palm Coast. Photo by Rich Carroll
The City of Palm Coast officially broke ground Thursday on the Matanzas Loop Road project, a long-planned transportation corridor city officials say will improve connectivity west of U.S. 1 and support future regional growth. But the ceremony also exposed sharp disagreements over the project’s environmental impact and the future of development connected to the roadway.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Palm Coast city manager Mike McGlothlin described the project as “a critical piece of Palm Coast’s long term transportation vision.”
“This phase includes a new multi lane roadway extending west of U.S. 1 along with a bridge crossing over the Florida East Coast Railway,” McGlothlin said. “That bridge is especially important because it improves safety and eliminates the need for an at grade rail crossing.”
McGlothlin said the project has been years in the making and involved collaboration between city staff, engineers, consultants, utility providers and state agencies.
“For more than five years, our staff, engineers, consultants and partners have worked diligently to move this project from concept to construction,” McGlothlin said.
He also thanked current and former city council members along with the Florida Department of Transportation and regional partners for supporting the effort.
“The loop road will connect to future regional transportation improvements that are planned to strengthen mobility between Jacksonville and Orlando,” McGlothlin said. “Palm Coast must ensure we are planning strategically and investing infrastructure that supports mobility, economic vitality and quality of life for our residents.”
But when Palm Coast mayor Mike Norris took the podium, the tone of the event quickly shifted.
“Do you want me to be diplomatic or be Mike Norris? That’s the question you got to ask,” Norris said at the start of his remarks.
Norris said he opposed the broader development tied to the project, particularly future plans involving environmentally sensitive land near Pringle Branch.
“If you go due west from here, you run into the headwaters of Pringle Branch,” Norris said. “And we’re going to cut a path through that swamp.”
“I don’t support this project and I’m going to fight it all the way,” he added.
Norris also vowed to oppose annexation tied to the project area.
“I will not be supporting the annexation of that donut hole,” Norris said. “We can cut through for the road, for the corridor, but I will not support annexation of that donut hole.”
While acknowledging the transportation benefits of the roadway connection, Norris questioned the long term financial burden tied to infrastructure expansion.
“I don’t understand how you can go and lobby for money from the state for a road for a total of $226 million and leave the residents of Palm Coast on the hook for $330 million for infrastructure improvements,” Norris said. “That’s not the way you do business.”
After Norris concluded his remarks, Palm Coast city council member Charles Gambaro stepped forward to strike a more optimistic tone.
Gambaro, who represents District 4 on the Palm Coast City Council, praised the work that went into the project and urged the crowd to focus on the accomplishment.
“I’m going to jump in here and end on a positive note,” Gambaro said. “Everybody’s done a great job. Everybody’s worked hard.”
“There’s no reason to be negative here,” Gambaro said. “Everybody has their own opinions, but this is a time to celebrate a major achievement for our community.”
He also thanked the Flagler County Commission and project partners for their support.
“We must remain positive,” Gambaro said. “Our residents want us to remain positive as we move forward.”
