2 letters: Primary elections are coming up, citizens lose voice in local government

Ormond Beach Observer
Opinion

Primary election is Aug. 23

Dear Editor:

You may be wondering why you keep seeing signs in people’s yards asking you to vote for this candidate or that candidate. Here’s why!

Aug. 23 is the primary election! Aug. 23 is the best opportunity for Volusia County and Ormond Beach residents to finally be heard!

If you don’t like the way things are going with uncontrolled development, (i.e.: the airport extension, Avalon Park, Plantation Oaks to name only a few), destruction of our wetlands and increasing taxes, make your voice heard by voting on Tuesday, August 23. You do not need to be affiliated with any political party, but you do need to be a registered voter residing in Volusia County.

Tom Verna

Ormond Beach

We have lost our voice

Dear Editor:

I am writing this letter to express my concern about the fact that we have virtually lost our voice in Ormond Beach city government. After attending City Commission and Planning Board meetings, I have become convinced more than ever that the citizens of Ormond Beach lost control of their city.

Here are a few examples:

The city continues to press forward with the airport extension over the objection of its citizens.
The city continues to promote over development with zoning changes that result in increased residential density over the objection of its citizens. This results in damage to our unique natural environment, high traffic issues on our city streets, high demand on our water resources, dumping water runoff into our rivers and increased demand on our school system.
On June 9, 2022, the Planning Board approved a Planned Business Development amendment for apartments. The developer wants to build 310 unit multifamily units where the former Regal Theater was located. In the developer’s estimation, he believed that the proposed development would produce the least increase in traffic. The Planning Board ignored requests to perform a detailed traffic analysis before giving approval. I was present at this meeting. I feel that the Planning Board has no regard for this concern that we are experiencing, and it will only get worse.
The city refuses to work with its citizens to find a cost effective way to restore the River Bend Golf Course.

Everyone I talk to are fed up with the existing city government. They fear that Ormond Beach will forever change and loose its unique character as a city surrounded by nature.

Joseph Valerio

Ormond Beach

Editor's note: Joseph Valerio is a candidate in the Ormond Beach City Commission Zone 1 race. Traffic generation calculations for the proposed apartment complex at the former Regal Cinemas property are available at https://www.ormondbeach.org/DocumentCenter/View/22863/Traffic-Statement.