- April 25, 2024
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Citizens and Neighbors Dedicated to Ormond held its second meeting on Tuesday, April 10, discussing its last-ditch effort to save the forest adjacent to the Moose Lodge and the group's agenda moving forward.
CANDO 2 is a volunteer group whose purpose is to "bridge the divide" between resident and local government officials. It was founded by nine individuals after the forested land for the upcoming Granada Pointe development was cleared on Tomoka Avenue.
At least 140 residents, including City Manager Joyce Shanahan, Planning Director Steven Spraker, Granada Pointe developer Paul Holub and other local developers, attended the meeting at the Ormond Beach Library Auditorium to hear what Jeff Boyle, one of CANDO 2's founders, had to say regarding development, wetland rules and how to get involved. Audience members were also able to make comments and ask questions during the meeting.
Boyle also responded to Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington's comment at the last City Commission meeting on April 3, where he said the City Commission had taken "an unfair beating."
“I would submit that the environment is taking a hell of a beating," Boyle said.
Boyle said it was too late for them to stop the clearing of trees in the Granada Pointe development parcel next to the Moose Lodge, citing that the project was too far along. He also mentioned the clearing of land at the corner of North Center Street and Sterthaus Drive. The site will be home to the 24-bed "For Our Parents" assisted living facility. Boyle said the development had a retention pond the "size of a football field."
CANDO 2's strategy moving forward is to continue to add people to their growing email database, which will allow CANDO 2 to send notices about upcoming developments in time for citizens to review them, as well as encouraging people to attend the City Commission meetings and email the City Commissioners with their concerns.
While CANDO 2 is not a political organization and will not support nor oppose electoral candidates, two people announced their intent to run for City Commission during the course of the meeting.
The first was Volusia County Deputy Clerk of Court Sandy Kauffman, who had already made an announcement to run for Zone 3 at the City Commission meeting on April 3. She said briefly that she believes the residents all have to work together to save the environment. She added that she is not a "career politician" or a "smooth-talker" and that she has a lot to learn.
“It’s been said before that we need to all do this together to fix our city, and I believe that," Kauffman said. "I believe we have to do that and I stand before you today saying that I will work my best — I will work for you, the people, the citizens of Ormond Beach.”
The other person was Joe Dugan of First Green Bank, who said he will be running for the Zone 2 City Commission seat. He plans to announce his candidacy at the City Commission meeting on April 17.
Other citizen comments included the need to stop rezoning land to accommodate growth in the city and the desire to restore the ability to petition government via a citizen referendum. A documentary about CANDO 2's efforts is also in the works.
Boyle also spoke about civility. He said he was disturbed to find out some citizens have been making threatening calls to Holub, his bank and the real-estate agents listed on the development signs on behalf of CANDO 2. The only thing that accomplishes, Boyle said, is damage to the developer.
“We’re better than that, and when something like that happens, it reflects on CANDO and every one of us. We don’t need to be doing that.”
