- April 25, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
A marathon, not a sprint.
That is how Rob Merrell, attorney with Cobb Cole Law Firm, described the development process of the Tomoka Oaks Golf Course at the first of three community meetings held at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 20.
“I think these folks are here to do the right thing," Merrell said. "That’s why we’re going through this process."
The golf course property was sold for $2.6 million and the developers — Carl Velie, Ray Barshay, Sheldon and Emily Rubin, which make up Triumph Oaks of Ormond Beach I, LLC — want to build single-family homes on the land. Velie and Barshay are locals. No site plans have been submitted to the city yet. Dwight DuRant, president of Zev Cohen and Associates, led the bulk of the two meetings, held at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. DuRant said the purpose of the meetings was to listen to the Tomoka Oaks residents.
“We’re not selling anything tonight," DuRant said. "We want to seek your input and comments, and more specifically, your ideas. That’s most important to us. So we’re going to have big ears and small mouths.”
Some residents expected the meeting to consist of an open forum where they could voice their concerns, but DuRant explained that would likely take place in the second of the three community meetings, where they would present concepts as a result of feedback collected at the first meeting. Instead, following a short presentation, meeting attendees were instructed to split off into small groups to provide their feedback. Those attending online via Zoom were also encouraged to send in their comments.
“This is a tough situation for the 550 homes in Tomoka Oaks and the 178 on the golf course. It’s a difficult process but as a neighborhood, I think we’ll come together and try to make the best of it that we can to preserve the way of life that we’ve had there for so long.”
Jim Rose, chairman of the homeowners association golf course committee
Jim Rose, a resident of Tomoka Oaks and chairman of the homeowners association golf course committee, said he thought the meetings went well. The developers did what they said they were going to do. Certainly, he and his neighbors are not in a "great situation" — Rose's home borders the golf course — but he said it's unusual to have developers host pre-neighborhood meetings. He said residents who attended all had the opportunity to make their concerns on buffers, greenspace, tree preservation and traffic heard.
"We as the homeowner’s association, the golf course committee, are just trying to make the situation as palatable as possible considering that pretty much we’re sure there’s going to be development going in," Rose said.
Having lived in Tomoka Oaks for 31 years, Rose said it's a "shock to the system" to see change in their neighborhood. As outlined in the meeting, the process to develop the golf course is estimated to take about two years.
“This is a tough situation for the 550 homes in Tomoka Oaks and the 178 on the golf course," Rose said. "It’s a difficult process but as a neighborhood, I think we’ll come together and try to make the best of it that we can to preserve the way of life that we’ve had there for so long.”
City Commissioner Susan Persis, who represents Zone 3 of which Tomoka Oaks is in, attended both meetings, and said the development remains frightening for many longterm residents.
"There’s a lot of feelings because they did buy on a golf course," Persis said."…People are just used to having a beautiful view and I don’t think that should be taken away. I really don’t.”
The golf course, which spans 130 acres according to the Volusia County Property Appraiser's website, does not have a designated zoning, as a previous Planned Residential Development zoning order has since expired. It does, however, have a future land use of low density residential, which allows a maximum of 4.3 units per acre.
Persis doubts the maximum density of units could be placed on the property. More density means more traffic and she said she believes the current roads cannot handle much more. She believes there is a chance the golf course could be made into something beautiful, but that at the same time, developers want to make money. That shouldn't come at the cost of the residents' quality of life though, she said.
“The only thing I can do is, when the plan comes before the commission, vote in the best interest of those citizens," Persis said.
