- April 18, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Another development on West Granada Boulevard — another protest from residents.
This time, the residents have gotten an early start. After seeing a conceptual site plan submitted to the city Planning Department, the Reflections Village Home Owners Association, led by Joe Jaynes, president, has sent a letter to the Planning Board, City Commission and city manager expressing their opposition to a development called Ormond Central.
Located at the southeast corner of Old Kings Road and West Granada Boulevard, Ormond Central is planned by local businessmen Lewis Heaster and Paul Holub. Currently, Evolution Health Club is the only business on the otherwise wooded lot, and the developers say it will stay.
Jaynes said the HOA of nearby Castlegate has joined the protest, and he is hoping to hear from Kings Crossing as well.
Jaynes, who was a County Councilman from 1998 to 2004, and is current president of Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail, said he’s confident the residents can have an impact.
“I know that 110 people can makes things happen,” he said, referring to the approximate number of homes in the three neighborhoods.
He said their goal is to allow only uses permitted in the B-9 zone. The neighbors fear noise and added traffic, if businesses shown in the conceptual site plan, such as a gas station and retail stores, are allowed.
“We are not opposed to development but want to keep it B-9 which would allow passive type of businesses, not active at night; not a lot of traffic,” he said. “We’re concerned about merging onto Granada, especially with the turn lane as shown in the plan submitted to the city. Their egress would be on Old Kings Road, same as our egress. The whole thing will turn into a nightmare. It’s just not acceptable.”
Heaster said the residents may not understand what is currently allowed at the location.
“The B-9 zoning allows for a variety of commercial uses including retail,” he said. “A restaurant is allowed today; a grocery store is allowed today.”
The B-9 zoning district is known as the Boulevard zoning district and was approved in 2015. It has permitted uses such as adult day care, professional services, banks, schools, etc. A restaurant and retail sales are included under “conditional” uses, which means they can be approved by the Planning Department if they meet certain established conditions. A drive-thru restaurant or a gas station are “special exceptions” and would require approval by the City Commission.
Complete information can be found on ormondbeach.org. Search for “zoning.”
Heaster did not want to comment further because the development is in the early stages, and no businesses are yet lined up.
“The site plan on the city website can be modified at any time, depending on the type of tenants or buyers we have come in,” Heaster said. “It’s just a concept.”
Any hearings by the Planning Department or City Commission are far down the road.
Heaster said, however, that he hopes to have a neighborhood meeting, probably in the fall.
“It’s an opportunity to meet the neighbors and talk about what we’re planning and explain what can be allowed,” he said. “Maybe we can clear up some unknowns.”
Late in 2015, the residents of Magnolia Avenue and Oak Avenue protested rezoning the wooded lot at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and West Granada Boulevard, saying it would negatively impact the character of their neighborhood and increase traffic.
The zoning was changed from “low density residential” to “residential, office retail.” A local businessman seeks to build a realty office at the location.
The City Commission approved the change, with some of the officials noting that the final site plan would have to be approved, which would require a neighborhood meeting.
At the Planning Board meeting, Planning Director Rick Goss told the board members that he would “bump up” the neighborhood meeting to a City Commission meeting if the residents and developer could not agree on the site plan.
The neighborhood meeting has yet not been scheduled.
“The whole thing will turn into a nightmare. It’s just not acceptable.”
JOE JAYNES, HOA president
“It’s an opportunity to meet the neighbors and talk about what we’re planning and explain what can be allowed.”
LEWIS HEASTER, developer
