- March 28, 2024
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Officials seek 10-year strategic plan.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
Preserving historic buildings and natural beauty seemed on the top of people’s minds at a “Community Conversation” on April 18 at the Performing Arts Center.
Before creating a 10-year strategic plan for the future, the city is seeking citizen input, and invited residents to the public workshop. The approximately 35 people who attended got to speak for the rest of the residents of Ormond Beach.
Another meeting was planned for April 15 at the Senior Center.
City Manager Joyce Shanahan said the city has strategic plans for such things as the airport and the downtown area, but hasn’t had an overall plan for five years.
Facilitating the workshop was Marilyn Crotty, director of the Florida Institute of Government at the University of Central Florida. She has led workshops around the state and has found a lot of interest. A workshop in DeBary drew about 75 people.
“People have appreciated the opportunity to be engaged and involved with the city,” she said.
Crotty will prepare a report on the Ormond Beach workshops for the City Commission, which will have the information for their own workshops in May.
“This is the beginning of a strategic plan for Ormond Beach,” said Crotty, who is also executive director of the Volusia League of Cities.
Ann Crescitelli, who moved to Ormond Beach a couple of years ago from New York, said she didn’t want Ormond Beach to make the same mistakes that were made at her home up north.
“We watched it all get built up,” she said. “They kept adding condos and it changed the character of the town.”
She said she valued open spaces.
Kimberly Park said the city should attract modern industry such as software development, to bring in a diversified population.
Several tables of a half-dozen people each created lists of what they currently like in Ormond Beach, and a list of what they would like to see in 10 years.
Other items mentioned included a walkable downtown, mass transit, sophisticated yet friendly atmosphere, trees, wildlife areas, public places, recreational facilities, sensible growth and economic development.