- April 22, 2024
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A prospective new apartment complex between Dix and Highland Avenues has residents concerned for the future of their neighborhood, with worries ranging from decreased property values to worsening the existing high-speed traffic on the residential side-streets.
About 25 people attended the neighborhood meeting for the development of a property at 135 N. Yonge St., which previously had an expired Planned Business and Residential Development zoning designation for two-story townhomes. The property, which includes the existing Dollar General, is owned CST Holdings LLC.
The developer is currently at the beginning stages of planning the apartment complex, and held the neighborhood meeting voluntarily to discuss the first stages of the land use application. CST Holdings LLC is planning to amend the comprehensive plan land use of the parcel, which currently is slated for low density residential and general commercial.
James Stowers, one of the representatives of CST Holdings LLC and a former City Commissioner, led the meeting. He explained his group wishes to amend 2.52 acres on the parcel from low density residential to medium density residential, allowing for up to 12 units per acre; Low density residential allows for 4.3 units per acre.
However, Stowers said overall residential density will not increase. CST Holdings LLC is also seeking to restrict the residential units in the six-acre parcel to a maximum of 60. Currently, the general commercial designation allows for 32 units per acre. The Dollar General will also stay.
Still faced with questions about number of apartments, easements, setbacks and privacy, residents voiced opposition for the project.
Ormond Beach resident Beth Putnam said apartment complexes devalue the surrounding properties, and could decrease the quality of the neighborhood. The road is also too narrow for the project, she added.
“You’re overbuilding Ormond," Putnam said. "You are changing the character of it. It does not need another apartment building sitting there."
Ormond Beach resident Brigitte Keafer said Highland Avenue already has semi-trucks delivering food, and the trucks speed. Even a couple more houses on that street would affect traffic, let alone apartments, she said.
"Go sit there for a little while and see how the traffic is," Keafer said.
She asked Stowers if he would like an apartment complex in the corner of his home.
Stowers said that, as an Ormond Beach resident, he and the others developing the project want to be conscious of the neighborhood. Though he doesn't know yet how many apartments could go in, there won't be any one-bedroom units as those tend to bring in a "less desirable" renter. Just like the previous townhome project that was going to be built there, he said the apartments would be two-stories.
Overbuilding the parcel with a taller project, or filling it with the maximum cap of units for that area (a number that will be identified during the later stages after submitting a site plan) doesn't resonate with them, he said.
“That’s not what we’re about, and I don’t think that’s productive for Ormond Beach," Stowers said.
City Planning Director Steven Spraker said the city appreciates what the residents are saying. Unlike Granada Pointe, which was referenced earlier in the meeting by residents, what they're trying to do is make residents aware of this project earlier, Spraker said.
“This is the time to get in the process and say what’s good, bad or different,” Spraker said.
