- April 19, 2024
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The Tomoka Oaks community could soon gain new neighbors, as a sale of the golf course property is pending.
In a November 2020 newsletter by the Tomoka Oaks Homeowners Association, residents were informed that a small group of local investors were in negotiations to purchase the property, which last sold in 2011 for $1.5 million. The newsletter detailed that the buyers’ plans were to develop the land into a community of single family homes.
The Ormond Beach Observer reached out to HOA president Sergio Faenza, who indicated that the tentative closing date of the sale is sometime early February. The residents’ main concerns include an increase of traffic, loss of charm, as well as safety issues, but that the HOA is aiming to keep communicating with the buyers to reach common ground.
“I do understand the developer’s perspective in wanting to develop the property,” Faenza said. “I would say that as a piece of private land, as long as the property owner was abiding by the law and its current zoning standards – they’re well within their rights to develop the property as they see fit.”
The number of homes that could occupy the 130-acre property is unknown, as it is early in the process. However, it does have a current low density residential land use, allowing for 4.3 units per acre.
The golf course sale isn’t surprising, said Faenza.
“Given the fact that I see the rapid growth, I just personally figured it was honestly a matter of time before it happened,” Faenza said.
The city’s Planning Board discussed the future of the golf course at its Jan. 14 meeting. Chair Doug Thomas, who lives in Tomoka Oaks, said building single-family homes would be a natural course of action for the new developers.
“Something’s going to go in there,” Thomas said. “Golf courses are not a viable thing anymore.”
The Volusia County Council unanimously approved an amendment to Halifax Plantation phases II and III at its Jan. 19 meeting. This amendment allows a redistribution of units within the development as well as the re-designation of a park site for single-family homes.
In addition, an area formerly designated for commercial purposes was re-designated to accommodate multi-family housing.The residents who spoke before the council were largely in support of the amendment.
The City Commission approved a $3.5 million agreement with Bomar Construction Inc. for the Ormond Memorial Art Museum renovation.
The item was approved via the consent agenda. It is a three-year contract.
Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington was recently appointed to serve a one-year term on the National League of Cities Public Safety and Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee.
Commissioner Susan Persis will serve her second term on the NLC’s Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources Federal Advocacy Committee.
