- April 26, 2024
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On Tuesday, April 20, the Volusia County Council will decide whether or not to move forward with the acquisition of the $988,00 36-acre parcel of land within Plantation Oaks for conservation.
Following direction from council, county staff had been researching options to purchase the land and determined that applying for an ECHO grant through the historic acquisition/stabilization grant program — an application process available year-round — would be the best option, according to the agenda item summary.
The land qualified for the program because a report completed in 2001 found remnants of the Old Kings Road on the property as well as the structural remains and some artifacts of a late 18th or 19th century home, making it eligible to be designated as a historic site. On April 1, the ECHO Advisory Committee reviewed the application, which proposed the development of a small park with “minimal amenities, an internal trail of .75 miles and historic documentation of all relevant assets on the property,” according to the summary. The committee unanimously recommended approval of the application.
If approved by council, the property will be bought using: $234,647 from the county park improvement funds; a $15,000 contribution from the North Florida Trust and Dream Green Volusia; a $249,647 ECHO grant match; and $488,706 via a direct county expenditure of ECHO funds.
The 10th annual Ormond Beach Celtic Festival has been postponed to September 11 and 12.
The festival — featuring clans, pipers and highland games — is usually held during the third week of April. It was canceled in 2020.
“Of course, it’s disappointing not be able to enjoy the festival this Spring,” said festival founder and musician, Chuck Spano in a press release. “But there is still an issue with COVID safety that we hope will be behind us by the fall.”
Demolition permits for the former Julian’s property at 88 S. Atlantic Ave. are being reviewed by the city and will be issued soon, according to a recent staff report.
In 2019, the City Commission approved a rezoning and development order to allow the construction of a gift shop. Public on-street parking will also be added behind the store on Florence Street.
The Volusia County Council will also discuss two items related to the beach at its April 20 meeting.
The first is a discussion to allow dogs on the beach. The second is a discussion to schedule a workshop on beach tolls for residents.
