- May 5, 2024
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What is the fate of the land just south of Sea Ray Boats, in unincorporated Flagler County, near Flagler Beach? A proposed change in land use, from residential to general commercial zoning with no restriction, drew opposition from residents, the Flagler Beach City Commission and the Flagler County Planning Board, which voted unanimously against it, because they felt the proposal was too open-ended. Flagler County staff hopes that a revised and more limited proposal will resolve those concerns and convince the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners to enable Sea Ray to accomplish its designs.
The main concern of County Adminstrator Craig Coffey and Economic Development Director Helga van Eckert is that Sea Ray, which hired 200 people this year, gets a message from Flagler County that the company is welcome and supported by local government. Given the high unemployment in the county, van Eckert and others have worked hard to attract outside businesses to move here.
“If we can’t work with our own quality manufacturer in the first place, who can we work with?” Coffey said. “Why are we in the economic development business in the first place?”
The 24 acres in question are currently zoned for residential off Roberts Road (west of and across a canal from Flagler Beach's Lambert Avenue), but Sea Ray, one of the county’s top employers, wants to buy the property and use it for a parking lot, which would address an increased need for storage room and parking for employees. Opponents raised concerns that if the land is rezoned, Sea Ray or another company in the future could use it to build a retail shopping center on the site, not just a parking lot.
The new presentation, Coffey said, will address those who support Sea Ray, “but want a parking lot only. We’re trying to provide them with some reassurance.”
At a preview of staff’s presentation, Coffey told the Palm Coast Observer that a land-use change from residential to “high-intensity commercial” is appropriate as a transition from industrial uses. The county is proposing a planned-unit development zoning, which means it will include site-specific restrictions. The land can only be used for a few options: a parking lot, office space and a boat transport area, with a 500-foot buffer off Roberts Road.
Coffey pointed out that the land was zoned for industrial use for 40 years before being switched to low-intensity residential in 2002 for a developer to build houses there; no houses were built. Meanwhile, the surrounding lots are still zoned for industrial use.
Coffey said Sea Ray has not revealed any plans for increased production, and the company very likely doesn’t have solid plans that far in the future. In the past 30 years, Sea Ray has not expanded beyond its current footprint.
Van Eckert added that Sea Ray has a track record of being good neighbors and environmental stewards. “Sea Ray is in one of the most heavily regulated industries out there,” she said. “Materials have to be tracked coming in and going out. They’ve had 60-something inspections in the past five years, and they haven’t had any violations.”
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners will hear the staff’s presentation at the March 16 meeting.
