- April 23, 2024
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Ormond Central is at the southeast corner of Old Kings Road and West Granada Boulevard. Courtesy photo
There was standing room only at the Planning Board meeting that considered a new development. Shown at the podium is senior planner for the city, Steve Spraker. Photo by Wayne Grant
More shopping and dining opportunities are likely to replace some woods on West Granada Boulevard as the Planning Board unanimously approved Ormond Central on Oct. 12, a planned multi-unit commercial development on the southeast corner of Old Kings Road and the boulevard. At the meeting, Paul Holub, of Ormond Central Investors LLC, showed a map with two drive-thru restaurants and possibly a grocery store on the 8.7 acre site, but negotiations with businesses are still under way.
The final hurdle will be for the City Commission to vote on the matter at meetings tentatively set for Nov. 21 and Dec. 5.
The Planning Board was asked to change the zoning from B-9, known as “Boulevard,” to a Planned Business Development.
A B-9 allows office buildings, banks and assisted living, as well as sit-down restaurants and retail. The developers need a PBD rezoning to have restaurants with drive-through, a bowling alley, drive-through pharmacy and garden center as part a store. The developers had previously also sought a convenience store/gas station but Holub withdrew it the meeting, to the pleasure of much of the crowd.
“A sit-down restaurant will probably replace the gas station,” Holub said.
The building that formerly housed Evolution fitness center would be demolished.
Traffic studies provided to the board showed that Granada Boulevard and the intersection at Old Kings Road would maintain a “C” or “satisfactory” rating even though daily trips would be added. It showed Old Kings Road at 15% capacity now and at 19% capacity after build-out.
There will be a six-foot masonry separating the development from the neighborhoods.
STANDING ROOM ONLY
The commission meeting room at City Hall was packed the night of the vote, mostly by residents from surrounding neighborhoods concerned about traffic and noise. There were also several supporters in the audience, who cited high-quality commercial developments that Holub and his partner, Lewis Heaster, have created in the city.
Heaster is a Planning Board member, but did not attend the meeting, so he was not part of the discussion or vote.
The 7 p.m. meeting lasted for three and a half hours as Holub gave a presentation and audience members made their opinions known to the board. Planning Board Chairman Doug Thomas, upon seeing the long line of people, cautioned the speakers that if that if they started to repeat statements made by others, they would be stopped.
“That’s the way the City Commission operates and so will we,” he said. “If you have something new to say, we’ll listen.”
The removal of the gas station from the plan went a long way toward placating the crowd, but there were other concerns. Some didn’t like the idea of drive-through restaurants.
“I think we’re turning Ormond Beach into Everytown, U.S.A.,” one resident said.
Dr. Tom Cartledge said he decided not to move to Jupiter, Florida, because both sides of the main road are developed.
“I don’t think you want that here,” he said. “It’s green. Don’t pave paradise. I’m all for development but we have to be careful.”
But others cited attractive buildings that Holub has created.
“Everything Holub has done has been done at the highest level,” said Sheriff Guindi, a local real estate agent. “He goes to great lengths to please residents.”
Susan Barfield asked for a 10 p.m. closing time for all businesses.
Holub responded that putting in hours of operation would be too restrictive in his attempt to attract restaurants.
Rita Press, a former Planning Board member speaking from the audience, said drive-through restaurants in the B-9 zone are a “special exception” meaning that each needs individual approval, and operating hours could be considered when approved. She said they should be maintained as a special exception.
But in the Planned Business Development Holub was seeking, the drive-through restaurants would not need a special exception. Holub said he needed the PBD because he wanted drive-through restaurants to be able to join the development without worrying about a separate approval.
Planning Board member Al Jorczak agreed with Holub's request for a PBD, saying businesses today need to make fast decisions.
APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
Before the vote, Planning Board member Harold Briley added conditions, saying that only local delivery trucks should be allowed on Old Kings Road, and they would not be able to turn left out of the development to travel farther south down Old Kings Road.
The Planned Business Development zoning was approved unanimously. In addition to Heaster, board members Lori Tolland and Pat Benke were absent.
In September, the board and the City Commission unanimously approved a PBD for Granada Pointe, a development on both sides of Granada Boulevard a few miles east of Ormond Central at Tomoka Road, also planned by Paul Holub.
