Loop Conservation Effort Up For Discussion

DeLand, FL - At their next meeting, the Volusia County Council will weigh in on a proposal to purchase about 36 acres near Old Dixie Highway as part of a conservation effort for the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail. The land in question—which was recently annexed into the City of Ormond Beach—is part of the Plantation Oaks Planned Unit Development (PUD) project, which already has the zoning entitlement to 1,577 units, according to documents provided in the council’s agenda for Tuesday (January 19th). More specifically, the subject property has zoning entitlement for 76 single-family lots and a conservation easement adjacent to Old Dixie Highway. And part of that land, which is also a habitat for gopher tortoises, is what one local environment group wants the county to purchase. The goal for the group—known as DREAM GREEN Volusia—is to purchase the land in order to minimize the impacts to the Loop, but not to reduce the size of the development. In fact, the development already has a planned 175 foot conservation easement along the west side of Old Dixie Highway that will remain undeveloped. Furthermore, if the land purchase were to go through, the size of the conservation easement would actually grow. Local support for the conservation effort also picked up steam. A couple of weeks ago, a petition was created to save the same aforementioned plot of land that garnered over 63,000 signatures. The effort additionally attracted the attention of newly-elected County Chair Jeff Brower, who took to Facebook and announced that the land purchase was added to the council’s agenda. "You told me you wanted to slow down development. You said you wanted to preserve more green spaces," wrote Brower. "Help me save another section of the Loop- not just a buffer so branches hang over the street, but really saving part of the Loop." Brower also urged residents to email the other county council members about the land purchase in order to "let them know what their constituents want." Now, one hurdle the purchase faces is the fact that it does not meet the criteria for Volusia Forever or ECHO. But, under a current resolution, the county may override criteria and procedures for the direct allocation of ECHO funds. Another hurdle for the purchase is time. Per the agenda item concerning the purchase, the owner and developer of the land, Parker Mychenburg, has indicated that he plans to enter into a contract with a homebuilder by Friday (January 22nd). The asking price for the land, according to the agenda, is $1,368,000. The county will discuss the matter at Tuesday’s county council meeting.