110 W. New York Ave., DeLand, FL
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BEACON FILE PHOTO
For Farmton — Attorney Glenn Storch, representing Miami Corp., owner of the Farmton property, talks to county officials about a development plan for the property at a meeting earlier this year. At its Oct. 15 meeting, the County Council approved sending the Farmton plan to state officials for review.
By Pat Hatfield
posted Oct 15, 2009 - 1:29:43am
The Volusia County Council voted 6-1 on Oct. 15 to approve Miami Corp.'s development plan for Farmton, sending it to the next level in the growth-management process.
The plan would create a smart-growth development of nearly 30,000 homes between Edgewater and Brevard County on 59,000 acres now used mostly for hunting and timber operations.
Called a "poster child for sprawl" by detractors and a "cutting-edge example of smart growth" by supporters, the Farmton plan would set aside 40,000 of the property's 59,000 acres for conservation. Except for a commercial and residential gateway near Edgewater, development on the property would be postponed until at least 2025.
Council Member Andy Kelly of DeLand, who represents West Volusia's District 1 on the County Council, cast the only "no" vote against Farmton.
The plan now will be transmitted to the Florida Department of Community Affairs, which oversees land-use changes approved by counties and cities. The state may call for changes in the plan, which will come back to the County Council for another vote, probably early in 2010.
REPORTED EARLIER: As part of a package of land-use changes, the Volusia County Council is scheduled to vote today, Oct. 15, on the Farmton plan.
The Farmton development proposal is part of a group of proposed changes to the county's comprehensive land-use plan, which determines how land in the county is to be developed, and at what intensity.
It will be voted on during the County Council meeting that starts at 9 a.m. at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center at 123 W. Indiana Ave. in DeLand. The agenda shows the land-use package is scheduled for consideration at 2:30 p.m.
You can listen to the meeting online at the county's Web site.
The proposed 59,000-acre Farmton development stretches south from Edgewater into Brevard County. The county staff has recommended the County Council approve the plan.
According to the Farmton plan, only a gateway area near Edgewater would be built at first. Any further development would not take place until after 2025. Eventually, up to 28,000 residential units, plus commercial units, could be built on the property, which has until now been used for timber operations and hunting.
In September, the Brevard County Commission approved the portion of the project in its jurisdiction.
While proponents of the plan emphasize that more than 40,000 acres will be conserved under the plan, some local conservationists have objected to the plan, saying there is no way to provide the necessary schools, roads and water. They said the plan will allow much more development than the current land use, and point out much of Farmton is soggy and low, in a 100-year flood plain.
To tell County Council members your thoughts about the plan, contact:
County Chair Frank Bruno, 386-626-6582, fbruno@co.volusia.fl.us
Vice Chair Joie Alexander, 386-740-5224, jalexander@co.volusia.fl.us
District 1 Andy Kelly, 386-740-5224, akelly@co.volusia.fl.us
District 2 Josh Wagner, 386-239-7745, jwagner@co.volusia.fl.us
District 3 Jack Hayman 386-740-5224, jhayman@co.volusia.fl.us
District 4 Carl Persis 386-740-5224, cpersis@co.volusia.fl.us
District 5 Pat Northey (386) 740-5247, pnorthey@co.volusia.fl.us
If the County Council votes to transmit the land-use change for Farmton, it will be reviewed by the state Department of Community Affairs.
More information about the Farmton plan is available at http://volusia.org/growth/farmton.htm.
Reader Comments
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Leave the land alone and then you could move the bears form DeBary to Oak Hill so they won't too far from their cubs whe they are trapped.
Thanks Andy for having the b...s to do what's right.
beautiful lakes with beachy white sands, trees & scrub for animal habitat. Too bad it was such poorly planned, nightmare of streets & sprawling cookie cutter houses.
Just what we need-another Deltona.
I sure would like to see Miami Corp.layout of this "new town" and where they found the water to supply it that the SJRWMD says they
were not aware of. No surprise there, the SJRWMD is - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .
Volusia should have the water rights there-who owns the "subsurface" rights on this land ???? Miami Corp has to clearcut their mature trees & does not see profit to re-plant or wait 30 years for more timber harvesting.
Will they truly-honestly set aside 40,000 acres and for how long?? There is no IF-
it is a done deal. As it is being cleared and OVER-developed I pray they are closely monitored to protect endangered species and not clear cut every twig there. There are probably precious artifacts here too. Oh well FEMA needs more Flood Ins.policies.
What company will sell Homeowners Policies ?
This new town should be named SUCKERVILLE.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT MAKING VOTERS HAPPY. THEY CARE ABOUT NOT MAKING DEVELOPERS ANGRY.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COUNTY.
THEY CARE ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING TO GET RE ELECTED.
Stop the ridiculous building on Land we should be preserving.
You should think of the next three Generations and not only leave them with this blessing our government calls debt. But maybe a little land.
STOP THE GREED!!!
1) There is NO NEED. People are not lacking housing opportunities
2) There is NO WATER.
3) Enough is Enough.
GO ahead and vote on this plan so more water will be pulled from the ground and then use our tax dollars to buy other land to offset the developement so we have a water shed area. They will get richer and we will get poorer. Please DON'T APPROVE THIS PLAN. A YES vote from you on this plan will equal a NO vote for you later.
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