Whose benefit is city working for?
Regarding the May 22 letter, “Planning process in Ormond Beach works,” I feel quality of life has been significantly diminished as of recent. Clear-cut trees, overdevelopment, gas stations, too many red lights, traffic jams, and flooding concerns are on residents’ minds in Ormond Beach. Anyone driving down Granada Boulevard can see all of this going on. It is a nightmare in the making by the city commissioners and mayor.
With Granada being the main east-west corridor, they continue to push developments through as fast as they can. As discussed by the Planning Board, removal of the medians will look terrible and the “architecturally designed landscaping” will be going away. Nothing can replace the historic trees that have been recently clear cut. There is obviously no concern for the resident’s quality of life.
An attempt to blame the traffic on Margaritaville, when it hasn’t even been built yet, shows the desperation of the five in office. The traffic problems are already here. Ask any police, fireman or EVAC personand they will tell you what is going on is not OK.
Balancing growth is not cutting down every tree on the main thoroughfare, and overdeveloping without a plan for any of it. The “planning process” is to sell the city to the highest bidder. My own quality of life standards are higher than this. Stop the overdevelopment now.
MaryAnne Andrew, Ormond Beach
Worry about flooding
Many have seen the sad news regarding flooding in Ellicott City, Maryland. As a former business owner in Ellicott City, I think it is important not only to grieve for the destruction of a beautiful, historic small town, the loss of life and the financial loss to many individuals and businesses, but also to learn from this tragedy.
While Ellicott City occasionally experienced flooding at the bottom of Main Street where the Patapsco and Tiber Rivers come together, it was not until developers built on the heights above the river valley that the flooding became disastrous. Developers removed forests and green spaces. Buildings, sidewalks, and roads replaced vegetation and eliminated the ability for the ground to absorb water. Instead, rain water now runs downhill along paved roads, collecting on Ellicott City’s Main Street in what some have called a “thousand-year flood,” except that it now has happened twice in two years.
Sadly, a similar situation may now be occurring along Granada Boulevard. Large areas of forest have been removed on the north and south sides of the road for new construction. Not only has this clearing resulted in the loss of beautiful old trees as well as the displacement (or death) of many animals, it has disrupted the absorption of water in those areas. Following the recent rains, I’ve seen the north side of the development completely flooded.
Destruction of green spaces has many consequences, not the least of which is changing the character of our little piece of paradise. I fear there are other negative results, including flooding, that we have yet to see. As long as the Planning Board and City Commission continue to allow developers and big-money donors to drive the growth of Ormond Beach, I fear outcomes more severe than we can currently envision. I beg the “powers that be” to stop development temporarily and consider a long-term, managed plan that protects all those things we love about Ormond Beach.
Carol Hogan, Ormond Beach