Developers and builders are planning to build tens of thousands of new homes in the coming years in Volusia and Flagler counties. A slew of commercial projects are also planned.
The surge in construction activity is creating jobs and attracting both a wave of newcomers from other parts of the country as well as new restaurants, shops, hotels and other amenities to serve the area's growing population.
But with such growth come challenges. How does the area handle increased traffic that comes with having more residents? How do we plan for demands for water, utilities and the need for more police and fire services. What about schools and hospitals? This list goes on.
Local builder Mori Hosseini, the chairman and CEO of ICI Homes, believes the key is "smart growth. Building in the right areas the right products and planning to make sure we have the roadways and infrastructure in place to support it."
What constitutes smart growth as opposed to unbridled growth is subject to debate.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal is holding a public community forum on Tuesday, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Gale Lemerand Auditorium (inside the Willie Miller Instructional Center) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, to discuss the area's growth and how it can be properly managed.
Helping lead the discussion and answer questions from those who attend will be a panel of experts, including: John Albright, CEO of Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co.; civil engineer Maryam Ghyabi of Ghyabi Consulting and Management; and former Volusia County Councilwoman Pat Northey.
"Rapid growth is a good problem to have, but it also causes friction points," said News-Journal Editor Pat Rice, who will moderate the event. "Our goal is to have a civil discussion that helps the newspaper provide better coverage of this critical issue."
Among those expressing concerns about the area's growth surge are Ormond Beach residents Ken and Julie Sipes.
Three months ago, the couple formed a group called CANDO 2 (Citizens And Neighbors Dedicated to Ormond Beach) after seeing several wooded acres along West Granada Boulevard suddenly cleared to make way for a retail strip center.
"It was shocking to see the whole forest come down," said Ken Sipes, a local CPA.
Today, CANDO 2 has grown to nearly 450 members on Facebook and has become an increasingly vocal presence at City Commission meetings.
They aren't alone.
In New Smyrna Beach, the City Commission earlier this month granted initial approval to a four-month moratorium on new development after citizens voiced objections to several new projects, including a proposed new apartment complex at State Road 44 and Glencoe Road.
"It's difficult for cities to keep up with growth," said New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Jake Sachs. "Florida's experiencing another growth boom and here in New Smyrna Beach we're on the knife's edge of going the wrong way. Everywhere you look, you see people stuck in traffic burning gas."
While Sachs said he supports "smart growth," he said he is concerned that the nearly 6,000 new homes planned on his city's west side will not only cause more traffic congestion, but also put a strain on water supplies and lower the quality of life for existing residents.
"We need to put our needs before greed," he said.
In West Volusia, DeLand resident Lynda Ruf is one of several who have expressed concerns about new housing developments on their side of the county, including D.R. Horton's planned Victoria Oaks project that would add nearly 600 homes on 170 acres.
"They are jamming them in," she said. "The roads (in the Victoria Park area) you already can't get out at certain times of the day and the (area's elementary) school is already overcrowded."
Ruf said one of the reasons she decided to move to DeLand 30 years ago was because "it was this lovely country, easy-going community. Now, we're turning into Orlando."
On the beachside, a citizens group called Sons of the Beach has been waging a battle to preserve beach driving, including the section of oceanfront behind the new Daytona Beach Hard Rock Hotel that the Volusia County Council recently designated as a motor vehicle-free zone.
"I'm not an anti-development person," said Paul Zimmerman, the chairman of Sons of the Beach, who prior to becoming a social worker for Volusia County Schools, was a general contractor.
"I see the necessity of some development, but one of the problems we're having in Volusia County is no money for roads and infrastructure costs," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman said he plans to voice his concerns at The News-Journal's public community forum. "I think it's great," the Daytona Beach resident said of the event, but added, "The county and the city should've been on top of this years ago."
Sipes said at least one CANDO 2 representative will be at the meeting, and he hopes others will attend to ask questions about growth and development as well.
"We're very concerned that the building (of new homes and commercial developments) is happening too fast and too furious," Ken Sipes said. "We hope there's a good turnout (Tuesday) night."