Planning board recommends denial of 'Remembering Heroes' semi-public use at 2217 Lancewood after neighbors raise traffic, noise and privacy concerns

The Flagler County Planning and Development Board voted to recommend denial of a request to allow a semi-public veterans' and community gathering use at 2217 Lancewood (Daytona North), after extensive public comment that raised parking, traffic, noise, privacy and compliance concerns.

Staff summarized the application as a request to allow a small gathering hall and on-site counseling and program activities on a roughly 1.14-acre platted lot. The applicant, Kathy Hyder of Remembering Heroes Health and Wellness (a registered nonprofit), said the property would primarily be her residence and host small group counseling and veteran-support activities, with an on-site gathering area of about 633 square feet and five on-site parking spaces. Hyder said large events would not be held on the lot and that the organization coordinates larger activities at a 106-acre horse ranch outside the neighborhood.

Neighbors urged denial. Multiple residents told the board they had seen past activity at the property they said resembled a larger event: one speaker submitted photos and described roughly 30 cars parked up and down Lancewood during a recent ceremony. Neighbors said increased daytime traffic and repeated special events would erode the residential character and pose privacy, noise and air-quality concerns; several speakers said medical conditions or caregiving responsibilities would be affected by increased activity. "This will be an eyesore to the community," one neighbor said of a proposed identifying sign on the lot.

Staff presented conditions that would limit the scope of permissible activity, including limiting on-site counseling to no more than 10 persons at a time, restricting hours to sunrise–sunset, capping fundraising/community outreach events at four per calendar year (subject to special-event permits), requiring maintenance of nonprofit registration and county business tax receipt, and a requirement that any subsequent expansion of uses return to the board for amendment.

After hearing public testimony and board discussion about neighborhood compatibility and the sufficiency of on-site parking and buffers, the planning board voted to recommend denial of the semi-public use; the motion passed with a majority and one abstention. The planning board record and its recommendation will be forwarded to the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, which will consider the application at its meeting on October 20. If approved by the commission under different conditions, the conditions recommended by staff could be imposed at that stage or the commission could take a different direction.

The applicant said she intends to continue pursuing services for veterans but acknowledged neighbors' concerns and the need to address issues such as parking and buffering.