Volusia Forever panel finds Deberry Point eligible; vote splits 4‑3
Summary
Deberry Point, a roughly 95‑acre fee‑simple nomination near the Lower Ocklawaha River, received a committee finding of eligibility by a 4‑3 vote. Staff reported the parcel scored 11 of 21 (minimum 10) and confirmed wetlands by field observation during the site visit.
The advisory committee voted to find Deberry Point eligible for Volusia Forever consideration on June 9.
Staff presented Deberry Point as a roughly 95‑acre fee‑simple nomination with a staff score of 11 out of 21; the program threshold for eligibility is 10. Staff said the parcel is most closely associated with the Lower Ocklawaha River Preserve outside the county and that there is no recorded public access through an adjacent gated community; river access is the primary public route.
Committee members asked whether staff had visited the site; staff confirmed a site visit and said wetlands were observed but not delineated (the GIS wetlands layer had not been field‑verified by the original dataset author). The committee also asked whether the city had expressed interest; staff said the city had declined to participate in the transaction and that the owner's representative had been contacted.
A motion to find the parcel eligible passed by roll call, recorded as 4 votes in favor and 3 opposed. The property will remain in the pool for potential acquisition and any future ranking or negotiation.
