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Flagler County seeks to intervene at Bunnell meeting over plan that could allow up to 8,000 homes on wetlands and uplands
Summary
County staff told commissioners they would appear at a City of Bunnell hearing to raise concerns about a proposed planned unit development and comp-plan amendments that could allow up to 8,000 residences on largely low-lying land; commissioners gave consensus to send staff to the meeting.
County staff asked the Board of County Commissioners on June 9 for permission to attend a City of Bunnell hearing about a proposed land-use and rezoning package that staff said could authorize a planned-unit development with up to 8,000 residences on a large tract at the headwaters of Haw Creek.
Why this matters: the county said the site is largely low-lying and includes wetlands; the development, if approved without coordinated mitigation and infrastructure commitments, could affect county-maintained roads, county fire protections, stormwater and downstream water quality.
What staff told the board Planning staff and the county attorney'office said they had previously submitted formal comments during the comp-plan transmittal review and asked the city to address county concerns; those comments included requests for stronger fire-service and road-impact commitments and additional stormwater protections. County staff said they had not received a substantive response before the city posted the rezoning and PUD items on its agenda.
Specific county concerns listed by staff and commissioners - Fire services and facilities: staff said a developer offer to donate four acres for a public safety site is likely insufficient for the level of fire protection a development of that magnitude would require; the county said a fully operational fire station, staffed and funded, could be necessary to maintain current ISO/fire-insurance ratings. - Roads and traffic: portions of the new development would rely on county roads; staff asked the city to require developer-funded road improvements and traffic mitigation and to coordinate impact fees and longer-term maintenance responsibilities. - Stormwater and wetlands: the site sits at the headwaters of Haw Creek. County staff flagged wetland impacts and the need for robust stormwater systems and mitigation.
Board direction Commissioners provided consensus for county planning staff and county leadership to attend the City of Bunnell hearing and to voice the county's concerns publicly. County staff said if the city adopted the comp-plan amendment or rezoning without addressing county comments, the next remedies include administrative mediation or a state land-use challenge under Florida's land-use adjudicatory process.
