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Residents urge Volusia County to press Duke Energy to route transmission line along commercial Spring Garden Avenue
Summary
Multiple Hazen Road residents told the Volusia County Council that a proposed Duke Energy 69 kV transmission route through Hazen and Greens Dairy Roads would cut mature tree canopy, threaten wildlife and school safety, and depress property values; the council directed staff to draft a letter favoring the Spring Garden (State Road 15A) corridor.
A stream of residents from Hazen and Greens Dairy Roads told the Volusia County Council on March 17 that they oppose a proposed Duke Energy 69 kV transmission route that would run down narrow residential roads and by Citrus Grove Elementary School.
"If Duke Energy chooses the Hazen And Greens Dairy Road routes, they will have to remove a significant amount of trees," said Wendy Waszak, who identified herself during public comment as a neighbor and asked the council to urge Duke to use another corridor. Andrew Cawkins, a fourth‑generation DeLand resident, said the community learned about the project by chance and criticized what he described as a lack of transparency: "My first and foremost issue I've taken up with Duke Energy is the complete lack of transparency surrounding this project."
Speakers cited construction safety on two‑lane rural roads, potential interference with underground utilities, and long‑term impacts on property values and wildlife habitat. Several commenters urged the council to prefer the Spring Garden Avenue route (also identified in the presentation as State Road 15A), which they said runs through commercial and industrial areas and would cause fewer impacts to homes.
County Public Works Director Ben Barr displayed maps Duke Energy provided, showing a more direct route along 15A near an existing substation and a green line that would run along rail corridors into Hazen — the latter route that residents said would impose the greatest neighborhood impacts. Barr said the 15A option follows a larger right of way and is likely easier for Duke to construct.
After hearing public comment, Vice Chair Matt Reinhart moved and the council seconded a request that staff draft a letter to Duke Energy expressing the council’s preference for routing the transmission line along the commercial/industrial corridor on Spring Garden Avenue (State Road 15A). The motion passed on voice vote; staff said they would bring a draft letter back for council signature.
The county attorney and manager noted that utilities do not need county permission to locate lines, but officials said they will use the letter to advocate the council’s preference and to press for alternative routing that minimizes residential impacts.
The next step: staff will prepare the draft letter identifying the 15A route as the council’s preferred alignment and return it to the council for review and signature.
