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Residents urge Port Orange to block development near Spruce Creek, cite flooding and protected species
Summary
Public commenters told the council that a 56.5-acre parcel rezoned for development risks flooding nearby homes, and that residents have documented protected species; petitioners reported almost 300 signatures in under a week.
Multiple Port Orange residents used public comment time to urge the city to reconsider development near Spruce Creek and amplify local concerns about flooding and wildlife.
Adam Dovi told the council the parcel in question had been the subject of recent rezoning conversations and argued that plan reductions from earlier proposals still leave too much density along flood-prone Spruce Creek. "Please stop flooding my properties," Dovi said, urging elected officials to prioritize neighborhood safety and to restrain what he called "urban sprawl." He said earlier plans showed 160 homes, then 150, then 120 and now about 50 homes for the same parcel.
Amber Allen said a petition she started gathered nearly 300 signatures in under a week and that residents immediately behind the site receive significant annual rainfall and are on FEMA special flood-hazard maps. She also said residents had documented sightings of protected species including owls, bats and gopher tortoises and asked the council to elevate those neighbors' voices in future decisions.
Planning staff and council members noted that the parcel had been rezoned to agriculture in December and that staff would continue to apply land-use criteria. No formal rezoning or land-use vote on the 56.5-acre parcel took place during this meeting; these comments were made during the public comment period.
