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Residents recount ramp gridlock, safety and turtle deaths after a packed February weekend
Summary
Multiple North Beach residents told commissioners of long ramp backups, blocked residential access and wildlife harm during a recent busy weekend; Marcie Baldwin said locals waited up to 30 minutes and reported two adult gopher tortoise deaths, urging county and city action.
A series of public commenters described a severe visitorship surge during a warm February weekend that produced ramp backups, blocked driveways, noise and safety hazards for residents.
Marcie Baldwin said she lives in North Beach and runs a surf school and that what she saw on a non-holiday Saturday was unsafe for locals: "This is February... This is not spring break. This is not July 4," she told the commission, noting long ramp delays and that local children riding bikes were endangered. Baldwin said she and other residents found two adult gopher tortoise carcasses and offered to provide photos to county staff.
Wendy Pennington and other neighbors described multiple hours of congestion outside private driveways and asked for improved enforcement and clearer ramp access rules; comments urged the county and city to publicize field-permit and sea-fence options for property owners. The commission and county representatives acknowledged the issues and said a post-mortem review with agencies was planned and that the Volusia Beaches app can help residents and visitors find open ramps.
