1. The Loop
"Save the Loop" is the rallying cry of Volusia's
citizens facing the impact on their beloved trail of thousands of cars
from the proposed Plantation Oaks development. It includes a non-essential
golf course to which DCA objected, stating that it is a substantial deviation.
The golf course would bring more traffic to this recreational oasis, and
loss of thousands of trees. Cyclers' and walkers' safety is an issue, as
well as damage to the beauty and character of this magnificent roadway
of thick woods and open salt marsh. The EC has stated opposition to the
proposed development because it fails to preserve the unique ecology of
the site for wildlife. We also believe that Volusia's sole source aquifer
cannot support the drain and loss of recharge of this or any further large
development.
The vote to approve should have had contingencies.
We urge the County Council to require ingress and egress via US I only,
and retention of a 150 foot natural buffer along Old Dixie Hwy. Perhaps
there could be a barricaded exit through the buffer onto this road opened
only for emergency evacuations. An adjacent path could be used by cyclers
and pedestrians at any time. The developer insists his project empty onto
Old Kings Road - and won the first round by means of threats. The County
can yet stand firm to safeguard the greater good of the larger community.
In the past when the Council has voted on an issue, it has sometimes revisited
it and overturned its decision. We urge you to revisit this vote and protect
this road, this experience of Old Florida that the people dearly love.
2. Water
A letter went to SJRWMD Director Kirby Green andthe
Board expressing our serious concerns about the path being chosen by the
District for supplying the water needs of the future. These include the
following:
- insufficient regard for, and no computer program to analyze, the
water needs of vegetation, of wildlife, and for maintaining healthy wetlands
and streams;
- the District's failure to consider the cumulative impact of its CUPs
on the entire aquifer system which has led to withdrawals for years exceeding
rain recharge;
- the method of supplying water for future human use being based on
the energy intensive process of desalination/demineralization and therefore
increasing cost as world oil supply is depleted;
- the plan to saddle current residents with the additional cost of
supplying water to new users;
- failure to evaluate the water loss from canal runoff and undertake
methods to control it (as we proposed over ten years ago);
- and failure to respond to or consider our March 16, 1997 proposal
to totally eliminate sewage effluent to rivers by using it to provide wetland
restoration, aquifer recharge, and stream flow enhancement.
3. Aquifer
We will re-send a letter to SJRWMD requesting a
listing of all Consumptive Use Permits involving withdrawals from the aquifer
of Volusia County as issued by the District since its inception, including:
the grantee and withdrawal location, the application receipt date, the
date granted, the expiration date or duration, the average withdrawal permitted,
the peak withdrawal rate permitted, and the total withdrawal permitted.
The letter will go to the director, Kirby Green, senior staff and the District
Board.
In connection with our studies of the Volusia Sole
Source Aquifer, the Eenvironmental Council initially made this request
for a list of CUPs on August 8, 2000 to then director Henry Dean. He did
not reply.
4. Lively Arts Center
What a waste that the state will allow 10 acres
of riverfront land owned by the people to be sacrificed for a performing
arts theater. It will be often unused and does not need a riverfront setting
(except for ego enhancement). There are too many buildings blocking the
river. Daytona Beach places no value on public access. A park would be
enjoyed all through the day by all citizens, and serve to filter the huge
amount of stormwater entering the river at this point.
5. Swoope Site
On the western shores of the Indian River off US
I in New Smyrna Beach, this land now serves as an electric generating station.
If the site is developed, the loss in power production will cost the city
hundreds of thousands of dollars. The power plant may have polluted the
site with old fuel storage tanks, metals, paint, pesticides and possibly
PCBs from transformers. PCBs, if discovered, would be the worst pollutants.
It was reported to us that in June the FDEP found
toxic waste in the soil and groundwater. Elevated levels of metals including
mercury, chromium, arsenic, lead, vanadium and alpha-chlordane were detected
(FDEP report #fld984189225). They exceeded the state maximum containment
levels. The groundwater moves in an easterly/northeasterly direction across
the site, posing harm to the Indian River Lagoon if contaminated ground
is disturbed. The Swoope site was never designated a federal superfund
site, but was listed as a contaminated site requiring more testing.
In September FDEP notified the City that a full
scale environmental evaluation and clean-up of hazardous material is required
before the city could pursue its plans to lease the site to a marina developer.
The city hired a local firm, Environmental Consulting and Technology, to
take samples from soils and monitoring wells. Advanced Environmental Laboratory
in Gainesville did the analysis. Low and behold the results for metals
and asbestos were within normally occurring backround levels. No lead was
found in the water or soil. The consultant recommended no other soil or
water tests.
The discrepancy between the city's report and DEP's
is troubling. The city's consultant should provide a comparison of the
reports and a reason for the disparity. Many NSB citizens have little trust
in their city officials or senior staff.
A marina at the site would release more pollution
than is already present there, especially if there are wet slips. Boats
stored in wet slips invariably use toxic anti-fouling bottom paints which
can poison waters and sediment.
The impact on manatees will be great if hundreds
of more boats ply these waters where many manatees congregate. It has been
designated a manatee "red zone". If a dry stack marina is ever built there,
the City should insist that the developer install solar PV panels on the
roof at his expense.
6. Flagler County
The County Commission seems to feel an obligation
to accommodate developer Ginn, who doesn't even own the 900 pristine acres
he wants to develop along Bulow Creek into Hammock Beach River Club. Why?
The Commission knows the public opposes the rezoning from agriculture to
residential. Concerned citizens of Flagler Beach have lobbied to protect
the Creek and this land which is the missing link in Flagler County's Greenway
Corridor that includes Bulow State Park. This upzoning is completely discretionary.
There is no legal requirement to compel the Commission to grant it. Is
the push to increase the tax base so ingrained and myopic that elected
officials ignore the damage to and loss of essential ecosystems?