- April 25, 2024
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ICI Homes received the county's approval Dec. 7 for a final plat for 132 new homes in Plantation Bay, but county commissioners also warned the developer that they want to see progress on the construction of an additional entrance road for which the county has repeatedly granted time extensions.
The Flagler County Commission had first granted a time extension in 2007, allowing the developer until late 2009 to finish the road, called the Bay Drive extension, with the caveat that the county wouldn't issue certificates of occupancy on some of the surrounding ICI developments in Plantation Bay until the road was completed.
There have been multiple extensions since — extending through January 2021 — and traffic has started backing up at the community's two major entrances.
Commissioner Andy Dance said he considered the road a health and safety issue, as it would provide an additional way out of the community for evacuations. There is a construction vehicle pathway in the area, but it's unpaved, and rains can make it impassible for passenger cars.
"I’m just concerned about getting it done, and living up to the commitments from prior boards to get this completed," Dance said to ICI representative David Haas at the meeting. It's not so much a factor for hurricane evacuations as it is for wildfires, he said, "which can come through in no time and can block off one entrance and leave everybody trying to get out of a single entrance. I think it’s something that we have to solve."
Haas said that the road has been designed and engineered, and ICI is negotiating with a contracting company.
Dance said he didn't want to hold the final plat hostage, but did want to see the developer address the issue.
"Future developments, I think, are on the table," Dance said. "Let’s come back and have that discussion."
He asked the Haas for a timeline, but Haas said he couldn't give one.
"We need to build and sell houses," Haas said. "We understand that an exit to U.S. 1 … is going to be good for marketing; it’s going to be good for sales.”
County Commissioner David Sullivan suggested that the commission approve the final plat for the homes, but add a provision requiring the developer to return to the commission within three months and provide an update on the status of the road.
The commission approved that motion 5-0.
The proposed homes would be 132 attached single-family units spread over 33 quadruplex buildings on 63 acres.
