- March 28, 2024
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The county closed the DRI last month, but the city still hopes to negotiate for money for road improvements.
Palm Coast will not pursue legal action in response to the county’s decision last month to close the Hammock Dunes Development of Regional Impact early, officials said Tuesday.
Instead, the City Council will ask to meet with the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners to discuss $5 million in transportation impact fees, which are held by the county, but which the city believes could be used for road improvements or possible sidewalk additions.
“I think the public will see that the city of Palm Coast held out a rather large olive branch to our colleagues at the county, and I expect that we will be able to resolve this issue in good faith,” Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts said.
County Commissioners, at the Dec. 19 meeting, declared the Hammock Dunes DRI “essentially built out,” ending the obligations of the developer to possibly widen the Hammock Dunes toll bridge from two to four lanes, widen Palm Harbor Parkway from Clubhouse Drive to Florida Park Drive, and also improve intersections on Palm Coast Parkway.
With the City Council deciding not to take legal action, city and county officials will meet to discuss how to spend the approximately $5 million.
These fees are collected by the state and then reapportioned back to the county. Typically, they are then split again based on an interlocal agreement between cities, but in this case, the county has decided to hold on to the $5 million to expedite the construction of the Interstate-95 interchange at Matanzas Woods Parkway.
Palm Coast officials, however, believe the state will fund that project 100%, and therefore the impact fees are not needed there. Instead, the city believes it has transportation needs which could be addressed with these funds that are consistent with the interlocal agreement.
City Councilman Frank Meeker suggested some of the $5 million can be used for sidewalks, specifically in Seminole Woods. Netts said it could also go toward improvements on Old Kings Road and Palm Harbor Parkway.
Meeker suggested that, in lieu of the taxpayers of Palm Coast suing themselves as the taxpayers of Flagler County, the City Council should forget about the legal challenge and sit down with the County Commission to reach agreement on how to spend the $5 million.
County Commissioner Alan Peterson spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, offering his perspective on the county decision and why the city should not continue with the legal challenge. He said he would be in favor of releasing some of the money to the city for road improvements.