November 7th, 2023 at 6pm, the Palm Coast City Council held their evening meeting where the second read for the Cascades development was held. This development was voted on in two parts, first on the comprehensive plan amendment and then for rezoning.
Initially, Council heard a summary on the first half of the Cascade development, which was on the comprehensive plan amendment for this development. That would change the designation from the Flagler County designation to the Palm Coast City residential designation.
Pontieri asked the applicant if the letter that the council and staff received from Chimento Law could be made into a binding agreement for future buyers of the development. The applicants representative from Chimento Law stated that they would be willing to make the conditions of the letter binding to any successors.
Heighter asked if the community had been made aware of the changes to this plan. The representative of the applicant, from Chimento Law, stated that those who attended the public meeting the other night were also emailed a copy of that letter.
The floor was opened up for public comment, and many residents of the Seminole Woods section stood up to oppose annexing the land as well as changing the designation from single family homes to single and multi-family homes. Residents stated that they rejected the proposal, stated their concerns about current emergency response times, infrastructure, the mayors lack of emotion regarding residents concerns, and more.
The applicant’s representative from Chimento Law, stated that they would be able to reduce the number of dwelling units by 100, as well as extending setbacks 150ft. They also stated they agreed to max out the height of the buildings to 40ft instead of 60ft, and add a buffer of vegetation.
Pontieri stated her objection to both the DRI/Comp Plan Amendment and the Rezoning was not the multi-family as much as it was the change in the maximum number of dwelling units. She stated that when they annexed the land in, it was at 416 dwelling units for the development. Her objection is to the change in the number of dwelling units and the strain it will put on our infrastructure. Pontieri made a motion to deny the amendment to the Comprehensive plan, and it was seconded by Heighter. The motion to deny passed. Pontieri made another motion to limit the development to the original 416 dwelling units, and it was seconded by Heighter. The motion passed, limiting the development to 416 units.
At this point the rezoning portion of the Cascades development was brought up and read in. This was the second read on the rezoning matter of this development. Council heard a brief summary of the rezone presentation by staff.
The applicant’s representative stated that due to the previous changes made, it would be pertinent to amend the rezoning request to straight single family residential. This would remove all of the multi-family residential zoning from the development.
Public comment was opened up, and multiple residents came up to echo their thanks to the council and to Chimento for listening to the residents and making the change to 416 single family homes.
The motion passed unanimously, changing the zoning to single family homes and preservation for the Cascade Development.
