11/22/2002
One of my favorite places when growing up and to this day is The Loop. It's a scenic route, a long-way-home that goes through tunnels of overhanging tree limbs. It winds past picturesque ruins of Seminole War-era sugar mills, and opens up to breathtaking vistas of tidal marshes.
Only a few sections are in state parks so thanks to recent actions by the Volusia County Council it's going to be just another congested commuter road between connecting golf courses and McMansions with the surrounding sprawl. (For land-use wonks you can get the re-zoning request in pd format. Warning: big file.)
I wrote a column about it and there was an editorial and there were polite protests petitions, letters to councilmen and folks showing up at meetings. None of it counted for anything. Developers have a history of pretty much getting anything they want here. (Post-vote editorial: County Council wilts when developers turn up heat.)
You're not a real Floridian until you have your heart broken a few times by local government acting as the obsequious maitre d' for developers.
There will be an Ormond Loop page here in a couple weeks or so. See it while it's still here.
Only a few sections are in state parks so thanks to recent actions by the Volusia County Council it's going to be just another congested commuter road between connecting golf courses and McMansions with the surrounding sprawl. (For land-use wonks you can get the re-zoning request in pd format. Warning: big file.)
I wrote a column about it and there was an editorial and there were polite protests petitions, letters to councilmen and folks showing up at meetings. None of it counted for anything. Developers have a history of pretty much getting anything they want here. (Post-vote editorial: County Council wilts when developers turn up heat.)
You're not a real Floridian until you have your heart broken a few times by local government acting as the obsequious maitre d' for developers.
There will be an Ormond Loop page here in a couple weeks or so. See it while it's still here.
