Article Courtesy of The Daytona
Beach News-Journal
By Allison Shirk
Published November 17, 2016
The developer of the Venetian Bay residential community in
New Smyrna Beach is putting some large-scale plans on hold that would've remove
sections of the golf course after receiving criticism from residents the past
few days.
Geosam Capital, the Canadian developer of the largest master-planned community
in New Smyrna, submitted plans to the city in early October to build 38 new
single-family residential lots on the existing driving range at the Venetian Bay
Golf Club, which includes an 18-hole championship course that is the main draw
for many people looking to buy homes in the area. There were also plans
submitted to the city for nine single-family residential lots in the Portofino
Estates neighborhood of Venetian Bay.
Residents began expressing anger and concern on social media after the annual
Homeowners Association meeting Wednesday night when they learned of the plans
for the first time. Geosam scheduled a meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at the
golf course clubhouse for residents who wanted to give their opinions about the
plans, but on Friday afternoon Geosam officials said they would be tabling the
two projects for now.
"We are going to take a step back on these two applications," said James
Stowers, Geosam's U.S. general counsel, over the phone. "We are still having the
meeting. I think it’s important to have all the concerns from the residents, but
I think it’s important to let them know and put at ease some of the
misinformation."
Some residents expressed concern about the new homes in Portofino Estates
blocking the golf course views of those already living along the course and
others were concerned the driving range would be eliminated and property values
could decrease. Sabine Astroph lives right around the corner from the golf
course and works at the clubhouse.
"I think it will impact everything negatively," Astroph said Friday. "I feel
like they are just using the golf course as a way to swell homes. It’s a golfing
community, but what happens if they are just going to get rid of the golf
course?"
The submitted plans included eliminating the driving range and sections of a
fairway, but Astroph believes that's just the first step to removing more of it
later down the road. For her, the community is already overcrowded and she
doesn't believe there needs to be any more homes.
The community — west of Interstate 95, between State Road 44 and Pioneer Trail —
was approved in the early 2000s for 2,063 homes on 1,425 acres. This past
summer, Geosam also spent $8.5 million buying 700 acres at the northwest corner
of Airport Road and State Road 44. The property is the site of a new section to
Venetian Bay that will be called The Palms of Venetian Bay. Located at the
community's south entrance, it could accommodate up to 1,000 new homes.
Carrie Stepp lives in the Portofino Estates area and said she has been following
the new projects since they were submitted to the city in October. She said that
the developers have been "aggressive" about following through on them, and it
doesn't alleviate her concerns to know they are holding back on them at the
moment.
Stepp said she has been reaching out to the developers, other residents and city
commission members in the past month to try and stop them from moving forward.
"They go back and forth, and they tell people one thing and then do another,"
she said on the phone. "Why are they even proposing plans like this and why are
they even trying to grab at whatever they can in Venetian Bay when they’ve got
these other projects that they can build from the ground up?"
Geosam's new submitted plans also included constructing a new roadway and
including a sanitary lift station as well as expanded stormwater management
facilities.
Stowers said he wants to be clear that the projects do not remove or redirect
any holes on the course, and no homeowners' views would be obstructed with the
addition of new homes. He said that if Geosam ever revisits the plans in the
future then the company will be "proactive" and speak with residents first
before moving forward with the city.
"We’ve heard loud and clear from residents," he said. "Our focus is having open
communications and listening to all the residents and all their thoughts and
concerns." |