ORMOND BEACH
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 13, NO. 19
KOALA AND CURLEW PAGE 7A
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025
Florida friendly: Regrow the Loop 2025 After a successful pilot, this year’s effort will be led by the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail organization. PAGE 3A
A superior achievement for a superior band Mainland Marching Band celebrates three first place wins in New Orleans Sugar Bowl festivities. PAGE 1B
Mainland High School band drum majors Cameron Wilcox and Karmen Williams with fellow musicians Javon Estes and Kyani Garnett. Photo by Michele Meyers
YOUR TOWN HALIFAX HEALTH WELCOMES ITS FIRST BABY OF 2025
’CRABS SPLIT
Seabreeze boys lose, girls win Five Star soccer tournament openers. PAGE 8B
PLAYGROUNDS
PARKVOLUSIA
MERGED
ELECTIONS
City to repair, replace playgrounds, including Andy Romano Beachfront Park and Magic Forest. PAGE 2A
Ormond Beach accounting firms announce merger. PAGE 8A
Halifax Health welcomed its first baby of 2025, born at 1:49 am on Jan. 1. The baby girl, named Juliana, made her big debut two days before her due date, weighing in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Parents Iliana Rodriguez and Justin Acevedo are elated on the arrival of their first baby. As with tradition, the family was gifted a basket of baby items put together by Tanger Outlets, along with a photo package from Baby Face Portraits. Since 1928, generations of expecting mothers have chosen Halifax Health to bring their babies into this world. To date, Halifax Health has delivered over 141,000 babies.
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 8A Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Comics ........................PAGE 7B Cops Corner............... PAGE 6A Letters....................... PAGE 11A Opinion......................PAGE 10A Public Notices...........PAGE 10B Sports......................... PAGE 8B Real Estate................. PAGE 9A
ParkVolusia is now in effect. Volusia residents are urged to register to avoid fines for parking in off-beach lots. PAGE 6A
HAPPY CO.
Ormond-by-the-Sea residents open new coffee and surf shop in former bank. PAGE 8A
What to know ahead of the January special primary election for the Congressional District 6 race. PAGE 5A
City approves first drive-thru coffee shop On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the commission voted 4-1 to approve a redevelopment plan that would allow for the construction of an Ellianos Coffee location at the former WinnDixie Parking lot.
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
Ormond Beach’s first drive-thru only coffee shop has earned a thumbs up from the City Commission. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the commission voted 4-1 to approve a redevelopment plan that would allow for the construction of an Ellianos Coffee location at the former Winn-Dixie Parking lot. The plan had arrived to the commission with a 3-1 recommendation of denial by the Ormond Beach Planning Board, due to traffic concerns. But, seeing as the property owner is seeking two waivers — one concerning improving landscaping buffers in the overall parking lot and another to reduce vehicle stacking requirements by one car on each of its drive-thru lanes — and the coffee shop is an allowed use in the current zoning district, the majority of commissioners saw no issue with the proposal. “I think this is a great project,” Commissioner Travis Sargent said. “These two special exceptions, I think, are a no-brainer.” Commissioner Kristin Deaton
agreed, adding that drive-thru coffee shops are popping up all over the country and that she’s pleased Ormond Beach is hopping on the trend. “I read the minutes from the Planning Board meeting and their potential concerns — I understand them,” she said. “... I do not believe that a small coffee shop of this magnitude will greatly affect the traffic patterns on Granada.” When the Ellianos Coffee proposal reached the Planning Board last November, members worried that it would worsen traffic conditions on Granada Boulevard at peak travel times. City Planning Director Steven Spraker noted that no vehicle drivethru access will be permitted from West Granada Boulevard. Ellianos Coffee, to span 800 square feet, will be located next to the existing Taco Bell. An Aldi is set to replace the former Winn-Dixie store. Project engineer Christopher Gmuer said Ellianos Coffee has been very successful is revitalizing shopping centers. Only one commissioner voted against the project. Commissioner
Harold Briley said he shared the Planning Board’s concerns regarding traffic flow, as the parking lot had previous stacking problems. “I think it’s busy,” he said. “You’re going to have traffic backing up in these parking spots, and people can’t back out of the parking spots in the plaza.” Sargent said he frequented the Starbucks on West Granada Boulevard recently, and there were no people parking at the Aldi next door as the coffee chain was experiencing a rush hour. He expects the same here — that an Aldi won’t generate a significant amount of traffic during a morning rush hour, and during the times people would frequent the store, the rush at the coffee shop would have dropped off. A second proposal for a drive-thru coffee shop will arrive befoe the commission soon. Dan Sundell, of SunBros Cafe in Flagler Beach, seeks to demolish the existing building at 14 S. Yonge St. and construct a drive-thru coffee shop. The proposal will come before the City Commission with a 6-0 recommendation to approve by the Planning Board.