PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 2
NEXT LEVEL ATHLETES PAGE 8B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025
Miller: ‘We have to fix the system’ City wastewater treatment facilities are in trouble with DEP. Steep rate increases are looming. PAGE 2A
Who’s paying for beach projects? Flagler County asks cities to help.
For the W-I-N Two years after placing second, seventh grader Teddy Totten wins the Flagler Spelling Bee. PAGE 7A
PAGE 3A INSIDE AIRPORT ZONE
Flagler County moves ahead with proposed airport overlay ordinance. PAGE 4A
DOCTOR ARRESTED Palm Coast doctor Christine Garrett arrested for felony child abuse. PAGE 6A
ON YOUR MARKS
Flagler Palm Coast, Mainland, Seabreeze, Matanzas hit the ground running at Pinnacle Preseason Classic track and field meet. PAGE 9B
STRONG SEASONS
Flagler Palm Coast, Matanzas boys basketball teams encouraged heading into offseason. PAGE 10A
RYANS’ ART
Palm Coast residents’ art on display at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center gallery PAGE 1B
75 YEARS
Patsy and Linwood “Nemo” Farmer celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary PAGE 1B
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 8A Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Comics ........................PAGE 7B Cops Corner............... PAGE 6A Letters.......................PAGE 10A Public Notices........... PAGE 11B Sports......................... PAGE 8B Real Estate................. PAGE 9A
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Christ the King Lutheran School seventh grader Teddy Totten won the 2025 Flagler County Spelling Bee. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Developer goes toe to toe with city Is Cascades entitled to more than 416 units? A judge might have to answer that $12 million question. BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER
The Cascades isn’t going away quietly. The Palm Coast City Council voted on Feb. 4 to reject the developer’s claim that it had been illegally denied its ability to develop its property, three miles south of Seminole Woods Boulevard, to its highest use. The developer intends to follow through on its threat. “The City has left my client no other option but to file suit under the Bert Harris Act and other causes of action,” attorney Michael Chiumento wrote to the Observer on Feb. 11, representing the developer, Byrndog PCP. “The law suit will be filed in the
future as deemed appropriate.” Cascades was brought to Planning Board once and City Council three times over the past two years; the developer has sought an amendment to the city’s Future Land Use Map, to allow 850 residential units in the Cascades. Previous to annexing into the city, Cascades had been approved as a planned unit development, under Flagler County codes, at a maximum of 416 residential units. State agencies reviewed the 2023 proposal and had no comments or objections. The Planning Board recommended approval by a vote of 4-1. City staff recommended approval, noting that the increase of units would result in an “increase on the demand for services and infrastructure” that would be evaluated during the site plan/ platting process. “Any deficiency found in the infrastructure system may require the developer to pay a proportionate share of the improvements necessary to address the deficiency.”
Before getting to the site plan/ platting process, the City Council voted to limit the total units to 416, denying the max of 850, due to concerns with overdevelopment in Palm Coast. In response, Byrndog sent a letter citing the Bert Harris Act, along with an appraisal that put its property as being worth more than $12 million. On Feb. 4, the City Council, led by Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri, voted to reject Byrndog’s letter. By doing so, the council stood firm against allowing more than 416 residential units, and also accepted the risk of the lawsuit. The developer maintains that it has been entitled to 850 units — or more — all along, and that the city’s votes are not legal. “My client has never asked the City for any additional unit as suggested by members of the Council,” Chiumento wrote to the Observer. “Under the Bert Harris Act, the only available remedy is compensation in the amount identified in the appraisal we provided the City.”
Flagler Beach Fire Chief Robert Pace honored at retirement ceremony Flagler Beach Fire Chief Robert Pace celebrated his retirement during a ceremony on Friday, Jan. 31, held at Santa Maria del Mar Parish Hall. Pace had led the city’s fire department for 12 years, dedicating a total of 20 years of service to fire rescue. “We are extremely thankful for all of your hard work and dedication,” the Flagler Beach Fire Department stated on its Facebook page. “Over your tenure, you have made the city a safer place. You will be missed by us all.” Pace announced his intent to retire in December 2024, stating that serving as Flagler Beach’s fire chief “has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. ... Flagler Beach is more than a city: it’s a family.” At the Jan. 31 ceremony, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly honored Pace’s years of public service by naming him an honorary deputy.