THE HAMMOCK
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 1, NO. 42
Fair and Youth Show PAGE 3A
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026
CFO report was a ‘campaign trick,’ Hansen says
Flagler County hopes to earn back trust after Ingoglia’s audit accuses officials of ‘wasteful spending.’ PAGE 5A
Mengel selected to lead Flagler With an interim on board, Heidi Petito to exit on April 10. PAGE 5A INSIDE VERANDA BAY
Property owner sues Flagler Beach over annexation. PAGE 5A
DEEP ROOTS
The Starlets, FPC’s Color Guard, heads to world championships. PAGE 3B
NOT TOO BAD?
Using Florida CFO’s ‘wasteful spending’ formula, Palm Coast City Council finds budget is only over by 5%. PAGE 4A
LOVE-LY SEASON
Matanzas boys tennis team aims for undefeated season, and more. PAGE 9B
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 4B Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................. PAGE 2C Letters....................... PAGE 11A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Schools....................... PAGE 3B Sports......................... PAGE 9B Tributes ...................... PAGE 4C Real Estate................. PAGE 6B
Modern Mexx to proceed — with reduced parking In a dilemma between tree conservation and parking, County Commission votes 3-2 to OK parking variance for new restaurant. SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
The Flagler County Commission has approved a parking variance for a new Mexican restaurant in The Hammock, despite concerns from residents. In a dilemma between tree conservation and parking, the Flagler County Commission voted 3-2 to approve the application, with Commissioners Andy Dance and Greg Hansen voting against it. The approval came with the condition to retain a large oak tree in the rear of the property. The owners of Modern Mexx are planning to move the former Fusion 386 restaurant at 5949 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. into the northeast corner of the L-shaped lot. The existing building will be demolished and a new 2,800-square foot building will be built. The restaurant will have around 92 seats, including a 20-seat bar, and nine employees, up from the five employees initially estimated in a previous review. The owners also have an agreement with a neighboring coffee shop to be able to use five parking spaces in its lot for employees after 5 p.m. each day. After the first review in March, the owners decided to submit two options for the commission to review. Both proposals removed the patio area outdoors and reduced the seating area from 1,800 square feet to 1,500 square feet, thereby also reducing the number of required parking spaces to 39. Option one would include the variance for 33 parking spaces to preserve a large oak tree behind the building. Option two would remove the tree and shift the building more to the back of the lot to allow for the additional six parking spaces to meet code requirements.
The Fusion 386 restaurant at 5949 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. will become Modern Mexx. Photo courtesy of Google Maps
In both options, the property has a 70% retention rate for the trees, when the county code only requires 50%, Growth Management Deputy Director Chuck Merenda said. Commission Chair Leann Pennington said that at any point the owners could go with option two and lose the tree, without needing approval from the board, as that would meet code requirements. “It’s hard, because you’re talking about parking, which is a major complaint up in The Hammock,” Pennington said. “But they also want to protect their trees, so it’s a very difficult conversation to have.” The concerns are multi-faceted. The community is concerned about overflow parking into neighboring streets and along the shoulders of State Road A1A. There’s also concern the owners will have more seating than initially approved though outdoor or patio seats. Several Hammock residents pointed to Bronx House Pizza in The Hammock as an example of this issue, with the added outdoor
seating area. The restaurant purchased a neighboring lot for overflow parking in 2025 to accommodate its customers. Bruno DiFabio co-owns Modern Mexx and founded Bronx House Pizza. DiFabio said Modern Mexx won’t be a quick-service restaurant, but instead cater to curated meals. “It’s not a high volume concept,” he said. “It’s not a fast turnover restaurant or a traditional large menu operation where you might see combo plate concepts.” Merenda said the number of parking spaces approved by the county would ultimately determine the number of seats the restaurant could have. Dance said even if the commission granted the variance, he was OBSERVER 50 LEANNI WAY, UNIT C3 PALM COAST, FL 32137 *********ECRWSSEDDM**** POSTAL CUSTOMER PALM COAST, FL 32137
MAKE YOUR FOREVER HOME YOURS. KITCHENS. BATHROOMS. WHOLE HOME REMODELING. TAP INTO OVER 30 YEARS OF LOCAL EXCELLENCE.
CGC1506292 THOMASCANDC.COM 386-585-4424 25 PINE CONE DRIVE SUITE 3C PALM COAST
sure Modern Mexx would likely be back for a landscaping variance request. The proposed parking plan did not leave room for landscaping requirements, he said. “My fear is that we’re not getting an accurate representation here of what’s ultimately going to be built,” Dance said. “...I don’t want to get into a position where I’m approving this, knowing that it’s going to come back to us and then you’re under a different set of pressures, having already approved it once.” Dance made a motion to deny the variance, but it failed 2-3, with only Dance and Hansen voting to deny it. Pennington said if the argument is to save the oak tree at the rear of the lot, the county would need to approve on the condition of retaining the tree.
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PALM COAST, FL PERMIT 175
With expert craft a passion for life — whether or transform Have a project in consultation a
As a full-serv we specialize • New Home • Full Home R • Kitchen & B • Additions & • Custom Des