ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A long-running dispute over a proposed Ormond Beach subdivision has escalated into a courtroom battle.
The developers of Tomoka Reserve are suing 12 residents who have challenged plans to build as many as 254 homes on the former Tomoka Oaks Golf Course. The 147-acre property has fueled debate in the community for almost five years.
According to the lawsuit, the residents used homeowners association resources in their campaign against the development, causing financial losses for the developers.
Bonnie Kloepfer is among those named in the case.
Kloepfer said she believes the proposed construction could hurt property values by placing a large number of closely spaced homes on the site.
Traffic safety is another major concern for her and other neighbors.
“It’s already crowded trying to get out on Nova Road here. The traffic there is ridiculous. They have signs showing how ridiculous that it’s a high crash area. So now they’re going to add… if you have 254 homes you’re talking about, at least if it’s only a two-car household. 500 cars coming in and out of one spot,” Kloepfer said.
News 6 contacted the developers’ attorney for comment but had not received a response. On the project’s website, the developers say more than half of the property would remain green space, with almost three miles of buffer surrounding the community.
Darla Widnall, another resident named in the lawsuit, said the neighborhood group is not necessarily against development. However, she said residents would prefer a less intensive plan with fewer homes.
Widnall is also worried about the effect construction could have on drainage and flooding in the surrounding neighborhood.
“My opinion is I would like for it to still be green space, but other residents are just wanting it to be a safer amount of homes put on the land, not 254,” she added.
The residents are pursuing a separate legal challenge to the city’s approval of Tomoka Reserve. That appeal remains pending in court.
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