New Urbanist Plan Approved In Rural Florida Despite Opposition By Planners and Public

Pelham Square, a 200 home development proposed by creators of Celebration, faced opposition by County planners and residents due to its rural location and density.

1 minute read

July 21, 2006, 8:28 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


A controversial DeLand-area development was approved in a rural portion of Florida's Volusia County to allow 200 homes and a public bicycle path near a potential future commuter rail stop. As the plans for the commuter rail system have not yet been approved, the County's Planning and Land Development Commission voted against the project last month, finding that it was too high-density for the rural area.

Before the meeting, residents of nearby rural Hontoon gathered more than 500 petitions of opposition, urging the council to reject the plan. But council members praised the proposal, describing it as a well-designed mix of clustered homes and open space that will make good use of the future commuter rail stop. Council member Carl Persis, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said the developer's four-homes-per-acre plan will strain roads and the environment, and force residents to live "all shoe-horned together."

"If this is smart growth, we should ask for smarter growth," he said.

Thanks to Sheryl Stolzenberg

Friday, July 21, 2006 in The Orlando Sentinel

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

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