How vacation rentals have divided neighbors in Volusia s Bethune Beach news-journalonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news-journalonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
DAYTONA BEACH Less than a decade ago, the local economy here was still in the grips of the Great Recession with real estate development activity practically at a standstill. New development was largely viewed as a sign of hope and optimism.
Not anymore.
Today, a flurry of new home construction, apartment projects and commercial development throughout Volusia County has some citizens and elected officials alarmed that area is quickly becoming over-developed.
Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower is one of them. The flood gates have come open, said Brower while standing on a grassy field along LPGA Boulevard that is set to become the site of a retail center called Tymber Creek Village. The pendulum has swung the other way. Now, it s at the point where people daily are telling me Stop all growth. We can t stop all growth, but what we could do is try to slow things down. It s like we ve been on a sprint.
For the sake of Volusia s future, can we stop seeing enemies and seek out allies? News-Journal editorial board
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We suspect it’s not much fun to be a Volusia County Council member right now.
The council is developing a widening rift. On one side, County Chair Jeff Brower and Council Member Heather Post, who seems increasingly uneasy in the role of perpetual second in a 5-2 split. On the other, five council members who come from broadly diverse backgrounds and life experiences but who, until now, enjoyed a fairly cordial relationship unaffected by the times they lined up on different sides of a complex or controversial vote.
OPENING BACK UP daytonatimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from daytonatimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
County Chair Jeff Brower calls for responsible growth, teamwork news-journalonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news-journalonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.