Bunnell City Commissioner John Rogers surprised his colleagues when he made a motion at Monday evening’s meeting to return a $10 million subsidy to the Florida Department of Commerce, ending any prospect that would have resulted in a fuel farm in the city–the same proposed fuel farm Palm Coast and Ormond Beach had rejected.
Local Business
Bunnell Commission Sets High Stakes Landfill Appeals as Post-Jackson Era Cleanups Begin
Bunnell commissioners set Oct. 28 for a daylong hearing on 18 appeals of the city’s planning board approval of a controversial 610-acre garbage dump off State Road 100. Commissioners voted to restore public meeting livestreams following the abrupt departure of former City Manager Alvin Jackson. Some residents and appelants questioned the fairness of introducing entirely new evidence in the upcoming proceedings.
Point Grande Marks Opening of 264-Unit Apartment Complex in Palm Coast’s Town Center
Pointe Grand, a 264-unit apartment complex, marked its grand opening last week in Palm Coast’s Town Center as the local market grapples with growth and housing pressures. Two-bedroom apartments are renting for $1,375 to $1,568.
Flagler Beach Impatiently Approves Development Plan and 15,000-Sq-ft Clubhouse at Derelict Golf Course
The Flagler Beach City Commission granted a special exception for the long-delayed Ocean Palm Golf Course redevelopment after years of community frustration with the property’s neglect. Owner Jeff Ryan promised construction beginning in November, targeting a spring completion date despite widespread skepticism from commissioners questioning architectural aesthetics, drainage impacts, and repeated timeline delays.
An Asphalt Plant Is Proposed for Hargrove Grade in Palm Coast, Generating 280 Truck Trips A Day
ACCI proposes building Palm Coast’s first asphalt plant on Hargrove Grade, generating 280 daily truck trips, many of them at night. The heavy-industrial project will face strict scrutiny from city officials and local business owners. Previous batch plant applications met fierce rejection. The proposal needs a supermajority of four City Council members for approval.
Delayed Promenade in Palm Coast’s Town Center Adds Few Businesses and Starts Leasing Apartments
Palm Coast’s Promenade, the mixed-use retail and apartment complex in Town Center, missed its projected opening target, with just six commercial leases secured out of a potential 12 to 16 available spaces, even as businesses are relying on a generous city incentive program. Apartment leasing is underway for completed buildings.
Flagler County Unemployment Stable But House-Sale Values Continue Sharp, Inflation-Caused Decline
Flagler County’s unemployment rate was stable in August, with modest labor force growth and steady single-family home sales, but the value of those sales has fallen sharply since 2019, in inflation-adjusted dollars. State economists project a minor economic uptick and rising wages in Flrida, contrasting with plummeting consumer confidence.
County Rejects 150-Foot Cell Tower in Mondex Similar to One It Approved in Hunters Ridge
Flagler County commissioners unanimously voted to deny a proposed 150-ft cell tower in Daytona North after resident opposition and commissioners’ own determination that the tower would be incompatible with residential surroundings. Gulfstream Towers argued the monopole met all code requirements and provided vital subdivision coverage, setting the stage for a potential legal challenge.
Gas Prices Exceed $4 Again in Palm Coast and Florida, Diesel Above $6
In Palm Coast and Flagler County, gas stations were uniformly above $4, and in many cases at $4.39, though generally the prices were between $4.11 and $4.29 as of Wednesday evening.
County Gives Final Approval to 502-Home Development in Seminole Woods, Against Neighbors’ Opposition
Flagler County commissioners approved a 502-unit development of houses, townhouses and apartments off of Seminole Woods Boulevard by a 4-1 vote following intense public pushback since February, with concerns about density, traffic and infrastructure, and more than 400,000 square feet of commercial space.
County Joins Mounting Challenges Against Bunnell Board’s Approval of 610-Acre Garbage Dump
Flagler County commissioners unanimously agreed to appeal the Bunnell planning board’s approval, barely past months of secrecy, of a 610-acre landfill, initiating administrative pushback, and exploring dispute resolutions ahead of a potential lawsuit. The county’s actions may not be the only litigation Bunnell will face over the landfill.
Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson Cancels Radio Appearance, Avoiding Landfill and Fuel Depot Questions
Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson abruptly canceled his scheduled radio appearance moments before airtime, dodging critical questions regarding a controversial 610-acre garbage dump, ongoing secrecy surrounding fuel depot negotiations, and structural issues at City Hall, leaving host David Ayres and invited guests to discuss the hidden municipal initiatives without him.
Bunnell in Secret Development Agreement With Fuel Depot Company Palm Coast and Ormond Beach Rejected
Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson conducted secret negotiations with Belvedere Terminals after Ormond Beach and Palm Coast rejected the firm’s rail-fed fuel depot. Disguised under Jackson’s personal catchphrase as Project “Another Great Day,” the City Commission approved a secret development agreement and grant, shielding public disclosure through statutory exemptions, though a commissioner now says one land deal recently fell through.
Should Palm Coast Allow Developers to Waive Some Neighborhood Meetings Ahead of Projects? Council Says No.
The Palm Coast City Council plans to eliminate land development code rules allowing staff or developers to waive mandatory neighborhood meetings for large residential subdivisions. Council members raised transparency concerns following recent public secrecy surrounding a Bunnell landfill.
Palm Coast Targets Loopholes To Better Restrict Data Centers and Prevent Hidden Expansions
Palm Coast is adding data centers to its list of mostly prohibited land uses, requiring a supermajority City Council vote for approval and prevent developers from bypassing public hearings or hiding phased expansions under administrative thresholds. Council members seek tighter local rules ahead of potential state legislation that could strip municipal oversight over industrial technology projects.
How Bunnell’s Backroom Bootlickers Sold Out West Flagler for a Trash Mountain
Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson kept a plan for a 610-acre garbage dump in the heart of West Flagler–a landfill almost a third the size of Fresh Kills, New York City’s old landfill on Staten Island–long enough to ensure its approval by a spineless, misinformed planning board, with Chelsea Herbert’s lone exception. The planning board, coached by the city attorney and Jackson’s administration, acted arbitrarily, illegally and unethically. Residents must sue.
Cutbacks Force Closure of Flagler’s Free Hazardous Waste Facility as County Scrambles for Alternatives
Flagler County is closing its free Household Hazardous Waste site on Old Kings Road on Sept. 18 as part of budget cutbacks. Residents must now pay Waste Pro in Bunnell to dispose of dangerous materials like paint and electronics, though commissioners are facing resident backlash and currently planning future free “amnesty days” to still provide a few free days a year at the old facility, and perhaps at other locations.
Lakeview Estates Developer Faces New Conditions As Palm Coast Council Tables Housing Proposal
The Palm Coast City Council voted 4-1 to table an amendment allowing the Lakeview Estates developer to build new houses on previously protected land and a commercial strip on a different tract. Council members requested concessions regarding environmental buffers, future conservation guarantees, and commercial development limits. The developer through his attorney agreed to negotiate the terms before the item returns to the council in September.
Bunnell Planning Board Approves Landfill in 3-1 Vote Despite Secrecy, Questions and Public Revolt
Rejecting the unanimous opposition of scores of residents, farmers and neighbors, the Bunnell planning board this evening approved an application for a 610-acre garbage dump planned for west Flagler along State Road 100. Unless the decision is appealed by a member of the public, the City Commission will not hear the matter and the landfill will proceed.
Bunnell Was Trying to Keep Secret a Planned 610-Acre Landfill Off State Road 100
Bunnell officials abandoned their possibly illegal attempt to keep Project Butterfly a secret and revealed plans for a 610-acre garbage dump off State Road 100, not far from Daytona North, or the Mondex. Cocomero LLC seeks a special land-use exception to build the facility on agricultural property and claims questionable economic projections while potential traffic hazards on State Road 100 are not addressed.
Palm Coast And County Edge Closer to New Joint Animal Shelter as Humane Society Advocates Protest
The Palm Coast City Council and Flagler County Commission are planning a joint animal shelter on U.S. 1 to be run by the nonprofit Smart. Officials discussed the proposal at a divided public meeting as funding, design and other details remain unresolved. Elected officials spoke of frustration with the Flagler Humane Society and welcomed a competing service provider.
Commissioner Andy Dance Wants to Hear From Flagler’s Agricultural Community
Commissioner Andy Dance, who in July became the Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy Committee within the Florida Association of Counties (FAC), is seeking input from Flagler County’s robust agricultural community about legislative issues affecting Florida agriculture.
Michael Steele Caps Off Flagler Tiger Bay Fall Schedule Amid Board Changes And Awards
Flagler Tiger Bay announced its fall speaker lineup and elected new board members during its annual meeting, also awarding Bill Verhagen the Alice E. Stewart Civility Award for fostering respectful dialogue. The nonpartisan group plans to expand its successful student scholarship program next year beyond $20,000.
Raydient Kills Westward Expansion, Leaving a $126 Million Taxpayer-Funded ‘Loop Road’ to Nowhere
Palm Coast’s Westward Expansion is dead for now. Raydient, the Rayonier Corp. subsidiary that spent the last three years crafting plans for a 22,000-home development west of U.S. 1, this afternoon announced that it was withdrawing all those plans. It suddenly turns the $126 million, taxpayer-funded “Loop Road” into a road to nowhere.
Flagler Unemployment Stable at 5.5%, But Underlying Trends Mirror Sharp Decline in Consumer Confidence
Flagler County’s unemployment rate remained stable at 5.6 percent in July, just a fraction higher than June’s 5.5 percent rate, but still significantly higher than in the last two years as labor force growth has stalled, pushing school enrollment down. Home sales recorded their best month in three years but the median price, flat for five years, has also lost value due to inflation. Consumer confidence is falling sharply.
Stunningly, Palm Coast Will Pay $17 Million, Assume Debt and Lose Tax Revenue for 259 Acres from Town Center Developer to Settle Lawsuit
The Palm Coast City Council voted 4-1 to settle a lawsuit by purchasing 259 acres from the Town Center developer for $17 million. The agreement forces the city to assume $1.9 million in debt and remove $775,000 in annual property tax revenue from the tax rolls, including $620,000 to the city. City officials think the settlement prevents worse financial losses from litigation and secures control over the property, which they see as an investment.
Flagler Beach Weighs 4 Paid Parking Proposals; Enforcement Would Be By License Plate Readers
Flagler Beach commissioners heard presentations from four companies vying to manage a new paid parking system downtown. The proposed system will ensure local residents park for free and could extend similar exemptions to employees and others. The city wants to generate revenue from out-of-town visitors to offset local expenses. The commission has not yet decided on a specific vendor, enforcement technology, or pricing structure.
Flagler County Echoes Surging Backlash Against Data Centers with One-Year Construction Ban
Not that any such projects were in the pipeline, but Flagler County enacted a one-year moratorium on all new data center construction to develop proper zoning regulations for buildings that consume colossal amounts of energy and create noise pollution. Residents are pushing back against data centers across the country.
Maintenance Worries and Holdouts Aside, County Approves $35 Million Renourishment for 5.5 Miles of Beach
The Flagler County Commission approved a $35 million project to rebuild 5.5 miles of beach from North 7th Street in Flagler Beach to Varn Park, north of Beverly Beach. The rebuilding will start in early 2027 and take four to six months. All but $4.2 million of that is paid for through state and federal grants, so the county’s funding share is 12 percent. It is the first major beach renourishment project in Flagler County since the 2024 Army Corps project in Flagler Beach.
Facing Devastating $140,000 Cut, Flagler Humane Society Urges Palm Coast to Fully Fund Animal Care
The Flagler Humane Society faces a severe financial deficit because Palm Coast underfunds mandatory stray animal care, Treasurer Rebecca Reynolds argues. She notes the city covers only a fraction of actual costs, leaving the shelter to absorb the difference. With proposed budget cuts looming, Reynolds urges the city to preserve adequate municipal funding.
Seven Palm Coast Employees Escorted Out of City Hall in Broad Cost-Cutting Layoffs and Resignation
In a grim day at Palm Coast City Hall Friday, six employees were laid off and a seventh resigned, five of them in code enforcement and animal control, including long-time Code Enforcement Manager Barbara Grossman, and two in planning, cutting roughly $700,000 from the budget. The administration was under strict directive from the City Council to reduce the budget, though internal issues at code enforcement may also have played a role.
Pineapple Corp. Owner Spencer Calvert Sentenced To Prison For Construction Fraud
Spencer Travis Calvert, 54, was sentenced to five years in prison and 30 years on probation in St. Johns County Circuit Court Wednesday. The negotiated plea agreement includes an order requiring Calvert to pay $8,722,659.05 in restitution. At the time of the sentencing, the defendant paid $1,000,000, which was distributed among the victims based on their percentage loss of the total loss.
Flagler County SNAP Recipients Drop by 22% in One Year, Mirroring Sharp Decline Across Florida
Flagler County has 22 percent fewer SNAP beneficiaries than it did a year ago. According to the Department of Children and Families, Flagler County had 13,396 food stamps clients in July 2025. The case load dropped to 10,388 in June. That is the lowest number of local residents on food assistance since September 2009, when the caseload was 10,085, and the county’s population was 35 percent smaller.
Flagler Home Builders Association Outfits 96 Students with Backpacks for New School Year
The Flagler Home Builders Association gathered its members and sponsors to hand out 96 fully stocked backpacks to local students heading back to school, continuing an annual tradition aimed at easing the financial burden of classroom prep in Flagler County.
Back-to-School Help Night at Flagler Cares Wednesday
Flagler Cares, in partnership with local organizations, will host a free Back-to-School Help Night on Wednesday, July 29, from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. at 160 Cypress Point Pkwy, Bldg. B, 3rd Floor, Suite 304, in Palm Coast. The event is free and open to the public, and families are encouraged to attend. The one-stop event is designed to help families get ready for the upcoming school year by connecting them with community resources, health screenings, and free giveaways, all in a single visit.
The Wild West of Unregulated Private Schools in Florida and Elsewhere That Collect Taxpayer Dollars
An average of 100 new private schools have launched in Florida each of the last five school years. Florida and other states are taking a hands-off approach to regulating private schools that receive public money. School founders — in one case, a Florida woman prosecuted for sexual abuse who lost her license — often aren’t screened. Some states can’t even say how many of these schools exist.
Compass Hotel Is Flagler Beach’s Inaugural Winner of Monthly Downtown Beauty Contest
Flagler Beach government named the Compass Hotel by Margaritaville as the first recipient of a monthly beauty contest for its downtown district, an initiative cooked up by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board to pat local businesses and residents on the back for keeping up appearances. The hotel, whose owner sits on the advisory board, is the July 2026 recipient.
Gas Prices Rise Again as Peace Deal Collapses
Gas prices in Florida inched up over the past week after President Donald Trump declared a tentative peace deal with Iran as “over.” In Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, prices for unleaded regular are ranging between $3.77 and $3.89 at most stations.
Ignite the Night! Fundraiser for Flagler Beach Fire Department at Tortugas July 18
On July 18, 2026, local non-profit Flagler Strong will host a community event & fundraising concert dedicated to supporting the Flagler Beach Fire Department (FBFD) and Ocean Rescue teams—doubling as the official 10th Anniversary Celebration for Tortugas Florida Kitchen & Bar.
Landmark Housing Bill Becomes Law Without Trump’s Signature
President Donald Trump said Friday morning he would not sign federal legislation aimed at lowering the cost of housing, but the bipartisan package became law at 12:01 a.m. Saturday anyway.
Liz Ryan Is Flagler Broadcasting’s New Regional News Director
Liz Ryan, who joined Flagler Broadcasting four years ago as a street reporter, has been promoted to regional news director for the company’s Palm Coast and St. Augustine operations.
Former Athens Theatre Director Craig Uppercue Steps Into Leadership Role At Flagler Auditorium Today
Craig Uppercue brings decades of theatrical and educational experience to his new role as director of the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center. Taking over for Amelia Fulmer, the veteran arts administrator plans to prioritize student programs and explore bringing live music and touring shows to the venue. He hopes to replicate the growth he previously helped to orchestrate at the vibrant Athens Theatre in DeLand.
July 4 Fire Destroys Building At Santore And Sons Fireworks Manufacturing Complex In West Flagler
A July 4 fire destroyed a cinder block storage building at the Santore and Sons fireworks manufacturing compound in West Flagler. The structure contained paper goods and partially assembled pyrotechnics. No employees were present and there were no injuries. First responders quickly extinguished the blaze. The state fire marshal is currently investigating a potential lightning strike as the cause.
Rising Costs And Looming Tax Reform Force Flagler Commission Again To Rethink Funding for Carver Gym
The Flagler County Commission, reviving a scenario similar to 2010, is again considering divesting from the Carver Center in Bunnell due to rising operating costs and projected revenue losses from a upcoming tax amendment. Local officials are looking to the School Board to take over. Community advocates and program leaders warn that cutting county support will devastate critical local programs, senior services, and youth athletic leagues that currently rely on the thriving facility.
Chipotle Doubles Its Palm Coast Presence with Drive-Thru Location at Belle Terre and Palm Coast Parkway
Chipotle Mexican Grill opens its second Palm Coast restaurant on Belle Terre Parkway next Tuesday, with a drive-thru pickup lane. The restaurant would create about 30 jobs. The restaurant is expected to generate about three times as much property tax revenue as its predecessor, an often disused gas station and convenience store.
Trump Spikes Bipartisan Housing Bill Unless Congress Approves New Voting Restrictions
President Donald Trump derailed a housing overhaul which passed the Senate Monday and House Tuesday with wide margins. Trump was set to sign into law Wednesday. He cancelled a signing ceremony for the broadly popular bipartisan bill until Congress passes the controversial SAVE America Act, which addresses the extremely rare phenomenon of noncitizen voting. Republican senators have told Trump there are not enough votes in the chamber for it to pass.
Flagler Beach Close to Approving 8-Unit Vacation Rental Building on A1A at South 17th Street, With One More Delay
The Flagler Beach City Commission yet again tabled the site plan for a planned three-story, eight-unit vacation rental building at 1708 South Ocean Shore Boulevard until July 16, but not because it doesn’t want to approve it. It is only seeking further tweaks. Developer Ted Barnhill moved the primary parking lot to front State Road A1A to alleviate traffic in a narrow rear dirt alley. Commissioners required additional screening along the western alley boundary before granting final project approval.
Flagler County Unemployment Steadies at 5.4% as Employment Grows, Florida’s at 4.8%
In Flagler County, the unemployment rate steadied at 5.4 percent, almost unchanged from April’s 5.5 percent. It was 4.2 percent a year ago. Some 250 more Flagler County residents got jobs in May and the labor force grew by 163 people, about 500 more than a year ago. The number of unemployed remained above 3,000, however.
Town Center Data Center Planned for 100,000 Square Feet, Triple Footprint Size Palm Coast Approved
A DC Blox executive revealed the ongoing construction of a data center in Palm Coast’s Town Center will eventually consist of two buildings totaling 100,000 square feet, not one building of 35,000 square feet, as approved by Palm Coast planners. The disclosure blindsided city officials. The expanded scope should have triggered public hearings before regulatory boards. Future construction phases will face strict city council scrutiny under impending local development code changes.
Funky Pelican in Flagler Beach Ordered Temporarily Closed Following State Sanitation Inspection
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation temporarily closed the Funky Pelican in Flagler Beach today. An inspection revealed nine total violations. Three high-priority infractions included rodent activity, insects, and improper egg storage. Most issues were corrected on site. The popular pier restaurant generates millions in revenue and recently signed a 32-year lease extension with the city.