The City of Palm Coast Stormwater and Engineering department recently began major excavation efforts as part of the $9.2 million London Waterway Expansion project, which will increase stormwater storage capacity and provide water quality benefits in the city’s London, Jefferson and Belleaire waterways, located in the city’s L and B sections.
The project scope includes clearing a 19-acre site, creation of a 13-acre pond, two boardwalks that will extend into the pond, two tree islands, and natural vegetation planted along the perimeter to provide natural aesthetic.
The Palm Coast City Council approved the project last August in a contentious meeting. The $9.2 million sum includes actual construction, engineering and contingency costs. See details here.
The project kicked off in November 2023, beginning with surveying, fencing, installation of erosion control, tree removals and clearance of the 19 acres of land – all of which is located between Leaver Dr and London Dr. A video showing the project site can be found here: https://youtu.be/Niq5-pJ9qYo
“This is a great project that provides multiple benefits to the community. We can improve water quality, alleviate localized flooding and provide a passive park amenity for our residents,” said Andrea Mudryk, Project Manager for the project. “As our city continues to grow, this is just one way we are trying to utilize creative solutions to challenges when it comes to infrastructure and seizing opportunities for smart growth.”
The project is funded through a grant from the St. Johns River Water Management District, American Rescue Plan Act funds, and the city’s own general Stormwater Management fund, where your monthly stormwater fee (on utility bills) goes. Completion of the project is slated for December 2024. Dirt excavated from the London Waterway Expansion Project site will be utilized as fill for two additional city projects – Phase 2 of the Southern Recreation Center and development of a new Stormwater Maintenance facility located at US1 near Matanzas Woods Parkway.
For updates on all projects taking place in the City of Palm Coast, visit PalmCoast.gov/capitalprojects
Mike says
Are the people in the l and b section being asked to have their taxes access for this project. I don’t live there so I receive no benefit from this. Time for them to pony up.
Developer Bailout says
This was done solely to benefit the developer of the golf course in this area. It’s benefiting his project by creating drainage for his property. The L section never had flooding until Jason Delorenzo sent a letter to all residents saying the golf course swales no longer had to be mowed because it was no longer a golf course. Now it floods because the course was built to be the drainage for the L section. It doesn’t drain if they don’t maintain the swales within it.
It was BS on Jason’s part about mowing because they fined the last owner of the defunct golf course until he went into foreclosure forcing the property to be sold to the new developer who was in talks to buy it before it was fined. Who was he in talks with? The city! He was emailing them for meetings to see if it could be developed. Then the fines came like crazy after he said he wanted it. Now, it has arsenic that must be remediated and is a potential hazard to residents.
Jason said because there was no bathrooms left on course then mowing didn’t have to take place. But this gets better, there were bathrooms still. In fact, they were being used in the maintenance holding by the Punishers biker club. They had a full bar with refrigerator and kegs in the building. Jason knew it too! He just lies lies lies. All the neighbors up there know this about him.
This is tax payers paying for a developer’s drainage problem.
JimboXYZ says
Well, an upside to the 13 acre pond is that they can’t put more rental duplexes & apartments to grow that require repaving residential roads, traffic that ultimately ends up clogging the main arteries for the city. Dredging the canals at the intracoastal, that’s more for the boaters that pollute the intracoastal ?
Tammany Hall says
You are exactly right! Scammed by Jason Delorenzo and Barbara Grossman as the used past relationships to allow the golf course to go bad for the Matanzas L section folks.
Jack says
Great point! People that live on the saltwater canals will not have any benefit from this project.
John stove says
Great….so they are using Stormwater funds for things other than Stormwater Management….what does a boardwalk and passive park have to do with Stormwater?
How is the boardwalk and park help with flooding?
Everyone in the city has to pay for this via stormwater fees yet the boardwalk and park is for the benefit of the local neighborhood.
Explain again to me how dredging saltwater canals have to be paid by a special assessment district to the canal front owners and yet we are funding their boardwalk and park thru our fees.
Council better get their heads out of their a**
Mike says
Your so right John, now that the Stormwater fees go to the l and b section they are fine with it. God forbid they use that money for all us rich folks to dredge the canal. Now it’s off to my 100ft yacht to cruise the Caribbean, just got to clear it with the captain and crew.
RichO says
Why don’t you tell us what section you live in, so we can assess the projects in your area and what benefit they have for us in the B and L sections, and if no benefit then tax you accordingly.
Laurel says
Look, I don’t know what the background is on this project, but there should be more like it. I wrote once before that I had a property in Port St. Lucie, that had drainage problems. There was a thirteen acre property behind mine that was supposed to be a bird sanctuary forever. That was baloney. Then, someone came in and was going to build apartments on the 13 acres, but was having ingress/egress problems with it. The city bought it, came in and built a beautiful, huge pond with a large easement all the way around it that was planted with native trees and foliage, and the city continues to maintain it to this day. My property instantly became waterfront! The drainage improved. What a blessing!
Justin says
Looks like going to be living by a sewer! Lol palm coast is ridiculous! So glad i moved to Georgia!
Celia Pugliese says
Exactly D Bail out! I the early 2000’s they were never flooded in those sections when the Matanzas Golf Course existed, because the course 279 acres were the perfect sponge absorption to the area. About that time was when the Matanzas Golf Course was in foreclosure for mere $200,000 on liens mostly for the city over, after closure lack of maintenance. We plead the city to buy the 279 acres to be preserved as green acres/park but late Netts councilman then replied ; are you going too pay for maintenance? to which we responded already the adjacent neighbors were maintaining the course adjacent to their homes. Just get them to sign a “hold you harmless affidavit” lend them a couple of city mowers and they be glad to volunteer maintaining the rest of the course to save it as public green acres. Was a NO…So here is very clearly with all involved then including developers lobbyist DeLorenzo; we could have owned those 279 acres for $200,000 while saving 9.2 millions not needed as the course maintained always the area dry. Now we are spending 9,2 millions from Storm Water Management that we pay in our fees, needed in other priorities…Why ?because will benefit developers and with an gouging cost. Can we taxpayers feel anymore rewarded? Some great way for the taxpayer to be fleeced $200,00 to own and save the Matanzas Golf Course natural drainage versus 9.2 millions for the sake of greed.