After hearing little more than opposition to the idea, Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri is stepping back from her proposal to explore annexation of the county’s Malacompra Road and beach in the Hammock, opting for “different options,” she told her colleagues on Tuesday. But she still intends to find beach access for city residents somewhere.
Pontieri proposed the idea at a meeting of the council on Sept. 12, having prepared a map showing the boundaries of the proposed annexation from the northern reaches of Palm Coast’s C-Section, across the Intracoastal, to Malacompra Road, then expanding across county land on the beach to take in those parcels. She presented the plan to her colleagues ahead of a joint meeting of local government representatives the next day where she discussed it, terming beach access for city residents an entitlement. But in both cases, the response was between tepid and hesitant.
The broader public response was almost uniformly critical as numerous people did not see the connection between beach access–available to Palm Coast residents at many points on Flagler County’s 18 miles of shoreline, including in Flagler Beach, where most Palm coast residents, like other visitors, congregate–and the need to annex. The idea had emerged out of the joint committee’s previous discussion about relieving Flagler Beach of the crush of people by finding ways to disperse visitors to beaches further north in the unincorporated areas.
At last Tuesday’s meeting, Pontieri had taken the measure of the response and changed track. “I’m trying to explore some different options with the county to better utilize Malacompra Park without maybe the necessity of annexation because of concerns in the community,” she said. She’d been speaking with city staff–and got consensus from the council to do so–and was asking for time to formulate the different approach. “So there’s some time to flesh out some of those ideas, bring it back to council, but because it hasn’t been fleshed out I’d just like to let you know that I’m not closed off to other ideas.”
Pontieri was in part responding to Council member Ed Danko, who’d been speaking to Hammock residents. “There’s not much of an appetite over there for us moving into their backyard. They seem to be very independent, and very sort of like leave us alone sort of thing,” he said. “I’m just letting you know this. This reaction I’ve gotten has been very strong in the past week and from what I hear from everyone over there–and I have to respect where they live and their rights–unless something came up that convinced me otherwise, I honestly don’t think I want to go down that road.”
But the idea of acquiring shoreline for Palm Coast remains in Pontieri’s sights. “I’m working with city staff to discuss alternative ways to achieve the same goal of acquiring beach front that we don’t have to rely on a third-party entity for,” she said in a text today. “The city has now surpassed 100,000 residents, and years ago, we actually did own shoreline. It’s a goal of mine to get some shoreline back for our residents.”
The city of Palm Coast, incorporated in 1999, never had a beach, nor did its boundaries cross the Intracoastal. When it was known as the “Palm Coast Service District” before incorporation, ITT, the corporation that originally built Palm Coast, owned land on the beach around where Hammock Beach Club is now, calling it “Palm Coast Beach Club.” The corporation owned the Sheraton Corporation as well, and for a time the beachside hotel bore that name.
City researchers found evidence that ITT used the site to tag it with one of its slogans: “Our Palm Coast Beaches are covered with shells, not people.” But ITT was also famous for getting in trouble with the law over its zealous salesmanship, resulting in various consent decrees with state and federal officials. And when Palm Coast proper became a city, the “Coast” in the name was a mere left-over of ITT’s overzealousness.
Another Concerned Taxpayer !!! says
Palm Coast residents currently have free access to all public beaches with limited liabilities. Why do we need our own? What is it that maybe we aren’t seeing that would justify annexing property to give us “our own” beach. Our city government is already overburdened and stressed with maintaining our existing infrastructure, why take on more responsibilities and liabilities with owning our own little strip of beach? Is Palm Coast going to hire it’s own life guards? pay to rebuild/refurbish/maintain the dunes, provide these new areas with security, trash pickup, necessary services like sewage and drinking water? And oh yes, take on the responsibilities and liabilities for maintaining those roads that are regularly damaged by storms? What would be the insurance implications to Palm Coast by moving forward with such an idea? I personally think this is a pipe dream that has not been properly thought out in terms of pros and cons, liabilities and assets. With current efforts to slash budgets to maintain existing activities, I don’t believe that we need to incur higher taxes to pay for this folly of an idea.
Camille Esposito says
Don’t do out community is ruined
Algernon says
When I was a youngster at Scout Camp, we. the slightly older kids, would convince a newcomer that we needed him to go down to the beach at the lake and get a bucket of shoreline. Whatever happened, the results were normally fun, at least for us, and seldom damaged the persona of the younger scout.
Denali says
Or the often requested “Left Handed Smoke Bender” for use at the campfire. The camp quartermaster always seemed to have just lent out the last one when the new guy made the request.
James Helm says
Guess Mrs.Pontieri finally woke up and realized that she was the only person in Flagler County who thought this was a good idea.
This is why we need to make sure we vote in intelligent people. A little due diligence would have let us know this one is just an empty suit trying to get her name in the press.
Adam Frank says
If that Palm Coast City Council Kook- Pontieri, is allowed to jump a body of water, the intracoastal, to annex Malacompra Beach, there may be no stopping her. You may find her going trans- Atlantic to Africa, Europe, The Canary Islands, or other points, unknown.
Celia M Pugliese says
Adam Frank your innuendo intended for courageous councilwoman Pointieri shows actually who is the real deranged coward individual that when in the mid nineties was totally mute to the County Commissioners with Chair Mr. Jim Darby when they did that dreadful trade of about several blocks of gorgeous ocean front public lands for some 200 acres in the swampy boondocks and a miserable $200,000 magnified check to the press, for the public park access left. Did you have then your tail between your legs . Maybe because was to build homes condos and golf course for the wealthy was okay, but now parks for Palmcoasters s is not good? Are you prejudicing against community classes and women? As you and others like you here show your cowardice attacking Pointieri? Too bad as we almost 100,000 Palmcoasters in a county of total just over 115,500 population need our Palm Coast ocean front park with lifeguards so we do not have to drive to Flagler Beach to have lifeguards protection!. A county that governs only 7,709 residents in its county unincorporated areas owns all the beaches after they traded several blocks of ocean front to the Ginn company in the mid nineties. The county owns all the left over public parks from Marineland to the Volusia county line beach front and only collaborates with lifeguards in Flagler Beach…Then Flagler Beach kind of realistically complains that Palmcoasters crowd their beach front…Also the Hammock residents oppose to Palm Coast right to parks on the ocean front, but never fought when they lost 12 blocks of it to the Ginn company, courtesy of Jim Darby chair and the rest of the Flagler County Board of County Commission. The Hammock residents need to stop assigning degrading names to Palmcoasters, as crime and other social disgraces occur as much in the Hammock as they are in our city and they are enduring the same rezoning as we do. Councilwoman Pointieri should have all the city 100,000 residents support on her request, for Palm Coast own ocean front parks, so council can apply for coastal grants as well. She is right is not over, as 2024 is around the corner and any candidate running for county or city that opposes her request should not win, as far is my concern! Lets do not forget that in 1999 Palmcoasters overwhelming voted the referendum to incorporated for the very reasons one of them mentioned above. We were very unhappy under county rule. I moved here in 1991 and attended county meetings until we incorporated and beyond and I will never regret we incorporated we needed it. We can’t elect county commission candidates that do not recognize and help the needs of Palmcoasters as well. The airport flight school detrimental activities over Palmcoasters homes and their contaminating lead landing from the skies to be learned in the October 31st meeting at 9.00 AM in the City Hall in Lake Avenue, is also a very important issue to be resolved for good and if needed in court…
HammockHuck says
You’re guzzling the “Theresa Pontieri” koolaid Celia. Soon, you’ll drown in it.
Tina olive says
Why is this a concern….? Is this a smoke screen so we are all bent out of shape over a beach access and we don’t realize they voted a tax increase ?
Celia Pugliese says
Pointieri’s proposal was correct and I am sorry she is backing down… by now. Palmcoasters need their own lifeguarded beach and if we are going to pay for it should be in our own district not others. My neighbors with babies would like to have lifeguards not only for Flagler Beach but for Palm Coast; Mala Compra, Jungle Hut..or that Salt Park because we are over 98,000 taxpayers residents in a county of slightly 115,000 as per the last census. Most of the negative commnents against us were not here in the 80’s and 90’s when ITT had its pool and tennis courts ocean front for Palmcoasters accesible Sunsport Resort membership and taken away by the county in a shameful trade of land to Bobby Ginn and $200,000 for a public acces for the beaches taken away from us. I attended that pathetic meeting then. Only if you were Palmcoasters then can know what was done. Same when the same county commissioners invited for the first time the mostly worldwide pilots trainning schools to set at the airport and I said in the 2000’s meeting “you all are opening a can of worms for Palmcoasters!” Sure they did …Ask the Quail Hollow and Seminole Woods residents including as far north as 8 miles away from the airport! Is a shame we have to spend in lawyers to succeed in preserving our quality of life, health and the value of our homes!
Denali says
You really need to get a grip and find a more convincing argument. The limits of the City of Palm Coast never included any beach area and most likely never will. The Ginn deal you refer to was completed before the city was incorporated. Those beaches are still there for all county residents (and others) to enjoy. Whatever ITT had was sales hype, not dedicated land for a city which did not exist. Basing your beach demands on population makes as much sense as Orlando annexing Cocoa Beach. If you want lifeguards at the beaches, petition the county to provide them. I am sure they will be happy to do so with an appropriate tax increase.
You keep saying that Palm Coast needs its own beach. Why? Neighbors with babies and population figures are not germane to the conversation. Seems to me that if this was so important to people we would hear more public outcry instead of just Pontieri’s solo effort land grab.
Stan says
This is so true, we live he to enjoy coastal living and the beaches and shore is just another part of this city for all of us to take part in.
Dave says
The weirdness of Palm Coast Govt continues.
Thomas Hutson says
Wow! Can anyone say different after reading this last op-ed. If ever there was a sounding for the 1%’ers in Flagler County (Palm Coast) this, is it. The only thing they haven’t mentioned is “WOKE”.
I don’t think there is anyone in all of Flagler County that does not know how BIG the (100,000) population in Palm Coast is. The population that is not represented by the 1%’ers realize what the true reason the “LIGHTENING” rod of Palm Coast Council was. Nothing more than a land grab! But for whose benefit? Naming rights? Big developers? Malacompra with life guards? How about “ROCK” guards, Oh! Council Pointieri is going to have them moved, Really?
Palm Coast needs this beach “SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO DRIVE TO FLAGLER BEACH TO HAVE LIFEGUARDS” Really? To get to Malacompra Beach you will still have to drive from ANYWHERE in Palm Coast to get there. Unless you intend to fly, you will have to drive across the only two bridges in Flagler County over the intracoastal water way.
One true statement is “THIS IS NOT OVER“ Palm Coast is waiting for the 2024 election candidates that will support them at all cost.
I can assure all Flagler County Voters; I will not be one of them!
HammockHuck says
Amen Thomas. More “self-entitlement” of a few.
ban the GOP says
Dont tell racist ron beaches are “woke”, he will ban them.
HammockHuck says
Why the sudden interest in “beach access” for the Palm Coast residents? There’s no special treatment for us residents who reside beachside. We all use the public beach parks or, if so fortunate, have the beach in our backyard. This nut job, Theresa Pontieri needs to worry more about the inner workings of “The City of Palm Coast”, the congested traffic, crime, etc. than “beach access” for the Palm Coast residents in the Hammock. Deal with your mess in Palm Coast, and enjoy the public beaches.
James Fiske says
A little history for you, Mala Compra Barbie. Palm Coast itself was NEVER meant to be beachside.
People are on to your little plan. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with a need for Palm Coast residents to have their own beach and you know it.
So let’s see the plans for the Hotel and all of the other development you want for that area. Yes, we know about the Hotel.
tg says
This may be about control and development but either way beaches are available.
The beaches are accessible now, with coquina at some beaches, like Malacompra, that are sometimes covered and sometimes exposed. To remove them is just another way to ruin the natural beauty of beaches that have these components.
If you don’t want to pay to park, don’t go there or have somebody drop you off and pick you up.
Or go to another beach with or without coquina and or lifeguards.
Go to that beach, as it is and enjoy what it can offer.
Can’t we just leave things alone and not demand that we, humans that live in Flagler County, along with other humans who want to change just about everything everywhere, are entitled to their own beach, their own life guards, or anything else they feel entitled to.
You, me, and everyone else won’t be here forever.