Last month, the Volusia County Council rubber stamped the appointment of Michael Ryan to serve as Director of Community Information – our county government’s new chief mouthpiece.
During his coronation, Director Ryan gushed, “I’m honored to join such a creative and dedicated team with a proven track record of effective messaging and a strong foundation of transparent and proactive communication.”
Last week, perplexed residents of Ormond Beach found out just how “transparent and proactive” local governments can be when they want to keep a secret…
The murmurs and rumors that have swirled around the community for months were confirmed in a disturbing article by Sheldon Gardner writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal who confirmed that a massive petroleum farm is being built on Hull Road – near Ormond Beach’s sports complex, municipal airport, and the Bear Creek subdivision.
According to the report, “The planned facility will consist of 16 tanks, some 40 feet tall, that will store more than 20 million gallons of fuel and feed a steady stream of tanker trucks.”
You read that right.
The complex, operated by Belvedere Terminals, is part of a planned hub-and-spur fuel distribution system located along the Florida East Coast Railway. If you listen to Belvedere’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Benedetto, the operation will be so safe and “state of the art” those “active 55+” residents of Bear Creek won’t even know it’s there…
My ass.
Look, Florida needs a safe and reliable fuel supply chain – something typically confined to major shipping ports at Tampa, Jacksonville, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, and the Central Florida Pipeline Terminal at Taft – but no one I have spoken with in recent days could think of a more inappropriate location for a bulk fuel distribution site than the once quaint community of Ormond Beach.
On August 1, with very little notice and, to my knowledge, no public input in the process, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (sorry, I just upchucked in the mouth a little) issued the final “air construction permit,” which authorizes construction of the Ormond Beach Terminal.
While you and I were kept in the dark, those who accept public funds to serve in the public interest at Volusia County and the City of Ormond Beach were well aware of the fate that awaits area residents who will be impacted by near constant heavy truck traffic on already overstressed roadways.
So, what happened to all that “transparency and proactive communication” horseshit Director Ryan crowed about?
“While some have only recently learned about the project, it’s been known to city officials for more than a year, at least ― as well as its potential traffic impacts.
The Ormond Beach Site Plan Review Committee spoke about the project in June of 2022, according to meeting minutes. At the time, officials expected the project to bring about seven trucks an hour and over 160 trucks in a 24-hour period. The truck route was expected to be from Harmony Road to Hull Road, and out to U.S. 1.”
With the facility designed to accommodate a constant flow of tanker trucks – entering the terminal presumably from Pineland Trail, taking the roar past those once pastoral ranchettes along Harmony Road, and ultimately dumping the loaded tankers onto US-1 at Hull Road – now, officials have swung a wild-assed guess and revised the traffic count to an estimated four trucks per hour…
Understandably, many residents who just found out about the planned monstrosity – in a largely residential community where most equate “heavy industry” with unobtrusive suntan lotion bottling facilities, warehouses, and light manufacturing – are rightly concerned about what the Belvedere Terminal will mean for their property values and rapidly diminishing quality of life.
They are also righteously pissed off at their elected representatives for not giving them the courtesy of a heads-up…
As I understand it (and I’m not sure I do), the property is zoned heavy industrial and currently located in unincorporated Volusia County. But because the terminal will be supplied by Ormond Beach utilities, once the project is complete, the 60-acre site will be annexed into the city as required by law.
According to the News-Journal, “Belvedere Terminals will have to provide traffic impact information as part of the site review process with Volusia County ― the site is adjacent to city land but is in the county government’s jurisdiction.
“The project engineer will need to provide information during site plan review that the site and nearby infrastructure can handle the increased truck traffic. Improvements may be necessary,” according to Carol McFarlane, Volusia County’s director of Planning and Development Services.”
I don’t know about you, but Ms. McFarlane’s robotic response aside, since when did Volusia County give two-shits about ensuring that adequate infrastructure is in place before permitting development anywhere?
That’s the compounding effect of deception and distrust.
When We, The Little People are gaslighted and lied to long enough, watch helplessly while those we elect only represent the interests of their “Rich & Powerful” political overseers, repeatedly approve greed-crazed development with Pavlovian efficiency, and keep major projects that will drastically impact our lives and livelihoods hidden behind closed doors and secret “code names” – we become suspicious of government’s self-serving motivations and cynical of the process.
Now, we are left to wonder if/when our elected representatives (who increasingly act more like corporate fixers than public servants) were aware that residents of Ormond Beach are about to be subjected to the obvious adverse impacts of an industrial fuel storage farm – and question why there has been no public outreach by either Volusia County or Ormond Beach?
Don’t waste your time asking them – Volusia County Councilmen David Santiago and Don Dempsey couldn’t find Ormond Beach on a map – and the rest have proven, time and again, that taxpayers should pay the bills and keep their pieholes shut…
Trust me. This isn’t how a government of the people, by the people, and for the people is supposed to work – and its time those who swore an oath to protect our interests are held politically accountable for their pernicious actions.
Now that the unthinkable has become a reality in Ormond Beach, I hope you will let your voice be heard at the ballot box next year and begin the important process of finding a political solution to the corrosive problem of misrepresentation and incompetence while there is still something left of our collective quality of life to worry about.
(Photo Credit: Belvedere Terminals Company, LLC)
Barker's View 
Perfect for US RT. 1. Will help with fuel distribution during storms.
I like.
Need this fuel farm as soon as possible.
As long as volusia sheriff’s dept. and Daytona Shores geniuses do not close it down during a storm.
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Marc you really confuse me.The big deal like this with more traffic and Bike Week now coming your way in Ormond as traffic on one will be stupid with all the people taking Plantation OKs to all their new building and Halifax Plantations new building.Just saying.Plus I hope you don’t I’ve too close as your house just took a dump but you are worried about filling your gas tank.
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It always puzzles me why folks keep slavishly electing rollover, pro-business Republicans at the local, county and state levels and then are “shocked – shocked!” that the electeds then deliver for their masters! What did you expect, exactly?
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This is some of the most disturbing news I’ve heard this year.
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WTAF?
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Fark the traffic—I’d be worried about KABOOM 💥
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There is plenty of vacant land farther out on US1 along the railroad tracks where this type of facility would not pose as much threat to the safety and health of residents. What are they thinking??? No wonder there is no trust of county and city officials.
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Our good Chair Brower-Les spoke last week about what a wonderful opportunity this was for Volusia. And later talks to a different group about what a threat it is. Depending on which way the wind blowing, and who is talking to all depends on where he stands on something and the permit he’s signed!
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I thought the politics in Miami was bad until moving up here and witnessing the shenanigans these ass clowns pull off. Unbelievable the things they say and do.
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I thought the politics in Miami was bad until moving up here and witnessing the shenanigans these ass clowns pull off. Unbelievable the things they say and do.
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The politics here is a joke. These ass clowns making the decisions have ruined this county and some of the surrounding cities
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Maybe if they promised us lower fuel prices it would be tiny bit easier to swallow. Other than that sounds like an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
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Baahaahaa . These jokers we have “leading “ all of the political subdivisions in Volusia County never saw a distribution center they didn’t like. It doesn’t matter how many heavy and dangerous truck trips the distribution center might generate. They’re voting for it. Hell.. the County Council voted to approve the Wind Chase subdivision in Halifax Plantation where a huge amount of land right next to the “Sacred Loop” was clear cut within sight of the Loop. This seems to have caused excessive water run off creating a more or less permanent stream running over the Loop. The stream wasn’t there before the clear cut. The County and developer’s solution: they put up signs “Water Over The Road” instead of mitigating the problem. So, if the “Sacred Loop” is getting this kind of treatment, what’s a few tank farms between friends?
The County and city leadership certainly wouldn’t want to let Flagler County get the tax dollars a tank farm will bring in, even at the expense and inconvenience it will cause the Ormond Beach folks. Volusia voters have to get rid of the current leadership and not vote for any rubber stamp candidates who profess to want to “cooperate” with developers for “responsible growth”. This is just jargon for give the developers anything they want.
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And while we’re on the topic of heavy and dangerous truck traffic….Ever been on High Bridge Road or Walter Boardman Drive on the “Sacred Loop” when a tractor trailer or commercial box truck is coming towards you in your lane because it is too tall for the low trees? REAL NICE! Why aren’t these “scenic” roads restricted to private vehicles only? Even the lawn clowns dragging their lawn trailers are often into the oncoming lane of traffic. If the Loop is supposed to be so “Sacred”, why are these commercial vehicles allowed to endanger it for others?
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I can always count on Mark Barker and Jon Wong for words of knowledge.This is no surprise we have assholes running this country from top to bottom. I warned you all about their inbred good Ole boy and girl collusion.Dont need to talk about the top.Lets talk about the bottom who just takes dumps on this city.Glad Partington you are running for another office but you are only qualified to be a cesspool inspector.The big guy got $20 million in kickbacks.Lets talk about the Trail as I was on it last night at 5:30 PM going to Halifax for dinner with pickup trucks ,idiots on bicycles and morons doing over 60 MPH.Near the first entrance to Halifax a sign water on road.So happy there were also rocks mixed in as I need a new windshield tomorrow.That area is ruined by building at Plantstion Oaks and Halifax Plantation as a shortcut to Rt 1.Almost 200 trucks on Rt1 extra a day should be quite interesting.Please believe me in only 6 years in Volusia I am ready to get the hell out as I only live about a mile from Avalon with 10.000. Homes and a standstill on Granada and Hand Avenue with all the rentals and senior living going up.Thanks Bill Partington for my decision.We are looking and taking two day trips for a new home.
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This is unbelievable! Hopefully they will come to their senses and stop the build! They will find out how good they are in the next election! This DOES NOT belong in Ormond Beach.
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We get what we deserve as a society that does not get out and vote and many who do vote do so blindly or based on a political party affiliation. And of course you have plenty of people online who type away but do not get involved, look at the meeting attendance. This situation, like so many others here in Volusia County, reminds me of this….
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
Enjoy your fuel farm folks….This is progress…or so they say.
OHHH AND…. What about the additional firefighting equipment that will need to be purchased and will we need more Fire Department staffing?…HERE IT COMES TAX PAYERS…. ENJOY!
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Keith we are now non affiliated registered voters. We moved to Florida because NY is 90%dem and nuts .Mugged 3 times,home invasion and car jacking and no one arrested so voting was useless.Moved to West Palm Beach and had lots of retired Dem NYC teachers getting $125.000 a year in pensions and medical .All vote dem for the people who gave them that gift and they drive Mercedes and BMWS .We are Jewish and Jews in Congress are all Dems.We need a third party to stop the lunacy of being a citizen who finds it hard who to vote for.We will note be a slave to a party..Yesterday Biden asked for comments on the devastation in Maui and the asshole says no comment.Volusia County needs to change just like Congress.This country is going to hell .God Bless you.Vote
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This is an environment disaster waiting to happen! Volusia County nor the City of Ormond does not have the Fire Personnel or Training to contain this type of Disaster. Should this thing ever explode it will be a tremendous loss of immediate life for several miles. In addition to decades of toxic waste that will affect multiple generations of people, animals and plant life. WTF County and City Council there is NO PLANET B!
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Another Maui.
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Wait until a biker hits the new creek over the road on King’s Highway loaded with wet gravel. He might lose more than a wind shield. Today I noticed Volusia County Public Works watering new shrubs planted just north of the new creek , presumably to screen the clear cut Wind Chase Subdivision from the “Sacred Loop” so the tourists won’t notice that the County Development Department let Wind Chase Subdivision have a free hand at determining what and where to cut along the Loop. The real question is….Who the hell is paying for the scenic mitigation? I saw County personnel taking care of the shrubs, not Wind Chase employees. So a priori it seems the taxpayers are footing the bill not the developers. If this is the case, I wonder who approved this expenditure. In my opinion, they should be held to account.
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I’m sorry for not focusing on the tank farm. I don’t live within the blast radius of the tank farm should something go horribly wrong. But I suspect that none of the politicians who voted for this monstrosity live within the blast radius either. I’m trying to focus on their sheer arrogance and contempt for we the “little people” as Marc likes to label us taxpayers. If the politicians let developers have a free hand on ruining the scenic vistas on the Loop, how can the taxpayers affected by the tank farm expect to be heard?
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Jon before Plantation Oaks was built those modular style homes with no poured foundation and people pay a yearly rental fee for the land years ago someone built Plantation Oaks Blvd and now expanding with a big normal home development butting close to the loop now a shortcut for Halifax Plantation and Plantation Oaks from Rt1 to the loop with sidewalks, street lights and grass all the way knowing all that area was going to have homes eventually on both sides.Tired of builders getting free roads as Ormond Beach doesn’t know how to fill a pot hole.Just wondering if anyone knows if our tax money was pissed away again for the builders?.Watch all the traffic to the I95 Destination Daytona exit as that is to be rebuilt too now for gasoline trucks not us.
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Who could tell with this current crop of politicians. In my opinion, the only good thing happening in the county in the last several years was Sheriff Chitwood becoming an independent constitutional officer. He has capitalized on his independence to institute a professionally run Sheriff’s Academy rather than rely on the hit or miss system that was previously in place. And is out from under the thumb of the pols. In my opinion, he should take over the jail administration too. In many jurisdictions, the elected sheriff is charged with jail administration. It could only benefit the county.
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“…professionally run Sherriff’s Academy…” is an oxymoron. Have you been living under a rock? The most recent scandal is the Instructors sleeping with candidates.
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Can you give us the information and where you got it from?
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Just read the story .Consensual among the three.He was informed of the relationship and Chitwood said the 2 instructors will no longer work for the VCSO.He can’t be a baby sitter .When a teacher has sex with a student does the Principal get fired or where did Joe Biden get his 20 million from.Why do you want to stick it to Chitwood without the full story?
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Remember how the politicians in Deland fought tooth and nail to overturn the voters will on the Amendment to give Chitwood his independence? They tried every trick in the book to bring Chitwood to heel. But Mike beat them all back. A clear win for the taxpayers.
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Jon you left out where the lifeguards never had to deal with the fully covered tents on the beach.Chitwood has his people have the tents stay open.No sex,no drugs,no drinking..Razzles should be closed with drunk minors leaving late at night not the late hours cut after this and the shooting and Daytona gets a substation near there.Money gets thrown away because we let animals on Daytona beachside and mostly tourists.Hope Derrick Henry never wins another election like Partington.
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Chitwood will win as Sheriff again a no brainer if you have brains.Maybe the best in the nation.He takes no crap from politicians or activists and feel safe with him running the county.If only Daytona and Derrick Henry could get their act together on crime and shootings.
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How many 40 foot towers full of petroleum??? What the hell does the FAA have to say about this. Have they been kept in the dark a well? Anybody realize this fuel farm is close enough to the Ormond Airport to involve the FAA. Well hells’ bells’, when the ballfield lighting at the Airport Sports Complex was upgraded the FAA had a cow because they were not notified the poles erected to the sky was too close to the flight path. Hint-By the time the citizens of Volusia County and/or Ormond Beach is put in the loop, it’s too late, the wheels have been greased and the wheels are turning and you can pretty much guarantee, it’s Hell on Wheels, coming straight at you! This County needs an enema! As does the Ormond Beach oligarchy.
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Great “Transparent and Proactive” column, Aug. 12. If our news media would write as you write and as they should write, Biden would not be president.
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