Conceptual Master Plan of the proposed private development project
On June 14, 2016, the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board voted to donate the Gemini Springs Addition with a conservation easement to Volusia County. The County is opposed to any development on the property and intends for it to remain in conservation. Read the Daytona Beach News-Journal article for more information about this latest development.
BACKGROUND
In 1999, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) purchased Gemini Springs Addition, 948 acres of conservation lands located just west of Interstate 4 on the shore of Lake Monroe in Volusia County. The funding came from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for mitigation to help offset wetland impacts from FDOT road projects in the area.
This property provides important wildlife habitat, helps protect Gemini Springs and Lake Monroe, and is a valuable recreational asset and tourist attraction for the county and the region.
Unfortunately, the City of DeBary wanted the SJRWMD to transfer ownership of 102 acres of the Gemini Springs Addition to the city for a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project. Instead of retaining it for conservation, the City was planning to use the property for a private development of 2,400 residential units and 258,000 square feet of non-residential space and a stormwater retention facility. Click here to see DeBary's powerpoint of these plans.
The Gemini Springs Addition tract was determined to have significant conservation value when it was purchased by the state and again when it was reassessed a few years ago. The SJRWMD's 2012 District Lands Assessment Implementation Plan recommends donating the land to the county while retaining a conservation easement to ensure continued conservation. This plan does not recommend selling, exchanging for other parcels, or allowing alternative uses on this property. In addition, this property was originally purchased for the express purpose of mitigation for Florida Department of Transportation road projects, intended to help compensate for the functional loss resulting from wetland impacts.
To make matters worse, the Chairman of the SJRWMD Governing Board, John Miklos, purportedly gave assurances to the DeBary officials that the deal would be approved. Miklos' company, Bio-Tec Consulting Inc., was working for the City to help acquire the required permits and approval from the SJRWMD and other regulatory agencies for the land transfer and proposed development project.
This is apparently nothing new for Mr. Miklos and his company. According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, "Bio-Tech has represented clients in at least 33 cases since Miklos was appointed to the board in March 2010, with 22 coming since he became board chairman." In a follow-up story about an ethics complaint that has been filed against Miklos, the paper reported that a more in-depth search revealed that "the company has been listed as the agent, consultant, or applicant on a total of 118 projects since January 2010."
Using conservation lands for a private development violates the intent of our state constitution and the purpose for which they were purchased. This would also establish a dangerous precedent, potentially putting all of our conservation lands at risk and undermining the intended benefits of mitigation. The fact that the chairman of the SJRWMD Board and his company are working with DeBary to develop conservation lands that are owned by the agency he oversees makes this much more egregious.
Contact the SJRWMD Governing Board and thank them for donating Gemini Springs Addition to Volusia County and ensuring that this property remains in conservation.
SJRWMD Governing Board:
John Miklos,Chairman jmiklos@sjrwmd.com
Fred Roberts, Vice Chairman froberts@sjrwmd.com
Chuck Drake, Secretary cdrake@sjrwmd.com
Carla Yetter, Treasurer cyetter@sjrwmd.com
Doug Bournique dbournique@sjrwmd.com
Douglas Burnett dburnett@sjrwmd.com
Maryam Ghyabi mghyabi@sjrwmd.com
Ron Howse rhowse@sjrwmd.com
John P. Browning Jr. John.P.Browning@sjrwmd.com
Learn more about this issue by reading the outstanding coverage from the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
April 23 – SunRail vs. Scenery: DeBary land deal draws fire
May 1 – Board chairman's influence in Gemini Springs land deal raises flags in DeBary
May 3 – Outcry over DeBary land plan grows
May 4 – Ethics complaint filed against Miklos
May 9 – DeBary Bayou: Waterway at the center of controversy
May 11 – Expert: DeBary letter on controversial land deal may have violated Sunshine Law
May 13 – DeBary residents ask State Attorney to investigate land deal
May 15 – Hundreds protest DeBary's plans to build on conservation lands
May 19 – DeBary meeting on land deal, SunRail plan draws protest
May 21 – DeBary kept plan details low-profile
May 22 – Our View: Investigate water district
May 26 – State agents raid DeBary City Hall
May 28 – Bio-Tech business jumped after Miklos named chairman
Also, read the letter that St. Johns Riverkeeper sent to the Mayor Johnson and the DeBary City Council expressing opposition to these ill-conceived plans and our letter to the editor that appeared in the News-Journal on May 22.
You can also join the Save Gemini's Lands Facebook group.