Mike Norris Opposes Fuel Terminal, Jeopardizing Project

Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris on Friday indicated to city staff that he no longer favored the construction of a fuel terminal off US-1 within city limits, severely jeopardizing the project’s chances of coming to fruition. Norris made his thoughts on Belvedere Terminals’ planned terminal known in an email to acting City Manager Lauren Johnston.

In his email, Norris referenced a request by Belvedere CFO Timothy Schwarz to meet with local dignitaries and obtain a letter of support from the City of Palm Coast for the construction of a fuel terminal near Peavy Grade and US-1. Belvedere executives are acutely aware of the necessity to battle public sentiment in order to plow forward with their terminal; it was largely due to the outrage by Ormond Beach residents that killed their attempt to build it in Volusia County.

From the moment it was announced that Belvedere was looking to Palm Coast to construct the terminal, opposition grew strongly amongst local residents. A petition was formed against the project, amassing thousands of signatures in just a few days. Concerns about the environmental impacts of a fuel terminal near facilities like a Palm Coast water treatment plant outweighed, for most people, the benefits of the commercial property tax haul and three-dozen or so new jobs.

Norris’ Letter & the Terminal’s Future

“Mr. Schwarz is looking for a letter of support from the city council concerning the project,” Norris wrote to Johnston. “In light of the quite vocal rejection of the project, by our residents, we need to withdraw from consideration for the terminal project. He stated that they need property already zoned for industrial operations, and one that wouldn’t need to be rezoned for possible consideration. To my knowledge, we don’t have any properties within the current city boundaries that fit that criteria. I recommend discussing the matter with the rest of the council and withdraw the city from consideration. Maybe they can find other properties adjacent to the rail, south of the city, for consideration, but that would be for county to consider whether or not they would want to keep that project in the county.”

Norris’ newfound apprehension about the fuel terminal appears to be a winning sentiment amongst his fellow Council members. His three colleagues have already made their hesitations known, and with not even minority opposition they’d likely have the political leverage to reject a $10 million grant from the state government assisting with Belvedere’s relocation from Ormond Beach.

Had the grant been accepted, the Flagler County government would’ve used it to purchase the land for Belvedere’s 78-acre project and leased it to them as they constructed their terminal. In order to move forward with that arrangement now the county would have to directly butt heads with the City of Palm Coast, and all sentiments expressed thus far would indicate they’re more likely to let the whole thing die.