Debate over a proposed auto mall near Interstate 4 in Volusia County has pitted two cities against each other.
- Auto malls are multiple car dealerships in a neighborhood or road
- Lake Helen wants to move forward with $100-million project
- DeLand is worried about noise, traffic
On Thursday, the Lake Helen City Commission is expected to take steps to move forward with the $100-million project.
The proposed project would go close to the I-4 near Orange Camp Road and Stewart Road in Volusia County.
That is the land that the city of Lake Helen wants to annex, however it is actually closer to homes in DeLand than it is to residents in Lake Helen, who live on the other side of I-4.
And if the city of Lake Helen gets its way, the area will look like an auto mall.
Between six to 12 dealerships would all be centrally located and they will be accompanied with restaurants, a distribution center and a hotel.
DeLand residents in nearby Victoria Park are protesting the plan. They say they are concerned about noise, traffic and the appearance of the auto mall.
The developer says it will add hundreds of jobs to Volusia County and the city of Lake Helen wants the project to be located within city limits so it can boost its tax base by $100 million a year.
"They see the value of growing the city tax base as well as giving job opportunities to our residents," said Jason Yarborough, Lake Helen City administrator.
However, those in DeLand do not see it that way.
"There's obviously heavy trucks coming in and out. You're going to have a lot of delivery traffic, you're going to have a lot of noise, but then you're also going to have test driving, you're going to have additional consumer traffic on an area that's taxed pretty heavily from a traffic standpoint," said Steve Lewis, DeLand Citizens for Conservation & Responsible Growth.
DeLand Mayor Robert F. Apgar told Spectrum News 13 the city has filed objections with Volusia County's Growth Management Commission over proposed land use changes for this area.
The county must sign off on land use changes before this auto mall can become a reality.
During Thursday night's Lake Helen City Commission meeting, leaders will look at hiring an attorney to represent them in front of the county's growth management commission.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m.