PALM COAST, Fla. – Residents in Palm Coast are voicing their concerns about a proposed fuel terminal that could be built in their community.
Belvedere Terminals has plans for a $75 million fuel storage facility near Peavey Grade and U.S. 1, close to a wastewater treatment plant. This proposal comes after a long battle to stop the terminal from being built in Ormond Beach.
The future of the terminal is uncertain. Belvedere Terminals is seeking a $10 million grant from the state to help fund the project, but Flagler County must approve this grant first. After that, the company will need to submit applications, site plans and permits to the city of Palm Coast.
Originally, the Flagler County Commission was scheduled to vote on the grant at their meeting next week. However, the item was removed from the agenda, indicating that it is not ready to make a decision.
The reason the grant was removed from the county commission’s agenda is that the Palm Coast City Council decided to conduct a site selection survey before making any decisions. This survey will help determine if the proposed site is suitable or if there might be a better location for the terminal in Palm Coast. The county wants to wait for the results before granting Belvedere the funding.
Angela Dawson, a resident living a mile and a half from the proposed site, said she has several concerns.
“There are several hundred, if not 1,000 homes already, and there are more in the pipeline. They just approved one hundred more houses that will border this property,” she said.
The proposed terminal would store over 300,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel.
Residents have started a petition against the project, echoing the efforts of Ormond Beach residents who fought against it last year.
“We support economic and industrial growth in Palm Coast, but we just don’t want this right beside our community with all of the hazards that Ormond Beach mentioned,” said resident Kelly Eason.
Last week, News 6 spoke with Tim Schwarz, the CFO of Belvedere Terminals. He mentioned that the company plans to transport gasoline by train, arguing that it would be safe and beneficial for the community.
“The property currently pays about $7,000 a year in taxes to the community. We’ll be paying over $800,000. So the investment that we’re making here is substantial,” he said.
The city of Palm Coast is beginning the site surveys, but no official timeline has been provided for when they will be completed.
