“Crime is down for 2012 in DeLeon Springs” because of increased public participation in reporting suspicious activity, states this article by Beacon reporter Pat Andrews. However, VCSO deputies can’t be everywhere, so they need every one to do our part. If you see anything suspicious, call VCSO at 386 943 7866 to check it out. Or if you need a deputy right away, call 386 736 5999.
To view the article, pick up a copy of the Beacon or see it on line at: http://beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/5845
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March 14, 2013 marks a new day for DeLeon Springs! Today, our initiative to eliminate split zoning and create a district overlay for DeLeon Springs unanimously passed the final reading before Volusia County Council.
This was a very important day for DeLeon Springs and opens up some new opportunities and options for our business community.
For years, Don Malmborg has tried to explain that split zoning is a problem all over the county and has made it impossible for our commercial owners to expand their buildings and businesses. Most of us did not know or understand what he was talking about or how critical it was to eliminate.
Thanks to Don’s tenacity, we finally understood why it was important to address, and your DSCA, Inc. Board spent almost 2 years having meetings with County Staff, public meetings with the community, reviews before PLDRC and finally two readings before the County Council. Eliminating split zoning will not only help DeLeon Springs but it will help businesses throughout the County who have been constrained by this outdated zoning configuration.
The District Overlay relaxes standards for the commercial corridor and establishes a real ‘downtown’ for DeLeon Springs, a giant step in the right direction. It gives commercial property owners options to develop their land and expand their businesses that were not available to them before, and hopefully encourage new economic opportunities. With a District Overlay, although we are unincorporated, we can now use the word ‘downtown’ to accurately describe the collection of businesses along Highway 17 from Citra St. to Ponce DeLeon Blvd.
While this is an exciting day for DeLeon Springs, it is just the beginning for our commercial corridor, in our efforts to revitalize DeLeon Springs and help our business community provide more goods, services and jobs to our residents. We need everyone’s input and help “to make DeLeon Springs A Better Place to Live, Work and Play”.
If you would like to look at the information go to http://volusia.org/government/volusia-county-council/county-council-meetings/agenda.stml
And choose today’s date, then scroll down to Item 24.
County Plans to Remedy Split Zoning in DeLeon Springs
DeLeon Springs Business District to get Rezoning and District Overlay
Click To Read
Lawsuit could delay summer 2013 clean-up of the underground fuel plume contamination under Highway 17
By Pat Andrews
BEACON STAFF WRITER
October 31, 2012
Click To Read
DeLeon Springs Community Association, West Volusia ministries awarded Wells Fargo grants
Click Here For More Info!
County Council says yes to DeLeon Springs — will help with utilities, brownfield and overlay projects
By Pat Andrews
BEACON STAFF WRITER
May 30, 2012
When the Volusia County Council met May 17, members of the DeLeon Springs Community Association Don Malmborg, Dianne Hermanski and Amy Munizzi asked them for their help.
The business community in the little unincorporated area north of DeLand wants to make improvements that will help revitalize its run-down downtown.
County Council members said yes.
District 1 Council Member Andy Kelly, who represents the area, noted things in the works for two years are now coming to fruition.
First, Chair Frank Bruno said, the council will direct county staff to start work on a zoning overlay map that will direct the look, type and size of new development along the highway for consistency with the looks and uses the community wants.
This will correct some split-zoning problems along the corridor. Now, some businesses sit on property whose highway frontage is zoned commercial, but the rear of the property is zoned residential.
Council Member Joyce Cusack moved to make the first step toward an overlay district, setting up a community workshop, which met unanimous approval. County staff will set up a community workshop to discuss the district, and notify property owners of it.
Community Association members said that DeLeon Springs is groaning under the burden of gasoline contamination that's haunted the city for nearly 30 years. When U.S. Highway 17 through DeLeon Springs was widened years ago, a gas station's tank that was at the location of the current Valero station was buried and is still leaking. A plume of gasoline is moving westward toward DeLeon Springs.
And, because wells and septic systems put in so long ago are aging and are too close together to meet current health standards, getting water and sewage utilities will help solve a number of problems for the downtown.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has offered help, if a utilities district can be set up, and the DeLeon Springs Community Association has been working on that.
"We have collected to date the signatures of 45 property owners along the the Highway 17 corridor in support of forming a special utilities district to pay for these water and sewer improvements," Amy Munizzi said.
Now, it's up to the county to set up the special district.
Council Member Kelly said, "They need it, because they do have contamination," and the county is working with DeLand on plans for the utilities district.
DeLand is the designated utility provider for DeLeon Springs.
Also, staff will work with residents to create a brownfield area for economic development. Brownfields programs, coordinated through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, seek to clean up and revitalize areas that have been contaminated or where there's perceived contamination. Without help, these areas draw no interest from potential new businesses, and banks have no interest in financing them, because unexpected liabilities may appear.
The brownfield designation will make bank loans easier to get, and it will open doors for grants and low-interest government loans. It will put no additional cleanup responsibilities on property owners, and will even limit their liability for contamination on their property.
The DEP has cleaned up tons of soil around what is now the Valero station, and is using the latest technology to clean up property across the highway, on the west side of Highway 17. The cleanup is expected to continue for another couple of months.
The DEP plans to remove sections of the highway to find leaking gasoline tanks in a subsequent phase of cleanup.
In order to get assistance through the brownfields program, the governing body — in this case, the County Council — must approve the brownfield designation by resolution.
Deputy County Attorney Jamie Seaman noted there's apparent support for the brownfield district along DeLeon Springs' main corridor, and the district could go beyond that. Citizens will need to make an informed decision on the extent of the brownfield district.
— Pat@beacononlinenews.com
DeLeon Springs Community Association Spring Bazaar
The 2011 DeLeon Springs Community Association's Spring Bazaar was a huge success! The Bazaar provided an opportunity for local non-profit groups and businesses to showcase their programs and meet others in our small town. Free booth space was provided to the Department of Health, Fire Department, Sheriff's Officers, Friends of Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of DeLeon Springs State Park, DeLeon Springs Garden Club, Lions Club, and many local churches. Thirty six business owners purchased booths for a nominal fee ($15) to help market their businesses, and food was provided by Harmony Gardens and PitMaster BBQ. Hundreds of local residents visited the bazaar and strolled around the Wachovia Bank parking lot enjoying a beautiful sunny day meeting their neighbors and learning more about what is available in their local community. Publicity, organizational labor, bathroom facilities, 25 cent games, and clean up all provided by DeLeon Springs Community Association, Inc. Proceeds from the Bazaar will be placed in the general fund to be used for the mission of the Community Association which is to make DeLeon Springs a better place to work and live. Many residents are already asking when the next event will take place!
Christmas Spirit Alive in the DeLeon Springs Community Association
Members of the DeLeon Springs Community Association are decorating the grounds of our building in preparation for our Second Annual Evening with Santa and Mrs. Claus!
On December 17, 2010 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted the youngest members of the DeLeon Springs Community with free candy and small presents! All decorations, candy, and prizes were donated by members of our association!
Thirty-one Volunteers Work to Beautify DeLeon Springs
Clean up base at Spring Waters Inn |
The Deleon Springs Merchants and Friends Association along with Volusia County Health Department employees Andy Natal, Jim McRae, and Eric Maday held a street litter and trash clean up on Saturday, June 12, 2010. The Merchants Association and the Health Department PACE EH (Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health) project worked together to organize the street clean up. We were very surprised at the great turn out; in all, 31 people attended the clean up.
We estimate that about 50 large trash bags of litter were collected, in addition to a trailer filled with heavy trash, such as tires, a TV, bricks, concrete blocks, and an old wet mattress.
Special thanks to Mr. Brian Polk, from the DeLeon Springs State Park, who donated the bags we used for trash collection. Also, to Dr. McCormick and Mr. Malmborg, who brought the heavy equipment needed for those heavy items collected; to Len and Rose Litwiniec, for letting us used the parking lot and dumpster at Spring Waters Inn, and Laura Strawn for bringing some extra water to share with everyone. Thanks to all members of the DeLeon Springs Merchants Association who participated and helped in some way. Thanks to the Fire Department not only for getting involved in the clean up, but for providing emergency services in case it was needed. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
It was truly a success and we can’t wait to do it again.
Clean up base |
Full Trailer |
DeLeon Springs Merchants & Friends Association Breakfast for Don Malmborg
The DeLeon Springs Merchants & Friends Association gathered on July 13, 2010 to honor outgoing chairman and community icon Don Malmborg. Don Malmborg Appreciation Day was held at the Hidden Valley Park Recreation Center and included a homemade breakfast buffet, tributes, gifts, and a "roasting" by master of ceremonies Bob Ford, owner of Antiquish. The festivities were a chance to thank Don for his unflagging leadership and vision in DeLeon Springs. Twenty three community members attended the breakfast, including Don's former Sunday School pupil Andy Kelly and wife Missy. Don's wife Shirley helped plan the event and arranged a surprise visit from his daughter Linda Bruschayt.
Don Malmborg began the merchants association in 2008 to help the business community get to know each other and work together for the benefit of DeLeon Springs. He has been the chairman for the first two years of the organization and has seen it grow to include over 20 paid business members and a growing number of friend members. DSMA works closely with the Volusia County Health Department's PACE program, Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, DeLeon Springs Garden Club, and DeLeon Springs State Park. Past accomplishments are a fall festival, a community clean-up, and a holiday tree with candy from a real live Santa Claus. Incoming chairmen Len & Rose Litwineic, owners of the Spring Waters Inn, will be heading up our meetings now, which are held the second Tuesday of every month at 10 am, right across Hwy 17 from the Wachovia Bank. You do not have to be a member to attend, all who are interested in DeLeon Springs are invited to come and meet us. More information can be found on our website, www.www.deleonspringscommunityassociation.com
(L) to (R) standing: Bobby Hester, Rizzo & Sandy Rizzo, Andy & Missy Kelly, Rose Litwineic, Laura Strawn, Jim McRae, Wayne Smith, Andy Natal, Mickey Hiatt, Bob Brooks, Linda Bruschayt, Don & Shirley Malmborg.
(L) to (R) seated: Bob Ford, Len Litwineic, Steve Hirsch, Sandy Ford, Christine Hirsch, Elicia Hester, Sharon Tinaya, Jenny Mero.
Behind the camera: Amy Munizzi
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