DEBARY, Fla. – City leaders in DeBary are expected to reject a plan to build a K-8 public school west of U.S. 17-92.
During a meeting on Wednesday, the DeBary City Council will vote on the proposal for the school south of Spring Vista Dr. and east of Shell Rd.
Volusia County Schools has been working to build a new school in DeBary, but the city has taken issue with the location of the district’s most recent proposal.
According to a city staff report, the area is not supportive of a high volume use of a school, would create drainage issues for the area, and would be detrimental to surrounding neighborhoods by adding a high level of traffic.
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City Manager Carmen Rosamonda said the proposed school site is not large enough and would have a negative impact on the nearby Springview neighborhood.
“This site that’s been tied up by a developer is not the right location for a school because of it’s impacts not only to the road infrastructure, but to the businesses and the neighboring residents,” Rosamonda said.
The proposal came as a surprise to the city after the council approved plans for a school near Buckley Dr. and U.S. 17-92 in July.
“There’s a lot of better advantages and a lot more opportunities on this 48-acre site and it fits inside the city of DeBary better,” Rosamonda said. “It doesn’t impact businesses. It doesn’t impact neighboring residents.”
According to the city, the school district purchased the 48-acre site off Buckley Dr., but received a different proposal since the land purchase.
“Unfortunately, a developer has gotten in here and given them all kinds of proposals and everything else,” Rosamonda said. “It provides a shining example of a school, but some of the facts are just not true that they’re presenting.”
After the city makes a decision on the site near Spring Vista Drive, Rosamonda hopes the school district will move forward with the original site near Buckley Drive
“We’re going to make this a great school and it’s going to be one of the best ones in Volusia County,” he said.
The special city council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
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