Ormond Beach, Fla. — After nearly two years of opposition from Ormond Beach residents and leaders, Belvedere Terminals announced it will not be building a fuel terminal in the city.

Now, the company is looking about 25 miles north, in northern Palm Coast.

“We are incredibly relieved in Ormond Beach to know that we're not going to have this 20-million-gallon fuel terminal on our doorsteps, steps away from a sports complex, steps away from just thousands of residents who live here,” Ormond Beach resident Elena Krafft said.

According to initial project plans, the Belvedere Terminals site at 874 Hull Road in Ormond Beach was going to have 16 storage tanks that would hold up to 20.4 million gallons of fuel — with six of the tanks set to be 40 feet tall.

Residents raised concerns over possible safety and environmental issues in the area.

“We're thrilled with that fact that they're moving. And if it wasn't for the residents banding together, like I said, not just Ormond Beach, but as well as residents in all of Volusia County to stop this from being built here on this inappropriate facility. This wouldn't have happened,” Ormond Beach resident Robin Magleora said.

Some concerns for residents included the proximity to a sports complex, and to a residential community, increased traffic in the area, safety and environmental concerns.

Sheila Lind said her house is right near to the railroad track.

“It was more to me for the future of our area it was not just the above ground fuel storage then the lightning capital of the world, but it was going to be the additional train traffic and tanker trailer traffic that would be going down hull road behind me would be cutting off one of our entrances into our 55-plus retirement community,” she said.

Belvedere Terminals received a $10 million Florida Department of Commerce Grant, to build the $75 million fuel storage facility.

In a press release, Flagler County officials said the county and the city of Palm Coast are working together to bring a new industrial business, specifically a fuel terminal that receives gas and diesel by rail, which will distribute fuel to the tri-county area. The goals are three-fold: providing high-paying jobs, diversification of tax base, and increasing the property tax from an estimated $500 to $800,000 annually. An added benefit of this project is a safer, lower cost and more reliable delivery of fuel to the region.

Some residents in Palm Coast, though, raised the same types of concerns that plagued the Ormond Beach project.

But Belvedere Terminals CFO Timothy Schwarz said the plan in Palm Coast would include a top-of-the-line facility.

"We're nto cutting corners," he said. "We're spending literally, probably $50 to $60 million more than would be required at any standard, to have better safety than anyone could ever see in a facility like this."

The project under consideration is with a company called Belvedere Terminals, which will make $75 million to $80 million in capital investment plus an additional $10 million in state appropriations. It is anticipated the company will bring in 30 to 35 high-paying, full-time jobs.

Schwarz said company officials hope to have the project completed some time in 2026.

Officials said this would be an economic development boon that would bring tax revenue into Flagler County, the bulk of which comes from homeowners with only about 5% coming from commercial and industrial properties.

“This land is already zoned industrial in Flagler County,” said acting Palm Coast city manager Lauren Johnston said. “We’ve heard from our community that economic vitality is a top priority, as it will help us diversify our tax base. This project will help us start to balance our tax base more evenly and minimize the burden on residential homeowners.”

Flagler County officials said ideally, Belvedere would build on 78 acres near the tracks and the city’s utility plant off U.S. 1 and Peavy Grade.

“The Florida Department of Commerce grant will cover the land acquisition, site improvements, and the construction of critical infrastructure necessary to support a fuel storage and distribution terminal,” County Administrator Heidi Petito said. “It needed to be a county project, so that’s why we are involved. And, it needed to be in the Flagler, Volusia, Brevard corridor.”

Now that the plans were halted in the Ormond Beach property, residents are sharing what they would like to see done in the lot in the future.

“Maybe do a community center, some barbecue pits to where people can enjoy that property without a threat of another industrial operation coming to that location,” Ormond Beach resident Catherine Pante said.

Spectrum News 13 reached out to the city of Ormond Beach for comments on this decision. They shared the following statement:

“The City of Ormond Beach sincerely thanks Senator Tom Leek for his unwavering leadership in ensuring the relocation of the proposed fuel farm. As Chair of the House Budget Committee, Sen. Leek not only secured the state economic development funding in the 2024 budget but also actively pushed for a better outcome on behalf of our community.

We also extend our appreciation to Representative Bill Partington, former mayor of Ormond Beach, for his continued advocacy and support throughout this process. His deep understanding of our community and long-standing commitment to the residents of Ormond Beach played an important role in helping guide this issue toward a more suitable resolution.

Thanks to their actions, the project is now moving forward in a location that better aligns with community needs. We are incredibly grateful for their leadership, responsiveness, and tireless work to protect the unique character and quality of life that make our region so special.

Their advocacy is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when elected officials work hand-in-hand with the people they serve."