BUNNELL, Fla. — Bunnell city commissioners will have their first say later this month on a rezoning request of over 1,800 acres.

The city's Planning, Zoning, and Appeals (PZA) board members recommended approval for the move at a May 6 meeting.

What You Need To Know

  • Bunnell city commissioners will discuss a rezoning request of over 1,800 acres later this month

  • Officials say the first reading will happen May 28

  • While there are currently no plans for a development on the land, community members are voicing concerns about the request

If approved, approximately 459 acres would be rezoned from “agriculture” to “agricultural community industrial” and approximately 1,300 acres would be zoned for l-2 heavy industrial.

In the meeting’s agenda packet it states this request will create economic opportunities.

Bunnell officials say the first reading will happen May 28 and some residents are already voicing their concerns.

“First of all, I see that it’s tearing our small community a part,” Bunnell resident Bob Gibbs said.

Gibbs lives right across from where these potential rezoning changes could take place. 

“There’s a plan. They’re just not telling us at this point,” he said. “I hope they can come up with a solution, maybe another spot that would solve everyone’s problem.”

Other residents say they don’t want a repeat of the proposed Belvedere Terminals project where Palm Coast considered it and later withdrew its proposal.

Small business owner Chelsea Herbert said the rezoning would open up the property to undesired development.

“This would change the face of this regional area. It would destroy Bunnell,” Chelsea Herbert said.

The PZA board’s May 6 agenda stated there are currently no plans to develop the land.