OSTEEN, Fla. — Known for its green spaces and rural landscapes, preserving any parcel of land from development is considered a win to many residents of the Osteen community.
The official opening of the 476-acre D Ranch Preserve on May 1 served as an example of how conserved land can be shared with the public to enjoy.
Much like the rest of Central Florida, Volusia County is experiencing substantial growth.
According to the Volusia 2070: River-Friendly Planning project by the St. Johns Riverkeeper and 1000 Friends of Florida, the county's population is projected to increase to about 700,000 residents by 2070.
That’s why preserving a place like D Ranch, which has been a staple in the community since the 1950s, is considered symbolic.
One resident who has lived in Osteen for more than three decades said properties like D Ranch need to be preserved, or they risk getting lost to development.
Wanda Van Dam said she and her husband haven’t looked back since they traded city life in South Florida for rural life in Osteen 33 years ago.
“This pretty much was why we moved to Osteen, to have the open-ness, to be able to be in nature,” she said.
But Van Dam fears that mass development could make matters worse for people like her. Her property borders Thorn Hill Lake, which is part of the St. Johns River system.
As hurricane season nears, it’s a concern that especially worries her.
“The lake fills up. The river gets high, and all of this goes underwater,” Van Dam said as she walked in the backyard of her 50-acre property.
That’s why she emphasizes the need to preserve green spaces like D Ranch to help control flooding.
“You’ve got to give the water, nature in general, a place to go," Van Dam said. "And we’re getting further and further away from that. Our kids are getting further and further away from it.”
When the environmental group Conservation Florida acquired D Ranch through an anonymous donation in 2019, Van Dam was relieved.
She said it serves as an example of what land conservation can protect, including native species like the Florida black bear and pine lily.
“Protecting these places allows that wide space to roam for our wide-roaming mammals like the endangered Florida panther and our beloved black bears," said Conservation Florida Director of Communication Sarah Shepard. "Here in Osteen, there’s so many incredible conservation spaces already available, but there’s also some at risk.”
Two separate development projects bordering D Ranch have already been presented to Deltona city commissioners.
Although both are in the early stages, residents like Van Dam are keeping a close eye to ensure they adhere to the development standards within Osteen’s Joint Planning Area Agreement (JPA).
“You always have to be aware of what’s going on in your neighborhood, and that becomes very difficult,” said Van Dam, who also sits on the Volusia Forever advisory board.
Development in Osteen is a concern that Volusia County District 3 Council Member Danny Robins said the county takes into consideration through programs like Echo and Volusia Forever.
“In unincorporated Volusia, you’ll see our development and our building is actually fairly low, and that’s the whole point," Robins said. "We want our growth happening in the cities to prevent several things like urban sprawl.”
Van Dam said the work to preserve Osteen is a continuous process, one that is necessary for her other residents to enjoy the good life.
A map of Osteen’s Local Plan Development Projects dating to 2012 shows that there have been four approved projects and two submittals over the past 13 years.
According to Volusia County’s website, the intent of the Osteen Local Plan is to “recognize and enhance the urban opportunities for the area while protecting the rural and environmental characteristics that make up a significant portion of the Osteen area.”
The fact that Osteen is an unincorporated community split between the city of Deltona and Volusia County makes it even more important to residents that they be accounted for when it comes to future developments.
