Planning board backs PUD rezoning for Holiday Travel Park after decades of code disputes, with buyer‑notification condition

The Flagler County Planning Board on June 9 voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners rezone Holiday Travel Park to a plan‑unit development (project 2026467), a measure staff and the applicant framed as a path out of decades of code noncompliance and a way to resolve life‑safety deficiencies across the park.

Interim Growth Management Director Chuck Miranda explained that the cooperative campground has a long history of unpermitted permanent structures, sheds and electrical/plumbing issues going back decades. The proposed PD formalizes allowable uses (park trailers/park models, limited accessory sheds and permanent non‑structurally attached screen rooms), imposes spacing and life‑safety standards, and sets a two‑year compliance period with a staff‑granted one‑year extension (three years total) to bring shareholder lots into conformance. The development agreement also includes an enforcement backstop through the county’s magistrate process and the potential for liens for persistent noncompliance.

Board members and staff debated how best to balance enforcement and fairness. Several residents said many shareholders are retirees on fixed incomes and warned that strict transfer restrictions could trap owners who cannot afford upgrades. Staff and the county attorney said code enforcement powers — fines, magistrate hearings and liens — remain available, and proposed language that would allow transfers if a buyer signs a recordable compliance commitment or otherwise accepts responsibility for remediation.

The board approved a recommendation to rezone and adopt the negotiated PUD, adding language to permit transfers provided buyers are notified and agree to meet the same compliance obligations within the remaining PD timeframe. The motion also acknowledged a modest permit‑fee credit was discussed during negotiations (staff cited a possible $150 credit per shareholder as a one‑time allowance to help offset permit costs).

What happens next: The planning board’s conditional recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final action. If commissioners approve the rezoning and PD agreement, staff said they will pursue enforcement via the magistrate process should shareholders fail to meet the PD schedule.

Speakers and sources: Grow th management staff (Chuck Miranda) and county attorney counsel participated in negotiations; Holiday Travel Park association representative Rick Vitzera addressed the board; multiple shareholders testified for and against elements of the agreement. The board added an amendment to allow transfers conditioned on buyer notification and compliance commitments.

Key details: the park has about 156 shareholder lots; the PD includes a parkwide three‑year compliance schedule and life‑safety spacing requirements; enforcement will use the county magistrate process and can include fines and liens.