As follow-up to an article we wrote Jan. 16, 2012 about a revived proposal shelved ten years ago to develop an MH community in Ormond Beach, Florida, the Volusia County Council approved plans for the community Jan. 19. OrlandoSentinel tells MHProNews.com the area, near the “Loop”, is a scenic route that passes by wetlands, beaches, a state park and is covered in part by a canopy of large oak trees. The development of 1,500 home sites will emerge on the 1,033 acres surrounded by traditional homes valued at $200,000 to $400,000. In 2002 the original plan fell to neighborhood pressure, and Plantation Oaks of Ormond Beach LLC agreed to build 1,577 single-family site-built homes; but when the bottom fell out of the housing market, the homes were never built. The revised plan calls for multi-section homes for residents 55 and older with patios and garages. Plantation Oaks attorney, Jim Morris, says the homes will be made to look like neighboring houses. Opponents maintain taxes from the MH community will be significantly less than site-built homes, but the developer says there is no market for stick-built homes. Council member Carl Persis says the criticism amounts to a”not-in-my-backyard” mentality. Morris says construction will begin immediately.

(Photo credit: OrlandoSentinel–the “Loop”, a scenic route in Ormond Beach)