EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine May 2020 | Page 16

TALKING
IT OUT:
Dialogue and Discussion
are Key to Building a
Better Community
by Kerry Karl
Considerations about “building a better community” might
first start with the definition of “better” which depends on
who you are talking to. Diverse needs and preferences span
the gamut everywhere including Volusia, a county of over half a
million residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Of which,
52% are in the civilian labor force; 28% are 62 years old and over;
13% are Hispanic or Latino; 24% have no college degree; and, 16%
live below poverty level. The wants and demands of this varied
population are all important to understand to ensure a community
is moving towards a universal “better” particularly when it comes
to tackling big issues like transportation and growth.
TRANSPORTATION
A recent survey by the regional transportation planning
organization, River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization
(R2CTPO), showed 48% of people walked or biked three or
more times per week. Therefore, to design better road systems,
pedestrians and bicyclists should be kept in mind. R2CTPO, as
the duly constituted body responsible for carrying out the urban
transportation planning and programming process for Volusia and
parts of Flagler, tries to ensure these federal and state networks
meet the needs of all. “We have a committee dedicated to walking
and riding a bike as these are integral to the community’s means
of transportation,” shared R2CTPO Executive
Director Lois Bollenback.
The R2CTPO has other advisory committees
including a Citizen Advisory Committee
(CAC) and a Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC). The purpose of the CAC is to hear from
residents about transportation issues. “I feel it
is important to present as much feedback from
Lois Bollenback
actual citizens using the transportation systems to ensure actual
needs are met,” said Nora Jane Gillespie, Chair of the CAC. Because
of committees like the CAC, input can be provided directly to the
Transportation Planning Organization who are
able to coordinate with appropriate authorities
to resolve a range of issues, including safety.
“Safety is a top priority for the R2CTPO and by
facilitating dialogue in these meetings we hear
how we can improve the area around us,” stated
Colleen Nicoulin, a senior planner for R2CTPO
and the staff assigned to the CAC.
Colleen Nicoulin
GROWTH
Current residents of Florida may be experiencing consternation
at the continuous growth happening around them. Florida is
now the third most populous state in the nation surpassing New
York, which for years held the third spot. Volusia continues to be
an enviable location in the state with its beautiful beaches and
abundance of natural resources. Growth projections for the state
and county consistently show increases in population while decades
of case law protecting property rights means growth cannot legally
be stopped altogether. Attempts to halt growth take the focus away
from necessary planning efforts to adapt to growth and efforts to
build a better community.
Patrick Opalewski, Senior Vice President and
Director of Real Estate Investment for the Root
Organization, an investment management firm
located in Ormond Beach, and current Chair of
the Volusia/Flagler Association for Responsible
Development (VCARD) commented, “A
fundamental principle needs to be accepted:
Florida is going to continue to grow; Volusia and
Patrick Opalewski
Flagler counties are going to continue to grow.
Projections from the state or private consultants confirm this growth
trend for the foreseeable future and the impacts of this growth are
going to be felt by all of us.”
| 10 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE