The Bunnell Planning Board approved a special exception for a 610‑acre landfill by a 3‑1 vote on Sept. 1, prompting appeals from five residents and Flagler County who say the case should have been heard by the City Commission. Critics accuse city officials, including City Manager Alvin Jackson, of keeping the land‑use filing secret and denying the public adequate notice. Opponents warn the landfill could harm farms, water quality and local roads; a petition opposing the project has topped 2,000 signatures.
Residents, County Appeal After 610‑Acre Bunnell Landfill Approved Amid Secrecy Claims
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A proposed 610‑acre landfill in Bunnell, Florida, has prompted intense local opposition, with residents and Flagler County officials appealing a planning decision that critics say advanced the project with insufficient public notice. The dispute erupted at a City Commission meeting after the Bunnell Planning Board approved a special exception on Sept. 1 by a 3‑1 vote.
What Happened
According to FlaglerLive.com, five residents and Flagler County have filed appeals challenging the planning board’s approval. One of the central legal arguments is that the matter should have been considered by the City Commission rather than the planning board.
Accusations of Secrecy
Speakers at Monday’s meeting criticized City Manager Alvin Jackson, saying the land‑use application was kept "secret for months" and that residents only learned of the filing after pressure from Palm Coast officials, county leaders and reporters forced disclosure (per FlaglerLive.com). Opponents argue the limited notice deprived the public of meaningful time to review project details and prepare feedback.
"This is not how transparent, good faith governance works," said West Flagler resident Matthew Ryden. He added the process "blindsides the public and severely limits the community's ability to review vital information, digest the impacts, and prepare informed feedback."
Local Concerns
Residents say the landfill could harm farmland, contaminate water supplies, and increase heavy truck traffic on State Road 100, which would strain local roads and public finances. At the meeting, Cindy Stephen‑Racin pleaded: "Please, we beg you, don't put that landfill out there in our farms where our food is. Please don't destroy our land."
Neftali DeJesus, co‑owner of Split Oak Ranch, called both the project and the handling of the application "atrocious," while another landowner with roughly 900 acres warned the landfill could be "catastrophic" and financially ruin farmers.
Next Steps
City Attorney Paul Waters said the 30‑day appeal window must close before the City Commission can schedule a special meeting to hear the challenges. At that hearing, the application will be presented again and each appeal will receive a separate vote; if the Commission upholds the planning board’s decision, further challenges would move to circuit court.
Community Response And Context
Allison Nobles has emerged as a leader of the opposition; she told the meeting a petition against the landfill has topped 2,000 signatures and urged officials to protect Bunnell’s agricultural identity. "This town was built on agriculture," Nobles said. "Agriculture is not simply a part of Bunnell's history. It is part of our identity, our economy, and the reason many families have chosen to remain here for generations."
Residents framed the fight as part of a broader national pattern of disputes over waste facilities, public oversight and who bears the local impacts. They pointed to recent fights in Miami‑Dade, Maine, Oregon and Tennessee over trash incinerators, landfill expansions and leachate handling as similar examples.
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