Flagler County and City Near Deal to Avoid Annexation Lawsuit

Negotiations resolve most disputes, but new conflict emerges over 153 acres of preservation land

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Flagler County government and the city of Flagler Beach have resolved four of five differences that had the county on the brink of suing the city over the city's annexations of Summertown and Veranda Bay, two large planned developments. While infrastructure and utility issues are settled, a new conflict emerged over 153 acres of preservation land, with the county demanding development restrictions that the developer sees as an "outright taking" of the property.

Why it matters

The annexation dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between local governments over development and land use, with the county seeking to preserve environmentally sensitive areas while the developer wants to move forward with their plans. The potential lawsuit could have had significant implications for the region's growth and development.

The details

The four resolved issues concerned maintenance and traffic on John Anderson Highway, with the developer pledging $830,000 to help cover the costs. Flagler Beach also agreed to provide utility services to the new development. However, the fifth issue regarding 153 acres of preservation land remains unresolved. The county wants to purchase the land using state grants, but failing that, is demanding development restrictions on the property, which the developer sees as an "outright taking" of the land. The two sides are now considering arbitration as a potential solution to this final conflict.

  • The negotiating session between Flagler County and Flagler Beach took place on Friday.
  • The county administration hopes to bring an agreement to the County Commission on February 23 that could potentially resolve all the issues.

The players

Flagler County

The local government of Flagler County, Florida, which was in negotiations with the city of Flagler Beach over the annexation of two large planned developments.

Flagler Beach

The city of Flagler Beach, Florida, which was in negotiations with Flagler County over the annexation of two large planned developments.

Ken Belshe

The representative of SunBelt Land Management, the parent company of the Summertown and Veranda Bay developments.

Michael Rodriguez

The county attorney for Flagler County.

Michael Chiumento

The land-use attorney who represents Ken Belshe and the developer.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“What you're suggesting, what you're suggesting is an outright taking of our property. That's what it is.”

— Ken Belshe, Representative of SunBelt Land Management (flaglerlive.com)

“As I've gotten older, I've learned a word that is very easy to say that gets to the heart of the problem, and the answer is: No. Michael, your proposal is No from the developer. So I wanted to get that out there so that you guys could then sit and brainstorm with solutions. Because it's no.”

— Michael Chiumento, Land-use attorney representing Ken Belshe (flaglerlive.com)

What’s next

The county and Flagler Beach agreed that nothing stopped the county from negotiating bilaterally with the developer ahead of the February 23 meeting, when the county administration hopes to bring an agreement to the County Commission that could potentially resolve all the issues, including the conflict over the 153 acres of preservation land.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between local governments and developers over land use and development, with the county seeking to preserve environmentally sensitive areas while the developer wants to move forward with their plans. The potential for a lawsuit underscores the high stakes involved, and the need for both sides to find a mutually agreeable solution through further negotiations or arbitration.