Holly Hill mayor hopeful outlines plans

By TAYLOR ASHLEY                Correspondent                     Last update: February 03, 2005

HOLLY HILL -- Roland Via believes his eight years as a city commissioner gives him what it takes to be mayor.

"I wanted to announce early in order to have time to talk with citizens and businesses to find out what their issues are in the campaign," Via said.

Via, 54, a 38-year resident to the area, is serving the second year of his second four-year term in District 4. His term expires in 2007. Before his current term, he served a two-year term until the City Charter was changed.

Via has served as vice mayor three times. Running for mayor, he will put his District 4 seat on the ballot.

So far, Roy Jordan (sic Johnson) is the only other declared candidate for the mayor's seat in the Oct. 11 election.

"The issues before the commission the next few months, in reference to community redevelopment workshops and money decisions for the future, are going to be key," Via said.

Where the money from the Swerdlow Group's Marina Grande luxury condominium project will go is one of the financial decisions the commission will have to make. The condo project is within the Community Redevelopment Area on Riverside Drive.

"One-third of our city is in the Community Redevelopment Area, mainly business," Via said. "Monies developed from the district can only be spent in the district and I see the CRA money going a long way to redeveloping and encouraging new business along our main business corridors of Ridgewood, State and Carswell avenues. The whole city benefits with lower residential taxes from the CRA, with businesses being built because of the taxes they generate."

He said the city will conduct workshops this spring to determine future CRA Tax Increment Financing fund expenditures.

Via attributes the city's perceived "business friendly" reputation as a major contributor to its ability to attract new businesses.

"Holly Hill has become known as the business-friendly city with an outstanding reputation of eliminating the bureaucratic problems of other cities, while not compromising our comprehensive use plan, codes or charter," Via said.

He cited the commission's major accomplishments during the past eight years as the relocation of Publix to Ridgewood Avenue, the Sonic Drive-In, the old Riviera Assisted Living Facility (formerly the Riviera Hotel) and its expansion, Walgreens and the refurbishment and beautification of businesses along Ridgewood Avenue, as well as the affordable Charleston Place housing.

"Recently, the landing of the $540 million Marina Grande project shows that Holly Hill has reached a higher level of respectability and successfully positioned itself for the future," Via said.

He believes that, with the money from the Marina Grande project, the city's property tax rate could be maintained or even lowered. He said Holly Hill's is the third lowest in Volusia County.

Via also is proud of the many improvements the city has made during his tenure.

"We've made huge improvements to our stormwater system to avoid the old flooding problems of the past; we've developed many new parks from the retention areas, including Centennial Park on 10th Street and the regional Dog Park on Alabama Avenue. Our street and sidewalks program has been very aggressive," Via said.

Having been active in youth sports for more than 30 years, Via is perhaps most proud of the city's many recreational achievements, such as the rebuilding of the old Holly Hill Elementary School into a large Boys & Girls Club, the building of the new air-conditioned gymnasium, the community pool, the Wellness Center and major improvements to parks and baseball fields. He said the recent refurbishing of Sica Hall was long overdue and is being finished.

Additionally, Via believes that the new commission will have to continue to look at water and growth.

"Though we are a bordered city, growth is something we should have a say in, since the impact affects us. The same with water, as we cannot let developers hoard water and we need to plan water for the future," he said.  Via has been a member of the Water Authority of Volusia (WAV) for eight years.

Commissioner Lou Schmitt's District 3 seat also will be open this fall. Schmitt has said he intends to run for re-election. Commission Arthur Byrnes, who has served 14 years in District 1, has voiced his desire to run for re-election as well. With Via giving up his District 4 seat, there will be four seats up for election.

"We haven't had that since 1997 when the staggered terms were instituted for stability," City Manager Joe Forte said.