Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in DeLand public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
18 issues in zoning
Six-foot fence variance at 1035 E. Voorhis Avenue
A corner-lot homeowner wants to replace a four-foot chain-link fence with a six-foot wooden fence along the street side, saying vehicles have repeatedly struck the house. Staff found no visibility or neighborhood problems.
Commercial land use and rezone near West Volusia and South Spring Garden
The 1925 Ida Erhart Apartments, a six-unit building one block from Stetson, got the green light to become a boutique hotel — legally, the only zoning that matches the comprehensive plan. Neighbors fear it 'cracks' a residential block inside a National Register district and sets the stage for offices replacing historic homes. Several speakers also asked the city to consider a transitional mixed-use zoning district for edges like this.
Repeal of the Downtown Fair Share Agreement
A first reading was scheduled to repeal the Downtown Fair Share Agreement, which historically governed how downtown development contributed to infrastructure costs. Repeal could change obligations for downtown projects.
Jacobs Corner mixed-use planned development
A 4.63-acre mixed-use planned development on East Plymouth Avenue, continued to this meeting at the applicant's request.
Woodland Towers nursing home expansion
A PD amendment would raise the maximum number of beds allowed for the Woodland Towers nursing home on 6 acres at 120 Chipola Avenue.
Taylor Ridge corner-lot standards cleanup
A technical fix so one lot in the Taylor Ridge subdivision isn't doomed by a drafting oversight: corner lots on curves will now follow standard minimum widths, and Lot 31 can be built as planned. Minor, but it shows how PD language quirks can derail home construction.
RV carport variance on Edgewood Boulevard
A corner-lot homeowner won approval to build a 17-foot RV carport 9 feet from the street-side line, where 20 feet is required. The board conditioned it on keeping the hedge screen — the carport sits 200 feet from the nearest intersection, so sightlines aren't affected.
Variance request for downtown infill redevelopment
Two 1952-platted vacant lots near E New York and S Amelia can't meet modern zoning standards, so the owner is asking for sweeping variances to build. It's a test of how DeLand handles historic, undersized lots in the downtown commercial district.
Rezoning at 1500 S. Adelle Avenue (Ordinance 2026-17)
Willie Robinson is asking the city to rezone about two acres on South Adelle Avenue from a townhome planned development to general multifamily zoning, a key step for the proposed Plexes at Adelle project.
Bennett Drive right-of-way abandonment
The city considered vacating about 0.89 acres of a 50-foot-wide section of Bennett Drive next to the DeLand Business and Industrial Park — a step that changes public access and transfers right-of-way to adjacent property.
Patio cover rear setback encroachment (3501 Treetop Street)
A homeowner seeks permission for an unenclosed patio cover that extends 8 feet into the required 20-foot rear setback — a routine hardship request that can set expectations for neighboring lots.
Six-foot fence in street-side setback (897 N. Garfield Avenue)
A resident wants a six-foot fence where the code allows only four feet, citing a break-in, vandalism, stray dogs, and sight-line safety at a busy intersection. It's a classic livability-versus-neighborhood-standards call.
DeLand Atrium rezoning at 600 N. Woodland Blvd
A plan to rezone the former Museum of Art site from Educational zoning to a Planned Development. The building would keep its arts uses — including Stetson University's theater — while gaining flexibility for other compatible uses if tenants leave. Neighbors to the west are single-family homes, so what happens on this corner matters to them.
Rezone of 23 acres near ISB and Spring Garden Avenue
Nearly 23.33 acres at the busy corner of International Speedway Blvd. and North Spring Garden Ave. would shift from single-family zoning to Business Retail. What gets built here affects traffic, nearby neighborhoods and the commercial character of a major gateway corridor.
Land Development Regulations workshop
The board was set to dig into the city's LDRs — the rulebook for what can be built where in DeLand. Changes here eventually shape everything from fence rules to subdivision standards.
Unpermitted fence variance at 402 Ravenshill Way
A corner-lot homeowner wants to keep a six-foot fence that sits inside the street-side setback, where the Victoria Park planned development caps fence height at four feet. The fence was never permitted and has triggered a code enforcement case, so the variance is the path to keeping it in place.
Rezoning of 1.47 acres at S. Amelia Ave. and E. Howry Ave.
A nearly 1.5-acre parcel at a key corner near downtown is proposed for rezoning. What gets built there depends on the new zoning designation.
Side-yard setback variance for garage addition at 418 N. Frankfort Avenue
A homeowner wants to build a two-car garage only 3 feet from the side property line where 10 feet is required, and to provide three parking spaces instead of five. The 1959 house predates the city's current parking rules, so staff notes it already doesn't meet them.