City commission agrees to more residential units in Deltona Village. What's coming?
With a 5-2 vote Monday night, the Deltona City Commission approved an amendment to Deltona Village, allowing for 238 additional multi-family apartments.
This takes the total number of multi-family residential units allowed in the development plans to a total of 652. Construction on the apartments began in 2022.
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Also in the amendment was the rezoning of a 0.61-acre parcel to be included in Deltona Village.
Concerns over traffic
When the ordinance amending Deltona Village came before the commission in April, the commission voted 4-3 to deny its approval, largely over concerns that the original traffic study approved in 2009 was outdated.
Following that April meeting, city staff contacted its consulting traffic engineer for an update on potential traffic impacts.
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BCC Engineering found that, under updated traffic generation rates, there would be a net total impact of 24,417 average daily trips and 2,271 p.m. peak hour trips. The original study put trip counts at 17,808 and 1,141, respectively.
Who voted against the amendment and why?
Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. and Commissioner Dana McCool cast the dissenting votes.
Avila said he would like to see development in the area, but he would like to see the developer pay a proportionate fair share more in line with 2023 and not the agreement made nearly 15 years ago.
McCool shared similar sentiments.
"I would ask that if we're going to ask our residents to pay 2023 prices that we do the same for development here in Deltona, because I think developers have enjoyed a pretty sweet ride in Deltona," McCool said. "I'm questioning this so that we are able to support our infrastructure."
The original agreement has the developer paying upward of $1.9 million.
Staff said the amount would be about $10 million were it in line with 2023 figures.
McCool also read a letter from Tadd Kasbeer, Volusia County's engineer, who expressed similar concerns as McCool over basing decisions off of the 2009 traffic study.
Supporters cite tax revenue, long-awaited business development
Vice Mayor Anita Bradford and commissioners Tom Burbank, Maritza Avila-Vazquez, Jody Lee Storozuk and Stephen Colwell voted in favor of the ordinance.
Bradford said the site, which was long expected to be a major economic driver in the area, needs more than cattle on open fields.
She also said the city was lucky Frank DeMarsh, whose family is the primary land owner, wasn't backing out.
Bradford said she also doubts the county's concern since it's their utilities that will profit off of the development.
"Who is not winning? Bradford said.
What has developed or received approval in Deltona Village to date?
Currently, Deltona Village is home to Epic Theatres of West Volusia, a Race Trac gas station and a Burger King.
Site plans have been approved for other businesses including:
Starbucks
Integra Myst, a 301-unit apartment complex
Nutty Bavarian light-manufacturing facility
Plans for a Panda Express and a self-storage facility are under review.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: City agrees to more residential units in Deltona Village. What's coming?
