The most issue discussed was the approval for changes to the property on Fern Park Drive. This property, annexed into the city in 2018, had previously faced a rejected proposal for a townhouse subdivision. The current owners requested a change from Volusia County’s urban low-density to the City of Port Orange Rural Transition. This amendment reduces the allowable residential units from 37 to 19, thereby decreasing the impact on public infrastructure. Additionally, the property was rezoned from rural agricultural to the city’s agricultural zoning district. The owners plan to demolish the existing dilapidated single-family home and, in the future, apply for a special exception to establish a retail and wholesale nursery business. They assured the Commission that they have no intentions to develop multiple homes on the property.

The meeting also addressed a state-mandated ordinance concerning certified recovery residences. Senate Bill 954 requires local governments to adopt specific regulations for these residences, including zoning restrictions and separation requirements. The ordinance aligns with the Senate Bill by allowing such residences in designated multifamily residential zones and establishing standards for reasonable accommodations. Commission members expressed concern over the state’s increasing control over local zoning decisions.