[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6325423,"mediaKeyId","2333444-e389c22d09983a16c2b156cff9edf323","parentId",2333444,"title","Deltona commission holds quasi‑judicial hearing on mayor’s out‑of‑state travel; motion that he knew and violated policy fails","audioSeconds",7315,"startMs",6678000,"endMs",13993000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333444-e389c22d09983a16c2b156cff9edf323&start=6678&end=13993","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333444-e389c22d09983a16c2b156cff9edf323/thumbnail_6678000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325423/Deltona/Volusia-County/Florida/Deltona-commission-holds-quasijudicial-hearing-on-mayors-outofstate-travel-motion-that-he-knew-and-violated-policy-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325423-1e8dcf3f3a735193e7cf80c4c21c40d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775821662&Signature=XpdLbA8VNOk6xnsDYDbjIKqkSkHzCDBdYWRDIWSgS-~3yxk1d4bYlsyFfIDM9qkt~34w~sXrdZ130CaUHSq5a~FgZUwps67ZDmLSmKnhgnl8Z7DZebYf52~q0sJQeaEMHE9wk3ez~WkLqWrdpjUOoMHOwvHbFkY0Z0C5nFuk1XDTJJFwFizUfXdwCaFFGsO2kC5umtIZWymlDFk8YhUQIQqfZTSIRImwRJSEyldwQDbSOY-TPgkjp6WJMN8-X3VHxHPIMzpx-0YFQUyeQP4J-aHeh4c6OBImwGyYghA0-yq4odxhGxJrutizc9Nv~YgnS-PL2TEGQ~juXbojpBstvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Deltona, FL","date","2025-02-18T22:14:45.317Z","article","The Deltona City Commission conducted a lengthy quasi‑judicial hearing into whether Mayor Avila knew about and violated the city’s elected-official travel policy in connection with an out‑of‑state trip. After sworn testimony, ex parte disclosures and public comment, the commission voted but did not reach the supermajority required to find a violation.

Before testimony began, commissioners disclosed ex parte communications, listing dozens of emails, calls and social-media contacts they had received on the matter. The commission then heard sworn testimony, including from Mayor Avila, who told the commission he first read the travel regulations after news reports about the issue and said he “did not know” about the specific policy requirements prior to the trip. The mayor also described his reimbursements practice for mileage and per diem and said staff had not instructed him to seek commission approval for the trip.

Attorney Anthony Sabatini, representing the mayor for the hearing portion, argued the evidence fell far short of the city’s required standard of proof — clear and convincing evidence of knowledge and a willful violation. Sabatini said the mayor had signed routine reimbursement forms but that there was no documentation showing he had specific prior notice of the city’s elected-official travel rules. He noted several commission members likewise gave testimony that they were unfamiliar with the policy’s details.

Members of the public spoke for and against the mayor; some urged sanctions and others said the matter had been politicized. City staff and the city attorney explained the hearing’s rules, including that a finding of guilt under the charter requires a supermajority (five votes).

Commissioner Howington moved to find that the mayor had knowledge of the travel policy before the date of travel and that he violated it; the motion was seconded. By roll call the motion failed, 4–3. City attorneys reminded the commission that any sanction under section 2-381 of the city charter would require a separate finding by an affirmative supermajority of the entire commission. The commission discussed several administrative follow-ups instead: members asked staff to consolidate and update travel policies and asked for a review of all commission policies older than two years so the rules are clear and uniformly accessible.

The mayor acknowledged errors and said he will comply with whatever processes the commission adopts going forward. The commission voted in favor of directing staff to consolidate and present updated travel/tracking policy materials to the commission for review within the timeframe they set.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Commission Meeting -February 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After a quasi‑judicial hearing that included sworn testimony and public comment, the Deltona City Commission failed to obtain the supermajority required to find Mayor Avila both knew about and violated the city’s elected-official travel policy.","taxTitle","Deltona, Volusia County, Florida","taxId",4876,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6325428,"Commission denies appeal for Howland Station multifamily site plan; staff had ruled application incomplete",2149,3650000,5799000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333444-e389c22d09983a16c2b156cff9edf323&start=3650&end=5799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333444-e389c22d09983a16c2b156cff9edf323/thumbnail_3650000.jpg","/articles/6325428/Deltona/Volusia-County/Florida/Commission-denies-appeal-for-Howland-Station-multifamily-site-plan-staff-had-ruled-application-incomplete","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325428-06f72649011e4f6b93985e1250f4437b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775821662&Signature=YZWy2Wql4qQ4s6M0SCHJOg7BeesP55l5s-uQhVxQvZEB20ikB4JRHKsrYzv2OH9MVPSMtpP70cYFH0snvtSOXngIXYkinhfVC29lT4FRqjZ~YgGNakG46Vs6FOO-7wnQecRr0mSOPIVym3-KNJDlt2NoZ30Kdl7fAhvGh9JJdDDY89xkLgDPKZHXCUvdhy-OwFd~ak~g~uah9G16eWgHCiK0zf0kHsYwOV4~SNUR6WGj8K7sGmF0xm2I0m92c-7VbfxWSs2upEqBfHU7t~awluS36dgvtJt~fvL05C-fl9H1XXuwKfenIeg6Zv1CYfZxAjQKpGabmAEcEOq335uTAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Deltona City Commission voted unanimously 7–0 to deny an appeal from the developer of a proposed multifamily project known in the record as Howland Station (also referenced as Holland Station). The vote sustained the planning director’s determination that the application was incomplete and therefore subject to updated local requirements.

Outside counsel for the applicant told the commission the project was pursued under Deltona’s earlier implementation of the Live Local Act and that the developer had spent millions on construction documents and closed on private-activity bond financing. Counsel argued the application was filed in August 2024 and that staff had issued a sufficiency letter, creating a pending application that should not have been subject to a zoning-in-progress later adopted by the city.

City staff and outside counsel for the city countered that vital items were missing from the submittal, including a traffic study and formal commission approval for inclusion of a church parcel in the lot configuration; staff said the church parcel’s deed restrictions required the city’s commission to act before title could be unified. The planning director’s decision required an updated submittal under the amended local ordinance (chapter 76) adopted December 2024.

Attorney Anthony Sabatini, representing Mayor Avila at a different agenda item earlier in the meeting, did not represent the applicant in this matter. The applicant’s attorney, Rebecca Wilson, told the commission the developer had met with staff across several months and asserted that the plat procedure was the mechanism staff had advised to resolve title and lot-configuration issues. City counsel disagreed and maintained the application was incomplete under current code.

Commissioner Lully moved to deny the appeal; the motion was seconded and carried 7–0. The denial sustains the staff determination that the final site-plan application did not meet the requirements in effect at the time staff processed the filing and that the applicant must resubmit following the directions in the staff letter and the amended chapter 76 implementation rules.","The commission denied an appeal by the applicant for the Howland Station/Holland Station multifamily project, upholding staff’s finding that the application was incomplete under recently updated local rules implementing the Live Local Act.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6325434,"Howland Marketplace final plat approved; Chipotle among early tenants",493,3398000,3891000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333444-e389c22d09983a16c2b156cff9edf323&start=3398&end=3891","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333444-e389c22d09983a16c2b156cff9edf323/thumbnail_3398000.jpg","/articles/6325434/Deltona/Volusia-County/Florida/Howland-Marketplace-final-plat-approved-Chipotle-among-early-tenants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325434-cfa2d574583adbfb92261f8938f73982/orig.mp4?Expires=1775821662&Signature=e82X3GerW8uGM3SSfgmQhbGw06lbROrGp2Bwf8KvwVWy6w1OUj0mtaZ1f~jmfqPnuyXFuvZh1BWqyvUYC~sYFW33KvYrCmSgExrv0nEn7pEtCqrbiYBX~d9M0FsAua0SQdWFq2NAO~BudkbODXrDjydNcFU5g6IqT9lajnZlIHixKrQDlC3C3bE-qDtpD1irf0vxX2Gv22MdRtcTwgSNDauCKCG5VF9Tt1qgGdjFGhMITsZVk3biYf6NzadbTS9NaqdSlGZ3G-dp1dIUfpo-3WEWtUlHS~9bcQHa~MIjdN0U3RdO9GIx3Lm1hwqDwBns2tjBH9eS0hfjHHE32-vXBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Deltona City Commission unanimously approved a final plat that will reconfigure roughly 4.68 acres along Howland Boulevard into three commercial lots and two tracts within the Howland Marketplace BPUD.

Jordan Smith, planning director, presented Resolution 2025-27 and said the final plat had been reviewed by the city surveyor and attorney and was consistent with Florida Statutes chapter 177 and the land development code. Smith said the preliminary plat was approved by the Development Review Committee on Sept. 19, 2024, and the final plat on Feb. 13, 2025.

Commissioners asked about confirmed tenants; Smith said one tenant — Chipotle — has executed a lease and “they’re ready to go,” and staff estimated two to three additional retailers as likely tenants. Commissioner Villavazquez moved to approve the resolution “with the condition stated within the development order,” and Commissioner Lully seconded. No public comment opposed approval.

On a roll-call vote the motion passed 7–0. The final plat acceptance lets the applicant record the replat and proceed with the site’s next development steps subject to conditions in the development order.","The City Commission approved Resolution 2025-27 accepting the Howland Marketplace final plat, a 4.68-acre replat creating three commercial lots inside a BPUD; staff said Chipotle has signed to locate on one parcel.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6325438,"Deltona commission tables Aloha Estates final plat for 536-apartment project pending completion agreement",5275,1191000,6466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333444-e389c22d09983a16c2b156cff9edf323&start=1191&end=6466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333444-e389c22d09983a16c2b156cff9edf323/thumbnail_1191000.jpg","/articles/6325438/Deltona/Volusia-County/Florida/Deltona-commission-tables-Aloha-Estates-final-plat-for-536-apartment-project-pending-completion-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325438-cdf7a3cc34f9b197ebd578fc028aa39d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775821662&Signature=TXHhG-S5bOtTMxrS4ivi1-lvQtvHoko5dMmsStdfoVj4oDSe5BB9X3Tk-mTEWxhoC4KISB-OhVAwQ3M3uJVUCo70nI5tt4MnmTc2H-7~mGuBqS6Gfiij0Uu74fdkQkSqAC7IJZyCH3piZBvXtPeNGKIMznbXkHetDOlRNbnjhkrdJ~eMwsgkbQvQh70dg6LAeHsMQNzWI6fhhRcENL0qbDKKPrXJs8TCRwMew1tYitl~-k0ShiC5CvQ~XFzx6iWFPPB1YjV2JNfKMBfp08299NW32I7dB-mZYj-JlzO8NluwfozUwKoCuJ-23EjIGCYhRKJus9BdjYzQvGP0fC4phA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Deltona City Commission on the motion carried 4–3 on Tuesday deferred action on a final plat that would allow access for a proposed 536-unit apartment development from a commercially zoned parcel.

Planning staff sought acceptance of Resolution 2025-26, the Aloha Estates final plat, saying the final plat would “facilitate a means of ingress and egress” across a C-2 parcel to the multi-family property at 1000 Aloha Estates Road. Jordan Smith, director of planning, told the commission the plat had been reviewed and is “consistent with Florida Statutes chapter 177 and Land Development Code section 100 and six-thirty 1.”

The project would develop about 46.7 acres for what the staff report described as 536 apartments. Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant about the lot configuration and the sequencing of work. Commissioner Avielle Vasquez asked why a final plat was being approved when “this particular property has nothing on it but trees,” and Smith explained a final plat can establish “the legal meets and bounds of a parcel” and that developers sometimes record plats before construction begins.

Public commenters and several commissioners raised concerns about stormwater, traffic and completing an earlier project the developer has in Deltona. Residents said the area floods and that the scale of development would strain roads and schools. One resident urged the commission to prefer parks or other uses to dense apartments.

Commissioner discussion shifted when an alternate motion was made to defer the plat “until such time as there is an agreement negotiated to finish the Enrico Ridge project,” defined in the motion as a tri-party agreement among the developer, an eventual purchaser and the city or another binding instrument ensuring completion. The commission clarified that any performance bonds required by the development order would still be required within seven days.

When put to a roll-call vote the motion to defer passed 4–3 (Mayor Villa, Commissioner Colwell, Commissioner Howington and Commissioner Santiago voted yes; Vice Mayor Herriot, Commissioner Avielle Vasquez and Commissioner Lowley voted no). The staff recommendation to accept the plat was therefore not approved and the item will return to a future meeting with the requested agreement and additional site-development details, including the location of the 15 acres the applicant said would be left for drainage.

The commission did not adopt entitlements or rezone under this action; staff repeatedly emphasized the vote concerned the plat layout and access, not final approval of building permits or unit counts.

The applicant and staff were asked to return with the requested tri-party agreement or equivalent, draft site-plan materials and the performance-bond confirmation referenced during the hearing.","The City Commission voted 4–3 to defer acceptance of the Aloha Estates final plat, which would allow ingress/egress across a commercially zoned parcel to a 536-unit multifamily project, until an agreement is executed tying the plat to completion of an existing stalled project.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Deltona commission holds quasi‑judicial hearing on mayor’s out‑of‑state travel; motion that he knew and violated policy fails

Commission denies appeal for Howland Station multifamily site plan; staff had ruled application incomplete

Howland Marketplace final plat approved; Chipotle among early tenants

Deltona commission tables Aloha Estates final plat for 536-apartment project pending completion agreement