Ormond Beach commission approves package of ordinances, park and utility contracts; tattoo code amendment passes first reading

The Ormond Beach City Commission on Aug. 19 approved a set of routine and policy items, including a second reading of a comprehensive‑plan amendment, multiple first‑reading zoning and code changes, purchase and service contracts, and the first reading of a land‑development code amendment to permit a private tattoo studio Downtown under strict conditions.

Commissioners unanimously approved the minutes of the Aug. 5 meeting and the bulk of the consent agenda. The commission later approved two consent items pulled for discussion: Resolution 2025‑117, awarding playground equipment and installation for Andy Romano Beachfront Park and Fire Station 91 to PlayCore Wisconsin Inc. (d/b/a GameTime), and Resolution 2025‑137, awarding pressure‑main cleaning services under bid 2025‑39 to Professional Piping Services Inc. Both awards were approved by roll call vote.

The commission conducted public hearings and votes on several ordinances. The second reading of Ordinance 2025‑17, a broad comprehensive‑plan amendment incorporating the city's 2045 plan elements, passed unanimously. The commission approved first readings of Ordinance 2025‑24, renaming the Leisure Services Department the Parks and Recreation Department, and Ordinance 2025‑25, an amendment affecting mobile food dispensing vehicles; both advanced without public opposition.

On a divided vote, the commission approved first reading of Ordinance 2025‑26, a land‑development code amendment that creates a conditional use definition for a "private tattoo studio" in the B‑4 Central Business district subject to narrow conditions (no exterior windows or signage, appointment‑only service, a single tattoo artist, a 160‑square‑foot maximum workspace, and location in two‑story buildings fronting East Granada Boulevard). The vote on first reading was 3–2: Commissioners Sargent and Mayor Leslie joined Commissioner Deaton in voting yes; Commissioners Briley and Tolland voted no.

The commission also advanced Ordinance 2025‑27 on first reading, an amendment to the Walmart planned business development order to allow a 5,101‑square‑foot addition for online grocery pickup. The approval included amended conditions requiring accelerated cleanup and landscape improvements to the greenbelt buffer: three months to complete improvements on the western buffer (Williamson Boulevard to I‑95) and six months for the eastern section (Williamson to Bermuda Estates Drive). Commissioners amended the motion on the floor and approved the item by roll call vote.

The body approved a repealer ordinance removing the city's environmental protection article from the code on first reading (the item will return for second reading), and approved a second‑reading ordinance establishing a city paid‑parking framework for designated lots.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Minutes, Aug. 5, 2025 — motion passed (minutes approved). - Consent agenda (minus pulled items) — approved by roll call (all commissioners voting yes). - Resolution 2025‑117 (PlayCore/GameTime playground equipment for Andy Romano Beachfront Park and Fire Station 91) — approved by roll call (all commissioners voting yes). - Resolution 2025‑137 (Professional Piping Services Inc., pressure main cleaning) — approved by roll call (all commissioners voting yes). - Ordinance 2025‑17 (comprehensive plan amendment) — second reading approved (unanimous). - Ordinance 2025‑24 (rename Leisure Services to Parks & Recreation) — first reading approved (unanimous). - Ordinance 2025‑25 (mobile food vending language) — first reading approved (unanimous). - Ordinance 2025‑26 (private tattoo studio, LDC amendment) — first reading approved, 3–2 (Deaton, Sargent, Mayor Leslie yes; Briley, Tolland no). - Ordinance 2025‑27 (Walmart development order, online grocery pickup addition) — first reading approved with conditions (unanimous). - Ordinance (traffic/paid parking, second reading) — approved (unanimous).

Why this matters: The package advances the city's multi‑year planning and development changes, funds parks and maintenance contracts, and sets local conditions for new commercial uses downtown. The split vote on the tattoo‑studio amendment highlights continuing debate about downtown character and land‑use precedent, while the Walmart approval paired business expansion with an accelerated schedule for addressing community concerns about the greenbelt buffer and site appearance.

What happens next: Items approved on first reading return for final action at a subsequent meeting (including the private tattoo‑studio amendment and the Walmart development order). The playground and utility contracts move to procurement and execution under the conditions approved by the commission.

Sources: Meeting transcript of the Ormond Beach City Commission meeting, Aug. 19, 2025.