PALM COAST, Fla. — The City of Palm Coast City Council voted 3–2 on Oct. 21 to approve on first reading an amendment to Chapter 44 of the city code that allows one commercial work vehicle to be parked at a residence under defined conditions, including a gross vehicle weight rating below 26,000 pounds and limits on attachments and visible tools.

The measure was presented by city staff as a response to repeated requests to give tradespeople and small-business owners the ability to keep a single work vehicle at home. City staff said the ordinance changes define “attachments” (racks, storage containers or other commercial equipment securely mounted to the vehicle), require vehicles and attachments to be kept in a “safe, neat, clean and well‑kept manner,” and prohibit attachments that extend the vehicle’s width beyond its rated width by more than 1 inch.

The council majority framed the change as a business‑friendly compromise that preserves neighborhood character. Council member Miller said the ordinance “is the medium that we came to” between removing restrictions entirely and keeping them unchanged. Vice Mayor Pontieri, who voted yes, described the change as “a very reasonable medium to be business friendly in our community” while retaining restrictions to protect quality of life.

Opponents raised enforcement and neighborhood‑character concerns. Council member Gambaro and Council member Sullivan voted no. Sullivan warned the change could “begin to change the nature of the community” and questioned whether the ordinance would lead to more swale or trailer parking. Council members asked staff to refine language (for example, moving the definition of “attachments” into a definitions subsection) before second reading.

Public commenters split between tradespeople seeking relief and residents worried about enforcement and fines. A construction worker who identified himself as Brad, and who described frequent emergency call‑outs, said he is “working” and asked the city not to treat work vehicles as a nuisance. Resident Elizabeth Texara spoke about a family hardship: her son would have to move because of a prior code violation and she said a large fine or lien on her mother’s house would be devastating; staff responded during the meeting that they had provided an extension so the resident’s son could remain through second reading and that the city would work with her. Staff clarified that current maximum civil penalties under the code are $250 per violation, not the larger amounts some speakers reported.

Key provisions and follow-up directions recorded at the meeting include:
- One commercial vehicle per residential address unless otherwise defined; the vehicle must be rated below 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
- Attachments (defined as racks, storage containers or other commercial equipment securely mounted) are permitted subject to the “neat and clean” rule and the 1‑inch width limitation.
- The ordinance as amended does not authorize trailers, boats, swale parking or other uses already prohibited by code.
- Council asked staff to relocate the “attachments” language into a definitions subsection and to confirm the “lot” vs. “address” language for duplexes; staff said they would make that technical clarification before second reading.
- Staff will return with a six‑month enforcement report (number of complaints, number of actual violations) and recommended signage and public notices; social media and website postings were requested to accompany second reading.

Motion and vote: Council member Pontieri moved to approve the ordinance “with the changes that we proposed, specifically to subsection 1 A B, and to allow the rating of 26,000 pounds or less.” (First mover: Vice Mayor Pontieri; second: Council member Miller.) Vote: Vice Mayor Pontieri — yes; Council member Gambarro — no; Council member Miller — yes; Council member Sullivan — no; Mayor Michael Norris — yes. Outcome: Passed, 3–2 on first reading.

What happens next: The ordinance will return for second reading (final adoption) and staff will publish specific guidance and signage describing permitted vehicles and attachments. Council also directed staff to include the number of complaints and a breakdown of actual violations in the six‑month check‑in so that the council can reconsider the change if abuse is documented.

Speakers quoted in this article are from the Oct. 21 council meeting and are attributed to the positions shown; direct quotes are used verbatim from the meeting transcript.

Ending — The amendment is written to accommodate working families and small businesses while retaining enforcement tools for code compliance; the council majority said it expects to monitor effects closely and to revisit the policy if enforcement workload or neighborhood impacts increase.