Board recommends PD amendment to expand Embry-Riddle Research Park West for two new facilities

The Daytona Beach Planning Board recommended approval of a first amendment to the Embry-Riddle Research Park West Planned District to add roughly 6.58 acres, lift the existing 200,000-square-foot development cap, and permit new buildings including a proposed 35,000-square-foot “CAT 2” building and an 80,000-square-foot “CAT 3” building.

Staff said the amendment would expand the PD from about 12.7 acres to 19.28 acres by annexing two parcels (Parcel A and Parcel B) and splitting a parcel as needed for right-of-way. The amendment removes the maximum total gross-square-foot cap and adds special provisions for off-site parking to meet on-site parking requirements. Because parts of the PD are on the airport “air side,” staff said the amendment seeks modifications to landscape/tree-preservation standards (proposing palms in lieu of some hardwood shade trees to limit bird attraction near aircraft operations) and a 15% perimeter/internal landscaping commitment.

Applicant representative Parker Minchinberg said he expects future development tied to aerospace research and noted recent job announcements (the applicant referenced incoming Boeing employees) and that the applicant had already begun coordinating a traffic impact analysis methodology with staff. Staff recommended a condition requiring a TIA prior to site-plan approval for any new building within the PD; the TIA must account for impacts from both approved and existing PD developments and any required proportionate fair-share payments must be satisfied before site-plan approval.

The Planning Board approved forwarding the first amendment to the City Commission with the staff condition requiring a TIA and proportionate-share obligations prior to site-plan approval. The item is tentatively scheduled for City Commission hearings in April.