Commission hears public concerns as Ormond Beach begins comprehensive-plan update

The Ormond Beach City Commission held the first reading of a comprehensive-plan update the commission labeled "Comprehensive Plan 2045" and voted to transmit the plan and associated element changes. The measure was read by title and approved for transmittal to state and regional review.

During the public hearing, resident Jennifer Bright told the commission she had read the full agenda packet and raised a list of concerns. Bright urged the commission to limit additions beyond what state law requires and warned that broader language could transfer more discretion to county or state reviewers. "By adding more than is legally required to the document, the city is handing over more control than required to the county and the state," Bright said.

Bright also raised specific content concerns in the plan: she urged the commission to reconsider proposed reductions in parking requirements (a suggested 20% reduction for development and redevelopment), to reexamine a proposed change in how residential water usage is measured (from per-person to per-residence), and to reconsider terminology changes that replace the term "handicapped" or "disabled" with broader phrases such as "special populations." Bright noted the term "special populations" can include groups not intended to be covered by disability protections and cited her reading of federal program definitions.

Commissioners moved and seconded the first reading; when the clerk called the vote the ordinance passed on first reading. Staff will transmit copies of the amendment package to state reviewing agencies and the county for further review as required by Florida statutes.

The comprehensive-plan update will proceed through the statutorily required transmittal, review and adoption process; staff and review agencies may request changes during that multi-step process.