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Council approves Summer Trees PCD changes and plat; narrow vote on PCD amendment allowing private schools and storage uses
Summary
Council approved a PCD amendment that adds several commercial uses including private school and microbrewery with site‑specific safeguards; vote on the PCD amendment was 3‑2. Council later approved a plat subdivision for the Shops at Summer Trees, 5‑0.
Port Orange council approved changes to the Summer Trees Planned Commercial Development (PCD) to expand allowed uses on several sites and approved a related plat subdividing the shopping center.
On first reading council approved Ordinance 2025‑11, a first amendment to the Summer Trees MDA that adds potential uses (private school, microbrewery/craft food and beverage and self‑/boat storage on specific sites) but pairs those additions with development standards intended to reduce visual and traffic impacts. The PCD amendment passed on a 3‑2 roll call.
Community development staff said the PCD amendment is tiered: sites A–D could host private schools and craft food/beverage uses, while sites C and D could accommodate self‑storage and boat storage subject to increased buffers, architectural treatments, interior garage doors and screening. Tim Bourbon (community development) told council the stormwater ponds and off‑site stormwater (Site E) are already in place and any eventual development would require full site‑plan review for transportation, stormwater and utility impacts.
Applicant counsel said the expanded list of permitted uses is intended to create marketable options for sites that may redevelop decades after their initial construction. He told council the approach gives the city criteria to control visual and traffic impacts and said the PCD language could codify specific limits if council wants to prevent particular adjacencies (for example, alcohol‑selling establishments close to schools).
The vote on Ordinance 2025‑11 was 3‑2: Councilmen Gephart and Green and Mayor Stilthner voted yes; Councilmen Foley and Grubbs voted no. During debate, council members asked how existing multi‑tenant buildings would be affected, whether a brewery could be next to a school, and whether self‑storage would be the most appropriate low‑impact user; staff noted Florida code already bars alcohol sales within 300 feet of a school or church, which constrains some future uses.
Separately the Summer Trees plat to subdivide the commercial property so Aldi and the multi‑tenant building would be on separate lots was approved 5‑0. Staff said the split is common practice that responds to tenants’ leasing and financing preferences; the plat requires a property‑owner association to maintain common areas and retention infrastructure.
Planning staff recommended approval of both items. Council directed staff that any redevelopment proposals for Sites C and D would return for full review for access, buffers and stormwater.
