DeBary staff to rewrite economic development element; council seeks clearer incentives for Highway 1792 corridor

At the DeBary City Council workshop Aug. 6, 2025, Growth Management Director Stephen Bap said staff are effectively rewriting the city’s economic development element of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report to reflect recent visioning workshops and the hiring of an economic development director.

Bap said, “economic growth is the strongest when it reflects the needs and aspirations of the residents,” and described new policy language to partner with the Volusia Economic Development Office, run targeted digital and traditional advertising campaigns, promote local entrepreneurship and leverage proximity to the SunRail station to attract commuters and investors.

The rewrite, Bap told council members, will also call out Highway 1792 as “a vital economic artery” and include new policies aimed at reinvestment in underused or vacant properties, collaboration with property owners to recruit complementary tenants, and pursuing grants for infrastructure improvements.

Why it matters: the economic development element frames the city’s approach to attracting businesses, supporting downtown development and using public programs to influence private investment. Though the comprehensive plan element is not itself mandated under staff’s reading of the Community Planning Act, council members said the policy language will guide city programs and possible incentives.

Council members pressed staff for specifics. Council member Papalardo said she wants “some type of effort... similar to a Main Street organization” to help foster downtown development. Mayor Chesay welcomed the focus but asked for clarity on what kinds of incentives might be offered for underused properties, noting past programs tied to job creation and saying he favored fiscal responsibility over ad hoc benefits. Mayor Chesay asked, “What is envisioned... in the way of incentives or guidance to draw that?”

Council member Stevenson flagged a redlined removal: she said objective 3.6 seemed to eliminate programs that “facilitate interaction between businesses and citizens or coordinating volunteer efforts among social and civic clubs,” and asked why that language was struck. Bap replied the superseding language may exist elsewhere and staff will check that the city’s volunteer-coordination efforts remain carried forward.

Bap told the council staff will provide a clean (no-strikethrough) version of the revised elements when the package moves to the adoption phase so members and the public can clearly see the final text. He also confirmed the council will see proposed facade grant language in the fall and that the current budget cycle includes funds to support a facade program; the exact grant amounts were not specified in the workshop.

Discussion vs. decision: the workshop produced requests for clarifying language and for staff follow-up but no formal motions or votes. Direction to staff included: review the replacement language for objective 3.6 and ensure volunteer-coordination activities are preserved; refine wording around incentives versus encouragement for reinvestment in Highway 1792 properties; and prepare a clean version of the draft for the adoption hearing.

Next steps: staff said the next EAR-focused workshop will cover public facilities and transportation and is scheduled for Aug. 20, 2025.