The Daytona Beach Planning Board recommended amendments to the Land Development Code to clarify when commercial hood and fire‑suppression systems are required for eating and drinking establishments that serve alcohol, and to remove a prohibition on outside advertising for hotel and motel accessory uses.

Dennis (Planning staff) presented the two‑part amendment. On kitchen equipment, staff proposed removing language that required every establishment serving alcohol to “contain an oven or stove with a hood and fire suppression system,” and replacing it with a provision that requires hoods and fire suppression only when ovens or stoves are installed as part of a commercial kitchen, in accordance with the Florida Building Code. Staff said the change responds to businesses such as coffee shops, ice‑cream parlors and small sandwich shops that may wish to offer alcohol but do not need full commercial kitchen equipment and face financial hardship if hoods and suppression are mandated.

The second change removes a current Land Development Code prohibition on outside advertising for accessory uses in hotels and motels. Dennis said the restriction could expose the city to legal risk and that removing the prohibition does not increase a property’s allowable sign area; it only permits accessory hotel uses to advertise insofar as the sign content is allowed under existing sign standards.

John Nicholson, a resident commenter, expressed concern the change would erode requirements that had previously limited alcohol‑focused establishments without kitchens; he warned staff and the board to be cautious about enabling a proliferation of establishments that sell large amounts of alcohol while lacking full kitchen facilities.

Dennis said the amendment does not change where such uses are permitted under zoning; it only clarifies equipment requirements and allows content in signage where the use is already permitted. He also noted that the hood and suppression requirement remains where ovens or stoves are installed and that the Florida Building Code will still govern fire‑suppression installations.

The Planning Board voted to recommend the code amendments to the City Commission; the item is slated for first reading on July 2 and second reading on July 16.