The Daytona Beach Planning Board voted 6-1 to recommend that the City Commission rezone about 2.33 acres at 660 Mason Avenue from Business Automotive and Single-Family Residential-5 to Planned Development General to align zoning with the property's retail future land-use designation.

Danalee Peddick, senior planner, told the board the site is developed with a building constructed in the 1960s that previously housed a bowling alley and has been vacant for years. Peddick said the proposed PD would “allow for commercial and multifamily uses on the property with a more limited scope of uses than currently allowed” under the existing BA zoning, and staff recommended forwarding the rezoning with a recommendation of approval.

The applicant asked for three waivers: locating a perimeter wall on the property line in an east buffer rather than behind perimeter landscaping, reduced building-perimeter landscaping to accommodate the existing building, and relaxed landscaping/vehicular-use-area requirements for a paved area behind the building that will not have public access or parking. Peddick said staff did not object to the wall waiver because the east buffer is not adjacent to a public right-of-way.

Patrick Kennedy, speaking for the applicant 309 Marion LLC, said the owner “concur[s] with staff’s recommendation” and that the owner will not spend major money on interior upgrades until zoning is in place for a potential tenant. Kennedy said the building is concrete and “is pretty solid,” and that interior plumbing and electrical will be upgraded to current code before occupancy.

Board members pressed about landscaping and whether required thoroughfare landscaping would remain; Peddick said the applicant is meeting the thoroughfare landscaping requirement along Mason Avenue. During discussion Mr. Robinson urged interim aesthetic improvements while the owner pursues a tenant; Kennedy said the plan shows proposed landscaping along Mason Avenue and perimeter plantings and that existing trees on the west side will be preserved. Kennedy added the paved area at the rear may be redeveloped later as indicated on the PD plan.

The board approved the motion to forward the rezoning to the City Commission with a 6-1 tally; the transcript names Mr. Weatherholtz as the sole dissenting vote.

The item is tentatively scheduled for first reading by the City Commission on July 2 and second reading on July 16. The planning board noted that building permits and required code upgrades (including any hood/fire suppression and other building-code items) will be required before occupancy and that the development agreement attached to a PD will obligate the owner to complete identified site improvements prior to occupancy.