Planning board approves PD rezoning for Drury Hotel at West International Speedway Boulevard

The Daytona Beach Planning Board unanimously recommended a Plan Development General rezoning on June 26 for a Drury Hotel and a possible restaurant outparcel at 2626 West International Speedway Boulevard, the former Havertys/Ale House site.

Robert Merrill (Cobb Cole), representing the applicant, described the project as a redevelopment of two former commercial parcels into a hotel with a separate restaurant pad. Jared Barbee, director of development for Drury Development, told the board Drury is a family‑owned, vertically integrated hotel company with more than 23,000 rooms nationwide and that the company has pursued this gateway site for many years. Barbee said Drury is already working at risk on a phase‑1 site plan for the hotel and seeks timely technical review to begin construction.

Staff presented the PD package noting requested Land Development Code waivers: reduced lot width/depth/setbacks to fit the constrained site, smaller parking stall dimensions (9x18 instead of 9x19), and a reduction in the hotel parking ratio in combined hotel‑restaurant scenarios as supported by a parking study. Dennis Mrozek, Planning Director, advised the board that staff finds the rezoning application meets applicable LDC criteria and recommends forwarding the matter to the City Commission.

Board discussion focused on parking quantity and configuration. Barbee explained the parking analysis: the hotel operating alone would require a minimum ratio (ITE‑based) of about 0.82 spaces per room and the applicant’s phase‑1 site plan provides roughly one space per room. The lower combined ratio appearing in PD materials (about 0.51 for the hotel) reflects a blended analysis if a separate restaurant comes online later and accounts for different peak periods between hotel and restaurant demand. Barbee said Drury will preserve ownership of the restaurant parcel and pursue a restaurant tenant that fits within the site’s parking and operational constraints.

Several board members and public commenters urged caution given major seasonal events nearby (Speedway events, Bike Week) and the concentration of hotels and restaurants along that corridor; members emphasized the importance of adequate parking and operational plans for peak event periods. Barbee and the applicant team committed to work with staff to ensure phase‑1 provides sufficient parking and to coordinate the future restaurant fit‑up with the city during site‑plan review.

The Planning Board moved and passed a recommendation to the City Commission; the item was readied for first reading on Aug. 6 and second reading Aug. 20.