DeBary begins 7‑year review of its

DeBary — The City of DeBary on May 2025 opened the first in a series of workshops to review and update its comprehensive plan, presenting Volume 1 — the data and analysis that will inform policy choices for the “DeBary 2045” planning horizon.

“This is the first session of what will be multiple workshops having to do with a 7 year review of our comprehensive plan,” Mayor Chazet said as the workshop opened. Staff delivered a data-focused presentation on the city’s history, environmental resources, soils, floodplains and maps that will be included in the public draft.

Volume 1, staff said, provides the factual foundation that will drive Volume 2, where the city will develop legally enforceable goals, objectives and policies. Stephen Baff, a city staff presenter, told the council, “Volume 1 is like a state, is our foundation and volume 2, the policies which we'll establish would be legally, enforceable.” He said the data set will be posted on the city website and that the public can submit comments through an online comment form.

In the presentation, staff described the city’s physical setting: much of DeBary sits on the southern end of the DeLand Ridge (a sandhill formation) with lower-lying areas adjacent to the St. Johns River. Elevations presented ranged from about 90 feet above sea level at the city’s highest points down to roughly 50 feet along the river. The packet staff provided includes topographic and soils maps; the presenter noted the plan must illustrate multiple soil types because soils affect where and how land can be developed.

Staff also reviewed floodplain mapping, including areas subject to the 100‑year storm as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Maps of surface water, lakes (including Lake Conamac) and aquifer recharge/discharge areas were shown. The presentation emphasized functions wetlands and surface waters play — water quality protection, wildlife habitat and flood storage — and noted those features are regulated by state and federal agencies.

The presentation included habitat and species information compiled by the city’s environmental contractor, RES. Staff said the dataset lists species with potential to occur in the city and shown in accompanying tables; examples mentioned in the meeting included the gopher tortoise and the eastern indigo snake. The packet will also include a map of historic resources and a list of previously documented sites maintained by the city’s historic preservation board.

Council members characterized the presentation as an introductory overview. Council member Papalardo said he had notes on how policy goals could reflect redevelopment incentives and village‑core strategies but preferred to wait until later workshops. Council member Stanson described the session as a “surface overview” and said more detailed questions will come once additional data sets (population projections, land use, housing and economic data) are presented.

City staff outlined the schedule for continuing the review: two additional data‑focused workshops to complete Volume 1 topics (including population, land use, housing supply and economic data), followed by workshops to develop policy language for Volume 2, and repeated public participation opportunities. Staff encouraged residents to review the posted materials and submit comments through the city’s website.

No council motions or votes were taken at the workshop; staff presented information and the council provided initial feedback. The city manager noted the comprehensive plan review is an extensive, science‑based process tied to statutory requirements and previous planning efforts.

The council closed the workshop with plans to schedule the next session to focus on population projections and infrastructure, and with a reminder that the online comment portal is open for public input.