Port Orange planning commission approves amendment to Summertrees Plaza master development agreement over storage-use objections

The Port Orange Planning Commission voted 4-3 on Feb. 27 to recommend approval of a first amendment to the master development agreement (MDA) for the Summertrees Plaza Planned Commercial Development (Case PRZADash25Dash0001), allowing a broader range of commercial uses and modernizing signage and architectural standards.

The amendment would list additional permitted uses for the four subject sites (labeled A through D) including craft food-and-beverage producers, microbrewers and private schools, and would update the PCD’s signage and architectural provisions to match the city’s current Land Development Code. The amendment also clarifies and tightens special development standards for higher-impact uses such as mini-warehouses and motor-vehicle/boat storage (screening, landscape buffers, parking and orientation), and requires all development within the PCD to meet current city commercial design rules.

Why it matters: The property has been commercial-zoned for decades and includes developed parcels (bank, tenant building) and vacant parcels the owner hopes to redevelop. Commission approval of the MDA amendment moves the proposal to the City Council; the applicant and staff said the change is intended to increase market flexibility for infill redevelopment without altering the citywide design standards that govern construction.

Planning staff presentation and key points Suzette Cameron, planning department staff, told the commission the subject property is “located on the south side of Taylor Road between Summertrees and Williamson Boulevard” and summarized the PCD history: the Summertrees PCD was approved in 2007 and the underlying property has been commercial for decades. She said the proposed MDA changes apply only to sites A through D and do not include the parcel the city purchased in 2007.

Cameron and other staff explained that the two storage-related uses would be required to meet enhanced buffers and screening. On mini-warehouse uses the code requires a 10-foot buffer with three shade trees, three understory trees and 30 shrubs; motor-vehicle and boat-storage uses call for a 50-foot buffer with seven shade trees, eight understory trees and 70 shrubs, the staff presentation noted.

Commission debate and a failed amendment Commissioners debated traffic, access and neighborhood impacts if outdoor storage or boat/RV storage were later proposed. Commissioner Mark Bowling and others raised concerns about ingress and egress at the Dunlawton/Williamson/Taylor area; several commissioners said a project-specific traffic study would be required at the site-plan stage.

Commissioner Daniel Malagold moved to amend the commission’s recommendation to approve while removing mini-warehouses and motor-vehicle/boat storage from the list of allowable uses. Maria Mills Bennett seconded the amendment. The commission then held a roll call on the amendment; the amendment failed 4-3 (No: Stan Schmidt, Scott Stager, Bobo Faney, Thomas Jordan; Yes: Mark Bowling, Daniel Malagold, Maria Mills Bennett), after which the commission returned to the original approval motion.

Public comment: flooding, stormwater and traffic Two residents spoke during public comment and urged caution. Guy Price (103 Circling Wood Court, Summertrees) said the neighborhood already “has problems with flooding” and warned that “more concrete on the ground is not gonna make that any better.” Carol Moore (162 Magnolia Loop, Summertrees West) told the commission the existing retention ponds are at capacity during storms and urged planners not to rely on the neighborhood pond to absorb additional runoff: “Please do not count on our retention pond for anything because they are at capacity, whenever we have a hurricane.”

Applicant response Joey Posey, attorney for the landowner, said the property has been under the same ownership for about 27 years and that the amendment is intended to make the site marketable to a wider range of tenants. Posey said any specific development would still have to satisfy the city’s site-plan, drainage and traffic requirements, and that the listed uses provide flexibility rather than immediate change.

Final action and next steps The commission’s original motion to recommend approval of Case PRZADash25Dash0001 passed on roll call: Stan Schmidt — yes; Scott Stager — yes; Mark Bowling — no; Daniel Malagold — no; Maria Mills Bennett — no; Bobo Faney — yes; Thomas Jordan — yes. The chair said the item will go to City Council on March 18; staff advised members of the public to contact community development or the applicant with specific questions.

The commission’s recommendation to approve does not itself change zoning; final approval requires City Council action and compliance with any conditions set by the council and the land-development code.