DeBary council finds proposed Spring Vista K–8 site inconsistent with comprehensive plan

The City of DeBary City Council voted to find Volusia County Schools’ plan for a K–8 public school at the southeast quadrant of Shell Road and Spring Vista Drive inconsistent with the City of DeBary comprehensive plan. The finding, reached after presentations, public comment and rebuttal during a quasi‑judicial hearing, means the council concluded the proposal fails the city’s consistency criteria for the proposed site.

City staff led the case against the site. Stephen Baff, the city’s growth management director, told the council staff reviewed the proposal under Florida Statute 1013.33 and the interlocal agreement dated July 1, 2007, and concluded the project “is inconsistent with the comp plan” and “the proposed school is not appropriate, not allowed, and hereby denied at this location.” Baff cited Policy 5.505 of the City of DeBary comprehensive plan and said the site would replace an intended mixed‑use/industrial transition area and would adversely affect adjacent industrial, office and residential properties; staff estimated direct traffic impact to roughly 785 residences.

City traffic and safety concerns were emphasized by the city manager and the city’s retained traffic engineer, Tanya King of Stanley Consultants. King and the city manager described observed parental pickup behavior at nearby schools,…