DeLand commission approves off-site parking deal to clear way for 84-unit affordable project

The DeLand City Commission on July 21 approved a resolution enabling a shared off-site parking agreement that supplies 20 spaces for a proposed 84-unit affordable housing development at 225 West New York Avenue.

The 3-2 vote follows months of debate about downtown parking, the long-term reliability of off-site spaces and the project’s ability to support ground-floor commercial activity. The applicant, Blue Sky Communities, is proposing 94 on-site spaces and the additional 20 county spaces at the Volusia County Records Management site to meet parking needs.

City Planning Director Carol (Planning Director) told commissioners the city had advised the applicant earlier that the 1.63-acre site initially was too small to support 84 units. After prior hearings, the city conditioned a parking waiver on the applicant securing 20 off-site spaces for the life of the affordable units (50 years); staff recommended denial because the county could terminate the county agreement and the city had no permanent…