DeLand planners review timeline, public outreach and testing approach for land development regulations update

Consultants working on a rewrite of the City of DeLand's land development regulations told the Planning Board that the project will follow staged public engagement, drafting and testing steps and that they are aiming to complete drafting work this summer ahead of a state-imposed deadline.

David (Consultant, project team) said the schedule breaks the work into short, intensive public-facing launch phases followed by drafting and later adoption steps. "We are also aiming for, you know, July, even though we have that, kind of state imposed deadline of August," he said, noting there may be "last bridal edits" before final submission.

The consultants described a process that includes: gathering community input through open houses and online comment forms; stakeholder interviews and topical workshops; meetings with a technical advisory committee to identify pain points in current code language; and a round of drafting followed by further public review. Leslie (Consultant, project team) said the team will prepare recommended language and return to the board for recommendations before forwarding proposals to the City Commission for adoption.

Project staff said a public-facing project website is in draft and expected to go live within roughly two weeks to host background material, draft language and interactive engagement activities. The consultants also said they will perform comparative testing by applying the draft regulations to example sites to see how outcomes under the new code differ from those under the current code.

Carol (City staff) and planning board members pressed for clarity on scope and measurable success criteria. Board members asked that the outreach materials clearly explain what the code revision does and does not address (for example, clarifying that the rewrite itself does not alter state law or impose rent control) and requested plain-language graphics showing the steps of the land-use, rezone and adoption process.

The consultants emphasized that the update is focused on the regulatory "nuts and bolts" — setbacks, building height, lot coverage and similar development standards — rather than on the vision or comprehensive plan exercises that preceded this work. They said the objective is a workable, implementable code that aligns with state limits and the community vision.

Board members and staff identified performance measures for success that include improved clarity for staff and residents, sustainability and resilience outcomes tracked over time, and whether the new code reduces the need for frequent variances. The consultants said they will return to the board with draft language, test outcomes from example sites and additional public engagement materials before taking recommendations to the City Commission.