DeBary council approves first reading to reclassify 465 West Highbanks Road to allow 1‑acre split

The City of DeBary on first reading approved changes to the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning map to reclassify an 18.05‑acre property at 465 West Highbanks Road so the church owner can separate a single 1‑acre parcel.

Growth Management Director Stephen Bap told the council staff had reviewed the application against the city’s goals and policies and recommended approval of the first reading. “The staff does recommend the city council approve the first reading of ordinance o 9 20 25,” Bap said during the staff presentation, noting the parcel includes a roughly 2.91‑acre conservation easement and an existing cell‑tower lease.

The ordinance changes the property’s future land use designation from Agricultural/Open Space to Agricultural/Rural Transitional, which would allow a density of roughly one dwelling unit per acre, instead of the current one dwelling unit per five acres. The applicant also sought a corresponding zoning amendment to change the parcel from A‑2 rural agricultural to RR rural residential, which has a one‑acre minimum lot size.

Sid Veil Jr., representing Community Methodist Church of DeBary, said the church does not intend to develop the property as a residential community and wants to reserve and sell a single 1‑acre parcel to fund capital improvements for the existing church campus. “Ab absolutely. First, I want to say emphatically, the church has no interest and in developing this property as a residential community. As a matter of fact, we will not do that,” Veil told the council. He described the intended cutout as a roughly 150‑by‑225‑foot parcel at the northeast corner of the church site.

During public comment, Brenda Rose, speaking for the St. Johns River Estates homeowners association, urged the council to withhold approval until there is a concrete plan for any future development and raised drainage concerns. “My biggest issue is that there's no plan,” Rose said, adding that nearby ditches and conservation areas flow into the HOA’s property and that previous storms had caused flooding.

Council members said future development would still require environmental and stormwater permitting, including reviews by the St. Johns River Water Management District and other agencies. The council approved the first reading of ordinance O9‑2025 (comprehensive plan amendment) 4–0; Mayor Chazet disclosed ex parte communications and abstained from the vote, saying she will file the required conflict‑of‑interest form because she plans to purchase the one acre. The zoning ordinance O10‑2025 (rezoning to RR) also passed first reading 4–0 with the same abstention.

If the council proceeds, staff will transmit the comprehensive plan amendment to the Volusia County Growth Management Commission for review; the item will return for a second reading and final action after the county and state review windows conclude.

The church and staff emphasized that any future lot split and any construction would require site‑specific permitting and regulatory approvals.