Par Board recommends denial of drive‑through variance for proposed downtown bank at 202 S. Daytona Ave.

The Flagler Beach Par Board voted to recommend denial of application PVAR26‑001, a request to allow a one‑lane drive‑through at a proposed three‑story commercial building on the southwest corner of South Daytona Avenue and 2nd Street.

City planner, presenting the staff report, said the parcel is in the Downtown Mixed Use Overlay and that the applicant sought a variance from the Land Development Code, Article 2, Section 20‑402 design guidelines to permit a drive‑through. The planner said the overlay’s goals prioritize a pedestrian‑scaled environment and that drive‑throughs are a prohibited use in the downtown overlay unless allowed by special exception in other commercial districts. The planner told the board that staff had reviewed the six legal criteria for a variance and concluded none were met, and therefore recommended denial.

Joseph Bazzulli, the project architect from Flagler Beach, said the community no longer has a bank with a drive‑through and…