Deltona planning board backs rezoning for 129-acre Portland Industrial Park with traffic limits

The Deltona Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval of Ordinance O2-2021 on Feb. 24, 2021, to rezone about 128–129 acres along North Normandy Boulevard to an Industrial Plan Unit Development for the Portland Industrial Park, and directed staff and the applicant to continue refining conceptual plans.

The board voted 6–0 after staff outlined the project, its anticipated scale and the traffic controls that would limit impacts on nearby neighborhoods. Planning staff said the development could support north of 2,000,000 square feet of gross floor area at full buildout but would be limited by a project trip cap. "The project at build out cannot generate any more than 5,407 trips," Ron Paradise, city planning staff, told the board, and staff estimated 848 of those trips would be heavy trucks.

Why it matters: The rezoning would open a large parcel in Deltona's activity center to industrial and distribution uses near Interstate 4 and State Road 472. City staff said the location is strategically intended for employment-oriented growth and commercial services and that the IPUD is consistent with the comprehensive plan.

Traffic, roads and mitigation: Staff described multiple measures to manage truck and commuter traffic. Required right-of-way dedications include a city-requested East-West "spine" road dedicated as a 60-foot right of way with 10-foot easements on each side (an 80-foot envelope) and a 70-foot right of way along the southern boundary to provide for a conceptual Rhode Island Avenue extension. Paradise said the city is working with FDOT and the regional TPO on long-term corridor ideas but that the project is intended to move forward whether or not an interchange is ultimately built.

Paradise also outlined fair-share mitigation figures for off-site improvements: a countywide calculation of about $5,840,000 in improvements tied to the development's impacts, and a city-calculated share of $889,344.40 for improvements inside Deltona. "We can't forget about that 40¢ because that's gonna make or break us," Paradise said, noting the city may need to front some work and be reimbursed as end users come online.

Environmental and design safeguards: Staff said the property is currently vacant, largely forested scrub, with no mapped wetlands or floodplains; soils were described as sandy and suitable for development. Paradise said surveys for protected species such as gopher tortoises and relevant mitigation measures would be required as part of later land development review in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Applicant and building concerns: Jason Lewis of Kimley‑Horn, representing the property owner, said applicants typically seek flexibility to make minor adjustments as plans are refined and that the high‑cube warehouse buildings proposed would meet code. "Construction these buildings ... are a concrete tilt wall type construction," Lewis said, adding the interior racking is often configurable to different users. Board members pressed on local hiring expectations and whether the warehouse type would generate many jobs; Lewis said specific employment numbers are not known at rezoning and that end users frequently recruit locally when they locate.

Next steps: The Planning & Zoning Board's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Commission for final action. Staff emphasized that rezoning is an early step: individual site plans, DRC review and building permits will follow and are the venue for detailed design, building code compliance and construction‑stage safeguards.

Vote at a glance: The board voted to recommend approval of Ordinance O2-2021 (Portland Industrial Park IPUD) on a 6–0 voice/roll-call vote.