DeBary council approves first reading of proposed land bank, narrows bonding and redevelopment language

The City of DeBary City Council voted unanimously to approve on first reading Ordinance 02‑2026, a proposal to place a DeBary Land Bank program on the Nov. 3, 2026 referendum ballot, after amending the draft to remove a bonding authority and to narrow the law’s redevelopment language to non‑residential properties.

Growth Management Director Steven Bap told the council the program would allow the city to acquire, preserve, manage and—when locally appropriate—redevelop vacant, blighted or underdeveloped parcels. "The funding for the land bank program shall be provided by an ad valorem property tax of 0.20 to 0.50 mills," he said, and staff presented estimates showing that range would translate to about $40 to $100 per year for a household with a $200,000 taxable value depending on the final millage chosen.

Why it matters: Councilors framed the measure as a tool to protect environmentally sensitive lands, deter unwanted high‑density development on small in‑fill parcels, and to provide a mechanism—largely conservation‑focused—for dealing with long‑vacant and dilapidated properties. The council…