Port Orange panel approves code amendment allowing 40-foot lot widths in western planning area

The Port Orange planning advisory committee voted unanimously to approve DCAM-25-00005, a text and map amendment to Chapter 17, Section 29 of the city’s Land Development Code that alters allowable uses and minimum lot widths in a roughly 1,200-acre planning area west of I‑95.

Tim Burton, with the city’s community development staff, told the committee the amendment applies to the PCA planning area and would not change the plan’s overall density cap. "This is a code amendment to the land development code," Burton said in opening remarks, describing a 2001–2002 planning effort that set a four‑units‑per‑acre overall cap for the area and a comp‑plan trip cap of about 62,600 average daily trips that staff continues to monitor.

The amendment reduces the workplace district by about 241 acres and replaces that area with a community district intended for residential and small‑scale commercial uses. A planned West Town Center — roughly 100 acres intended for mixed use — remains in the map, and the amendment consolidates and cleans up duplicative code references so site reviews will point to single LDC chapters for items such as parking and signage.

The applicant also sought a change to the minimum lot width in the community district, from 50 feet to 40 feet; the minimum lot area would remain 5,000 square feet. Burton said the change is intended to allow different housing product types and reiterated staff’s recommendation that the committee approve the amendment.

Jessica Gow, representing the property owner, said the property is a long‑held family tract and that the applicant is in talks with the city to dedicate about 75 acres for park expansion. "We are currently discussing with the city the dedication of 75 acres of property in this area for the expansion of that existing Crossy park," Gow said, adding that 40‑foot lots can help create a transition between denser housing near a town center and lower‑density neighborhoods.

Committee members questioned traffic, stormwater and the practical effects of narrower lots. Stan Schmidt, a committee member, said he personally opposed the proposal to allow 40‑foot lots: "I personally just have a real problem with that," he said. Burton and other staff members responded that the amendment does not change the overall residential cap for the planning area and that trip calculations are based on the 2001–2002 baseline that was “frozen” by earlier interlocal agreements and the comprehensive plan; staff also said it collects and applies new trip‑generation data as projects are reviewed.

On stormwater, staff said the amendment does not change city stormwater requirements; any development will still have to meet existing drainage and impervious‑surface rules at the site‑plan stage. The applicant and staff noted that substituting residential for industrial uses can, in many cases, reduce overall impervious cover, but that each project will require engineering review.

No members of the public spoke on the item. After discussion, the committee took a roll call and approved the amendment 5–0, with Stan Schmidt, Scott Stagger, Angela Luk, Murray Mills Benet and Thomas Jordan voting yes. Staff said the next steps are to provide requested background documents (such as the interlocal agreement on trip caps and annexation details) and to process future site and subdivision plans under the revised code provisions.

The committee adjourned shortly after the vote.