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Council approves land-use and zoning changes for 465 West High Banks Road; mayor recuses
Summary
The DeBary City Council approved a comprehensive-plan future land-use amendment (Ordinance 09-2025) and a zoning map amendment (Ordinance 10-2025) to allow the Community Methodist Church to split approximately 18.05 acres at 465 West High Banks Road into one-acre lots. Mayor Shaz declared a financial conflict and did not vote on either measure.
DeBary's City Council on its February meeting approved two second-reading ordinances to change the future land-use designation and zoning for a roughly 18.05-acre parcel at 465 West High Banks Road, clearing the way for the creation of one-acre lots in a portion of the property.
Growth management staff outlined that Ordinance 09-2025 would amend the comprehensive plan map from Agriculture/Open Space to Agricultural/Rural Transitional and that Ordinance 10-2025 would rezone the parcel from A-2 Rural Agricultural to RR Rural Residential. Staff said the property contains wetlands, a 2.91-acre conservation easement and a tower lease area, and concluded the proposals are consistent with plan policies and surrounding densities.
"We found it to be suitable and meet the criteria," Growth Management Director Steven Bap told the council during the presentation.
The applicant, represented by Sid Valene Jr. for Community Methodist Church of DeBary, told the council the church's intent is to sell a one-acre lot and that the project had been vetted through the development-review process and a community meeting. "There is a standing rule: if a proposed residential classification involves 10 lots or less, [the school board] do[es] not require the classroom-need procedure," Valene said, explaining why the school concurrency review did not proceed to later stages.
Mayor Shaz announced a direct financial conflict of interest, stating she is the intended purchaser of the lot should it be created, and she recused herself and filed the required disclosure with the state before the council voted. With the mayor recused, council members Papalardo, Cell, Stevenson and Vice Mayor Butland voted yes on both second-reading motions; the ordinances were approved. Staff said the future land-use amendment would take effect 31 days after adoption if unchallenged.
Council members asked staff to note that further development proposals would still require the normal site-plan and concurrency reviews — including for school capacity and infrastructure — at the time of any subdivision or building application.
The council's approval changes the permitted minimum lot size in the affected area from one dwelling per five acres to one dwelling per one acre and updates the official zoning and future land-use maps. The mayor's recusal was entered into the record prior to each vote; the council did not report any public opposition during the hearings.
The council's action concludes the second-reading process for both ordinances; staff will update planning maps and publish materials online, and any party wishing to challenge the land-use change has the statutorily prescribed period to do so.
