City holds first reading of Ordinance 24-26 rezoning 11.4 acres on South Myrtle; public comments flagged traffic, contamination concerns

The New Smyrna Beach City Commission conducted a first reading of Ordinance No. 24-26, which proposes rezoning roughly 11.4 acres on the east side of South Myrtle Avenue from City Light Industry (I-1) with airport overlay to a City Planned Unit Development (PUD) with airport overlay.

The city attorney read the ordinance title aloud: "Ordinance number 24 26, an ordinance of the city of New Smyrna Beach rezoning 11.4 plus or minus acres of property generally located on the East Side Of South Myrtle Avenue...from city light industry I-1...to city planned unit development PUD..." The second reading and public hearing were scheduled for May 12, 2026.

During the public-comment period earlier in the meeting, Crystal Sailor raised concerns she said were related to the South Myrtle application, urging the city to ensure a thorough traffic impact analysis and to consider contamination and brownfield funding needs. Sailor said, "The traffic study needs to consider motor vehicles, bicycles and walkers using South Myrtle as well as the potential traffic from the shopping center," and noted the site "is known to be contaminated and will require brownfield funds to mitigate the contamination before development can occur."

The ordinance received its formal first reading; no final action occurred at this meeting. The commission set the second reading and public hearing for May 12, 2026, when the public will have another opportunity to comment and the commission may take a final vote.