Ordinance Seeks To Limit Dealership Locations In DeBary

DeBary, FL – If approved, a new ordinance could make it harder for dealerships to open up on DeBary’s main drag. City council members met on Wednesday (Jan. 5) to discuss the ordinance which has been approved for a second reading. The ordinance in question would prohibit dealerships—automotive, boat, RV, or motorcycle—from opening up in certain areas of DeBary, including parts of the city’s main street, US 17-92. Specifically, the areas the city is looking to change are the B-4 General Commercial and B-5 Heavy Commercial property zones, where dealerships are currently allowed to operate. This conflicts with some of the revitalization plans the city has. Mayor Karen Chasez spoke to News Daytona Beach and said the idea behind the change is the city’s plans—ones they have had since 2018—to revitalize parts of US 17-92. Chasez says the city obtained a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for landscaping work. “We’re trying to change the appearance of the main street that goes through our city,” said Chasez.  “Over time we would like those businesses in industrial areas rather than in the center of the city where we’re trying to change the ambiance.” The landscaping project the city has in mind would include all of US 17-92 from Highbanks Road south to Plantation Road, right through the heart of the city. Chasez says the project is nearing completion and they hope to install new landscaping sometime this spring. A memorandum on the ordinance says existing businesses will be allowed to continue operating. However, if they were to close for 6 months, the business would be considered abandoned and they might not be allowed to continue operations. Instead, if they want to resume operation they would have to find a new location. The ordinance was approved unanimously on its first reading. If approved during its second reading, the ordinance will become law. The city council is scheduled to meet again on February 2 at 6:30 p.m.