Daytona Midtown Redevelopment Project Moves Forward

A plan to expand the use of properties at the corner of Walnut Street and Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard in Daytona Beach’s Midtown neighborhood could bring new business development to the area passed its first test earlier this month with a recommendation for approval from the city’s Midtown Redevelopment Board. The property owner is requesting a change in zoning from the Redevelopment Midtown Neighborhood Center Mixed Use designation to Planned Development – Redevelopment to allow for additional uses and site improvements.

The plan calls for creation of an outdoor area to include food and beverage service as well as live music and special events.

While Board members were positive in their appraisal of the plan, questions were raised regarding other businesses in the area.

Board member Lynn Thompson said he was concerned about a nearby establishment “that seems to have some problems from time to time” with patrons and questioned whether the land development code waivers requested by the applicant would cause zoning problems in the future.

“Does this set a precedent that somebody else will come froth and say since we’ve done this do we set the stage for opening a Pandora’s box so to speak,” he said.

Michelle Toliver, the city’s redevelopment manager for Midtown, said property owners can go through the process of requesting a zoning change.

“It depends on what they’re presenting,” she said. “You want growth to be progressive.”

Jessica Gow, an attorney with Cobb Cole representing the landowner, said since the property was purchased by QM Investments LLC in 2019 “we’ve seen a dedication to improvement of that property.”

Gow said on the question of establishing a precedent, “I think the key for me is one of the key elements of a planned development (is) you have to have the public benefit.”

In the staff report accompanying the agenda item the applicant addressed the public benefit issue directly.

“The proposed expansion of the existing space will provide multiple benefits to the city of Daytona Beach,” the statement said. “It will provide the opportunity to create additional jobs associated with the additional uses for the property. The proposed additional uses will help attract new businesses to the area, providing an increased benefit to the City as a whole. Overall, the proposed development will provide new local economic activity and tax revenue for the City and will contribute to creating a sense of place and community within the area.”

The proposal is tentatively scheduled to be heard by the city’s Planning Board July 25 and then for the first of two readings by the City Commission on Sept. 4.