In a move that has sparked outrage across Volusia County, the County Council voted 4–3 on Thursday to approve a sprawling 200-plus-page ordinance that dramatically alters how certain types of development are reviewed—effectively sidelining public input and fast-tracking approvals for select land uses.
The ordinance, officially known as Ordinance 2025-20, amends Chapter 72 of the county’s zoning code and allows a wide range of developments—including warehouses, animal hospitals, and agricultural operations—to bypass County Council scrutiny and be approved “by right”. That means no public hearings, no council votes, and no community oversight.
Critics are calling it a bureaucratic steamroll.
“This is 228 pages of confusion and deregulation,” said Ormond Beach resident Connie Colby. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. What I see is a free-for-all, and that bothers me a lot because the document itself is kind of difficult to understand”.
Even Councilman Troy Kent, who opposed the ordinance, admitted he hadn’t heard a single developer or resident ask for these sweeping changes. “I have received, I think, hundreds of emails on this Chapter 72 change, and I believe 100 percent of them have been against doing it,” Kent said.
Supporters of the ordinance, like Councilman Danny Robins, claim it’s about cutting red tape and giving property owners more flexibility. But residents aren’t buying it. “This is a way to make the county council not be responsible for a lot of this,” said Holly Hill resident Mary Nichols. “This is a way for them to say we didn’t have anything to do with it”.
The ordinance also underwent last-minute corrections after staff discovered errors—raising concerns about whether the final version was even properly vetted. “Is the ordinance now fixed? … We don’t know at this point,” said resident Steve Wonderly during public comment.
Council Chairman Jeff Brower, Vice Chairman Matt Reinhart, and Kent all voted against the measure, warning that it strips away transparency and accountability in favor of expediency.
In a county still grappling with flooding, infrastructure strain, and unchecked sprawl, residents say this ordinance sends a clear message: developers win, and the public loses.
Add comment
Comments