By Emmy Bailey
Herald Correspondent
City leaders in Deltona are working to “Keep Deltona Wild.” The city commission passed a new zoning overlay on Saturday, March 29 that details rules about where and how developers can build.
Now that it has passed, a 120-day period has started where the official rules can be set for the initiative before making a final vote. The target area is in southeast Deltona, with the goal of keeping some of the land less crowded.
On Saturday, a decision was made to not lump the three specific sections together but to give each area its own individual comp plan amendments.
“Within the Keep Deltona Wild Overlay District, we intend to: encourage low-impact residential development, protect environmentally sensitive lands, preserve biodiversity and preserve and encourage agrarian communities,” City Commissioner Nick Lulli said.
Lulli wants to identify areas for conservation and recreation. To focus more on ecotourism and the agrarian culture. This doesn’t mean there will be no development however it means to look at less dense land use.
“Decades of residential development that is too intense and dense have resulted in disastrous results for our community. It's time to take a bold new look at how we can protect and preserve the way of life in my district,” Lulli said.
Certain residents are uncertain of how this initiative will affect them specifically relating to their property and businesses. While others moved to this area for this one thing to have more space.
“I’m here because we want to maintain our rural character and allow more agriculture. Zero-lot line houses are not our character. We live like we grew up. We know each other's children. We keep track of each other's children,” resident in the Collins Community of Deltona Lori Waricki said.
Concerns rise over Senate Bill 1118, which if passed, could strip the city of its authority to implement these zoning measures. The proposed state law would shift control over local development decisions to Tallahassee, potentially undermining the “Keep Deltona Wild” initiative.
City leaders plan to monitor the bill while advocating for local control. As they move forward with finalizing the overlay district’s rules, officials will determine how Deltona’s growth is shaped while preserving its natural landscapes and rural way of life.
