Ormond Beach, FL — November 26, 2025 The Ormond Beach Planning Board is set to review a major development proposal on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Chamber at 22 South Beach Street. The project, known as Tomoka Commerce Park, would transform more than 12 acres along U.S. Highway 1 into a four-lot commercial subdivision with a mix of commercial, warehouse, and light industrial uses.
The application, submitted by Parker Mynchenberg & Associates with authorization from 890 North U.S. Highway 1, LLC, outlines a master development plan featuring eleven buildings totaling approximately 110,270 square feet.
📍 Project Overview
- Location: 890 North U.S. Highway 1
- Size: 12.48 acres
- Subdivision: Four commercial lots
- Uses: Commercial, warehouse, light industrial
- Buildings: Eleven structures, 110,270 sq. ft. combined
Planning Director Steven Spraker, AICP, confirmed the proposal will be formally reviewed at the December 11 meeting. “This development order represents a significant investment in Ormond Beach’s commercial landscape,” Spraker said. “The Planning Board will evaluate the project’s compatibility with surrounding uses, infrastructure capacity, and long-term growth objectives.”
🌍 Environmental Concerns
While developers tout the project as an economic boost, local advocacy groups are raising red flags. Dream Green Volusia, a grassroots environmental coalition, has issued statements warning that the project could accelerate sprawl, strain infrastructure, and threaten sensitive ecosystems near the Tomoka River basin.
“Commerce Park sounds like progress, but it’s progress at the expense of our natural heritage,” said one Dream Green Volusia organizer. “We’re talking about paving over land that helps filter water, buffer storm impacts, and sustain wildlife. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Other community members have echoed concerns about traffic congestion along U.S. Highway 1, stormwater runoff, and the cumulative impact of industrial uses on nearby neighborhoods.
🗣️ Community Impact
Residents and abutters have been notified through official letters, inviting them to attend the public hearing. For many, the December 11 meeting represents more than a routine planning board review—it’s a test of how Ormond Beach balances growth with sustainability.
Dream Green Volusia and allied organizations are urging residents to show up, speak out, and demand stronger safeguards. They argue that unchecked development risks undermining the city’s long-term vision of being both economically vibrant and environmentally resilient.
🗓️ Next Steps
The Planning Board will hear public comment before voting on whether to issue the development order. If approved, construction could begin in 2026, subject to compliance with city codes and conditions.
For now, the debate over Tomoka Commerce Park has become a flashpoint in Volusia County’s ongoing struggle to reconcile growth with conservation. The December 11 meeting is expected to draw a large crowd, with both developers and environmental advocates preparing to make their case.