- January 20, 2026
Ormond Beach's North U.S. 1 corridor will get a new commercial park, as the City Commission approved the Tomoka Commerce Park development in a 4-0 vote on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
The development will be located on a 12-acre property at 890 N. U.S. 1. It will have a total of 11 buildings and span 110,270 square feet. The buildings closer to U.S. 1 will have commercial uses; the buildings in the rear in the vicinity of the railroad will have light industrial and warehouse uses.
"To me, this is a very thought-out project that addresses the needs of the small business owners in the back of the property where the railroad exists, while providing commercial space along U.S. 1," Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland said. "That's what we want to do."
As the property is already zoned as a Planned Business Development due to two prior development approvals (in 1999 and 2007, both for commerce parks), developer Scott Vanacore was seeking approval for a new development order.
Though the project received some criticism in the previous neighborhood meeting and Planning Board hearing because of wetland impacts, traffic and potential flooding concerns, no citizens spoke against the proposal at the City Commission meeting. Only two people spoke, and both were in favor of it.
"I think this is the kind of development we want in Ormond Beach," resident Patrick Opalewski said. "That small bay industrial — there's not enough of it in the city. There's a big need for it. Small business owners can utilize that. Grow their businesses in the city instead of going somewhere else."
The project made sense in the 2000s, and it makes sense to day, he added.
Construction of Tomoka Commerce Park will impact two wetlands onsite, totaling 0.44 acres and 0.03 acres, respectively. The development's environmental report states that the two impacted wetlands are man-made.
If the commission didn't approve the project, the developer would have applied to rezone the project to B-8 Commercial, which would have allowed permitted uses including adult day care center, business and professional offices, convenience stores and sexually oriented businesses. As permitted uses, the development would not come back before the commission for approval.
Commissioners focused on the potential that straight zoning would allow for an adult store. In the 2010s, the city feuded with a gentlemen's club in the corridor, eventually leading to its closure and the North U.S. 1 interlocal boundary agreement between the city and Volusia County.
"I don't personally want to see an adult superstore on U.S. 1 — I'm just throwing that out there for the public," Commissioner Kristin Deaton said. "I'd really love to not see that driving down to go to the children's sports park."
Except Mayor Jason Leslie, commissioners said they didn't receive any concerns via emails or calls about the Tomoka Commerce Park development. The concerns they saw were posted on social media.
"We have 44,000 residents in Ormond Beach," Commissioner Travis Sargent said. "I see that four or five attended the Planning Board meeting in opposition. Tonight, we have none that appeared."
Leslie said that oftentimes, people are led by emotions when it comes to development. This project, he said, will add commercial space to benefit the community.
"As a body here, our job is to make sure that everything checks off — to make sure that everything is followed by the law," he said. "Can't go by emotions. Can't just say yes and no to things because we just don't happen to like it."
