- June 15, 2026
The Ormond Beach Planning Board is holding steady: The new Circle K should not have any outdoor sales because of its proximity to residential homes.
In a 6-1 vote, the Planning Board recommended denial of a special exception that would allow for one propane exchange cage to be placed outside of the gas station and convenience store building, which is currently under construction at 699 S. Nova Road. This application was a reduced ask from the property owner's last special exception request for outdoor sales of merchandise that was denied in January by the City Commission.
"We are coming forward with the bare minimum that we feel is sufficient to have a successful use at this store," said Kimley-Horn Civil Engineer Jared Stubbs, on behalf of the property owner, Sun State Petrol I, LLC.
The propane tanks will be locked and can only be handled by store employees. Stubbs added that the availability of tanks for purchase benefits a community during emergency situations, such as hurricanes.
The two gas stations across the street do have outside storage of propane tanks. But those were constructed under county standards and this is a new construction project, Board member Angie Schull said.
"The property owner decided to put a gas station here, knowing that most of us did not want one there, but they did," Schull said. "They back right up to the residential areas, which it's closer than the other two gas stations across the street, so I don't feel that they should have an outdoor gas propane location or anything outside because I feel it's just a different, unique location on that corner."
Board member Michael Gentry was the lone vote against recommending denial. He said propane can't be stored inside and that the property owner agreed to move the tanks to the side of the store to decrease visibility.
"I think the main concerns that were addressed with what was going to be outside, the applicant changed," Gentry said, adding that it would be rare for a customer to be at the gas station late at night to purchase propane, unless it was due to an emergency.
Board members also heard a concern from a resident who lives nearby, saying that Circle K is disrupting the neighborhood by having construction work done outside of the negotiated hours.
Board member Amber Bobak, who lives in the street behind the Circle K, also said she has received videos from her neighbors who live adjacent to the property on this issue. The most recent incident occurred Wednesday night, she said.
"I have had to call repetitively because they also drive down Collins Street with their dump trucks because they cannot follow rules," Bobak said.
Planning Director Steven Spraker said there have been a couple of violations documented, but that the issue has been addressed. According to city code, construction work is restricted to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
