County Council Goes Forward On Main Street Parking Agreement With Daytona

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Volusia County, FL - Update: At the Volusia County Council meeting on Thursday, council members decided in a 6-0 unanimous vote to move forward on their end of an interlocal agreement with the City of Daytona Beach regarding the use of the Ocean Center parking lot.

This interlocal agreement will allow the City to use the Main Street parking lot when there are no ongoing events at the Ocean Center. The agreement also makes the city responsible when it comes to operations and costs at the Main Street lot.

“This allows both the City and the County to utilize it for parking. If someone comes along and says, ‘we want to develop it’ according to their master plan they developed... If and when that happens, we certainly wouldn’t want to stand in the way of that because we all do know, as you point out, that parking lot is not the best use for that,” said County Chair, Ed Kelley.  “And, hopefully, that can help the revitalization of ISB and any of their midtown area.”

Kelley went on to say that “we all would be better served by something producing revenue.”

Now that the county council has approved their end of the agreement, council members will have to wait for the City of Daytona Beach to move forward on their end before the sale of the property on Main Street can be finalized.

In March, the Council approved the $970,000 purchase of 5 parcels of land set to be used Ocean Center parking. Earlier reporting of that story can be found here.

At the time, the Daytona Beach City Commission did not agree with the County on the use of the lot, so officials from the City and the County came together to form the current interlocal agreement.

“I am personally 100% in favor of the agreement. I believe that you are indeed the best placeholder, one. Two, at the end of the day, this is the best use at this time and I think it will help revitalize Main Street and it protects the interests that the residents were concerned about, perhaps the misuse, or things they thought would alienate their businesses,” says Daytona Beach Mayor, Derrick Henry. “And I do get a lot of complaints from businesses now who need the additional parking so I certainly support it.”

Earlier Reporting: One of the items on the Volusia County Council agenda for Thursday is an agreement between the City of Daytona Beach and the County over uses and money flow for the parking areas at Ocean Center, the 200,000 square foot tourism center at 101 N. Atlantic Ave in Daytona Beach. Ocean Center, created in 1985, has hosted thousands of concerts, performances, trade, shows, and sporting events that draw millions of visitors to Volusia County. It has recently undergone an $82 million expansion. The agreement allows the City to use the south lot for Peabody Auditorium events when the lot is not needed for Ocean Center events. It would also allow the City to use the Main St. lot for any city purpose, as long as the lot is not needed for an Ocean Center event. The City would be responsible for all operations and costs but would not owe any money to the County for use of the Main Street lot. This agreement also clarifies the uses of the three separate parking lots: Parking Area A (West Lot)-  could be used by the County for any Ocean Center event. All other uses would be governed by the City. Parking Area B (South Lot)-  could also be used by the County for any Ocean Center event, and all other uses would be governed by the City. The City may use this lot for any Peabody Auditorium event, but the city would charge for parking in this lot and pay the county any net revenue. Parking Area C (Main St. Lot)-  could be used by the County for any Ocean Center events. All other uses would be governed by the City. The City may charge for parking but would not owe any money to the County to use it. This agreement would confirm an understanding and cooperation between the City and County over the lots, and the Commission is expected to approve it. At the meeting, The Council will also recognize retired Sheriff's Office Lieutenant James M. Morgan. Morgan, who spent 30 years with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, retired on May 31st. He was instrumental in working intelligence for Biketoberfest, The DAYTONA 500, and Coke Zero races. Photo of Ocean Center lots courtesy of Volusia County Council Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017