- February 24, 2025
Rules set for itinerant vendors.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
The city made changes that it hopes will spur development along North U.S. 1 at its regular meeting June 23, when it approved rules for itinerant merchants and outdoor entertainment that occur during special events.
The city and Volusia County signed an Interlocal Agreement earlier this year, giving the city authority over the corridor, which is considered an important gateway into the city.
Some of the properties along the road are only busy during special events with itinerant merchants.
In the new regulations, properties with year-round business will be allowed to continue their vendor activities during special events, but those that are only busy during special events will only be able to continue for another five years.
The purpose of this change, according to city documents, is to encourage development of the properties.
“We’re going to make it look like Ormond Beach one day,” said City Commissioner Rick Boehm at the first reading of the ordinance earlier this month.
Boehm also congratulated City Attorney Randy Hayes in developing the ordinances.
Commissioner James Stowers called the regulations another milestone in bringing the corridor up to Ormond Beach standards, after four years of negotiations with the county.
“I think with pride about what has gone on the past five years,” he said. “Cheaters is gone … we’re annexing property from the County that previously controlled, or uncontrolled, this area.”
He said there are more changes to come and the gateway will continue to be a point of focus.
During special events, usually “bike” weeks, itinerant merchants set up entertainment and retail activities along the corridor. The new regulations grandfather in 15 properties along the corridor that have permanent structures, and they will be able to continue these activities.
Properties that do not have year-round businesses will be able to continue activities for the next five years only. These include the Broken Spoke Saloon, Boot Hill Saloon and the Moonshine Campground.
Also, bike washes will not be allowed, unless they are part of a permanent business.
The regulations state that if properties be improved with year-round businesses, re-establishment of itinerant vending activities could be permitted at the sole discretion of the City Commission.
The Interlocal Agreement gives the city control of the corridor, even though it is currently a mixture of county and city property. The city and county negotiated for four years before signing the agreement.
Another reason for city control is that it is has been awkward enforcing laws and providing services in an area with mixed jurisdictions, officials have said in the past.
The city has assigned codes to the properties along the stretch similar to the county codes they were under previously.
The city also set fees for vendors during special events, which are generally lower than those previously charged by the county, according to Planning Director Rick Goss. About $50,000 should be brought in to city coffers in a year, which is expected to pay for field inspections and administrative costs.
City living often less expensive than county
Now that the Interlocal Agreement has been signed with the county, more and more properties along North U.S. 1 are coming into the city. At the June 23 City Commission meeting for example, the city is expected to annex Harris Village RV Park, Wild Bill’s, Kurras Mobile Village and Beaver Bar.
The city can now annex properties even if they are not contiguous, and officials say that taxes and the cost of services is often lower for the resident or business after annexation. A recent conversation with Planning Director Rick Goss helps explain why this is true.
For one thing, the property tax millage is lower. Businesses and residents in the county pay a Multiple Services Tax Unit, which includes police and public works. They also pay a fire control tax. The total of these two millages is 5.64. The comparable millage in the city for police, public works and fire is 4.2.
But the biggest savings is not taxes, but rather from the water bill for both residents and businesses. If a person lives in unincorporated Volusia County, and gets water and sewer service from the city, they pay a 50% surcharge. If they are annexed into the city, this surcharge goes away.
Goss said when he makes a presentation to a neighborhood about annexation, he uses the example of a house valued at $410,000 that uses 3,000 gallons of water each month. If it’s in the county and has city water/sewer, they pay $370 for sewer/water. If in the city, they pay $252.
The city also has a slightly lower millage rate in property taxes. There are some things both city and county residents pay for, of course, namely schools and libraries.
For sanitation, city residents pay $13.59 monthly and county residents, $16. The cost of sanitation for a business depends on their dumpster size.
The big difference maker is water and sewer, and that’s true for businesses as well as residential areas. Most businesses annexed by the city are already on city water and sewer, so when annexed, they are saving the surcharge, making a big difference in their bill.
If you’re on city water and sewer already, it’s certain you would see a savings after being annexed. If not, then a careful comparison would be required to see if there is a savings.
