- February 7, 2025
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For years, the land development code of the city of Ormond Beach has prevented residents from building detached garages with different architectural styles than of that of the home, but one Ormond Beach resident has gotten the city to rethink its standards.
All Cory Romaniuk wants to do is build a detached garage on his 1.6 acre lot property. He's on his second attempt to do so, having moved from the beachside to the mainland in order to have the space required to build a 1,200-square-foot metal garage. Because his current residence has a brick exterior, the current land development code requires him to have the same exterior on his garage.
Romaniuk's house was built in 1972, and the exact brick is not readily available and costs more. Romaniuk is set on building a metal garage and in order to do so, went through a two-month process with the city that in the end, was deemed unlawful by city attorney Randy Hayes.
“Quite frankly, it’s an embarrassment to the city of Ormond Beach,” Romaniuk said.
He paid $700 for a variance application, which was approved for recommendation to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals by the planning department since Romaniuk's property was large enough, the structure would be far from the road and his neighbors did not have a problem with its construction.
“The way we read the ordinance, we thought that we could take him through on a variance," said Planning Board Director Ric Goss.
Goss said this is the first time the city has dealt with a case like Romaniuk. While they have had people asking applying for detached garage permits before, they have all complied with the architectural standards set in the land development code.
Once it was deemed outside of the board's jurisdiction to provide Romaniuk with a variance, the city returned the $700 back to him. City Commissioner Rick Boehm said the only way Romaniuk can build his garage is if the city amends the land development code for that kind of structure.
“Otherwise, there’s really nothing anyone could do," Boehm said.
However, if Romaniuk wants to build a three-sided carport, he doesn't have to follow the same architectural standards that he would need to for a detached garage. He could immediately apply for a permit and it would be approved. Romaniuk said there isn't much of a visual difference between a three-sided carport and a detached garage if they both have the same metal walls.
“It’s just frustrating, and it’s costing me a lot of time and effort and heartache and stress," Romaniuk said.
Right now, he's already obtained the permit and invested $10,000 on the project, of which the concrete base is finished. He said the land development code never took into consideration properties like his and that it should have been addressed a long time ago.
“I believe the planning department was 100% accurate with their assessment of why it should be approved," Romaniuk said. "It’s unfortunate that the land development code wouldn’t allow that to happen.”
Unfortunately for Romaniuk, it won't be a quick process.
“There’s no rapid way to do this because the land development code applies to the entire city," Boehm said. "We can’t amend it for one person.”
He said the code has to be amended in a way that's fair to everyone, Romaniuk included. The issue can't be resolved at a City Commission meeting either. Boehm said it is "beyond their authority" to grant him approval to build his garage because it deals with the city's land development code.
There is hope for Romaniuk though. Boehm said he can't imagine the City Commission voting against the amendment if it comes recommended by the city. He just has to be patient.
Goss said he estimates the amendment will go to the planning board later in November and arrive to the City Commission in January.
Romaniuk is tired of waiting though. He said he feels the city is more restrictive than it is accommodating and that the process shouldn't take so long.
“It’s unfortunate that I was the first one ever to contest on these grounds," Romaniuk said.
