BUNNELL, Fla. – On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the City of Bunnell held a Special Meeting of the City Commission to conduct a de novo hearing concerning appeals filed following the September 1, 2026, Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board meeting involving Project Butterfly.
A de novo hearing allows the reviewing body to consider a matter anew, including hearing evidence, testimony, and arguments, rather than limiting its review to the record of the prior proceeding.
All five members of the City Commission were present. Due to a conflict involving the Vose Law Firm, the City was represented by attorney Mr. Steve Alexander.
The proceedings began at 9:00 a.m. and concluded at approximately 7:45 p.m. During the hearing, the Commission heard from the applicant and 14 individual appellants who were in attendance to present their appeals. Members of the public who had not previously been heard during the other presentations were also given an opportunity to provide public comment. Additionally, the entire meeting was livestreamed on the City’s official YouTube channel affording those not able to attend in person to witness the proceedings.
The hearing procedures were established and published with the meeting agenda in advance to allow the parties to prepare for the proceedings. The agenda provided for opening remarks and preliminary matters, presentations by City staff and the applicant, oral arguments by appellants and appellees, rebuttal by appellees and appellants, public comments and Commission deliberation and a decision.
Following consideration of the testimony, evidence, and information presented throughout the day, the City Commission made the following decisions:
• Procedural issues: The Commission determined that any procedural issues associated with the September 1, 2026, Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board meeting were cured by conducting the De Novo hearing.
• Appeals presented at the hearing: The Commission approved the 14 appeals presented by appellants who were present at the hearing.
• Project Butterfly special exception application: The Commission denied Special Exception Application SE-2026-13 for Project Butterfly.
• Appeals filed by parties who were not present: The Commission dismissed the appeals filed by parties who were not present at the hearing.
The hearing provided the applicant, appellants, and members of the public an opportunity to address the Commission before it reached its decisions and afforded all parties due process.
The City of Bunnell remains committed to transparency and public access to the municipal decision-making process.
