A week after a unanimous Palm Coast City Council vote to move toward revoking all outside paint-color restrictions, Council member Theresa Pontieri said on Tuesday she’ll request a reconsideration, pausing the process. She will seek either a “more reasonable change to the code” or possibly put the matter to voters in a referendum. At least two other council members are willing to think about a referendum.
“Last week I said I just really, really had an issue with going to the extreme that we were going to, which was to get rid of the paint code in whole,” Pontieri said. “I don’t agree with that. I think that people moved to the city of Palm Coast because it’s beautiful. They moved to the city of Palm Coast because there are certain regulations. I don’t feel that it’s obviously as strict as an HOA. I like living in an infill lot because I’m not in an HOA. But I also still appreciate reasonable regulation so that we don’t create blight down the road.”
The 4-0 vote for repeal bypassed what was to be an amended ordinance that loosened restrictions but kept five colors on the ban list–neon, fuchsia, magenta, orange and purple. Mayor Mike Norris had pushed for the end of restrictions. But he was willing to keep the ban on the five colors if it meant lifting all other restrictions. It was Pontieri who said that “if you’re going to say we’re not going to have exterior colors, then you shouldn’t be picking and choosing prohibited colors.”
She has since been scouring the public reaction on social media and speaking about it with a lot of residents, she said, prompting her to change course. “I really do feel that this is something that deserves to be at a referendum. I think that the residents truly are 50-50 on this,” Pontieri said, underscoring the dozen times that the issue has gone before local regulatory and advisory boards–the planning board, the beautification committee, the City Council.
“Everybody’s had a bite at this except for the residents,” Pontieri said, not quite accurately: every time the issue has been before a board, the public has had ample opportunity to address it, and has, as it did last week. Those who addressed the council last week were unanimously for the repeal of restrictions.
A referendum on a regularly scheduled election would likely not cost the city any money. The cost is determined by the ballot’s page count. If a city referendum were to be the sole reason for the ballot to need an additional page, then the city would be billed for the additional cost. Otherwise, it won’t be. The 2026 ballot will be an off-year election, which limits its length to some degree. On the other hand, the city is likely to have a few referendums of its own on the ballot anyway, resulting from the charter review process underway.
“Any changes to the shit city charter should be during a presidential election, not in ‘26,” Norris said. It wasn’t clear whether he meant to characterize the city charter as “shit” (you can hear the clip here) or if it was a mere, if telling, slip of the tongue. He was speaking in the first council meeting since a judge days earlier ruled against his lawsuit challenging the city’s interpretation of the charter.
Either way, Norris’s statement was a surprise. He had never said that all referendums should be on the 2028 ballot when the council discussed the Charter Review Committee and its likely outcome of several proposed amendments to the charter. The council started that process with the 2026 ballot in mind.
“If you’re going to have some spite, you can do a motion to reconsider if you want,” Norris continued. “But I’m still in the camp of paint your house whatever you want, if we are in this free state of Florida. So you won’t get my consent on that. I don’t know about the rest of the council.”
Council member Dave Sullivan is with Norris on that. Council member Charles Gambaro wanted to be, “but I don’t know, you gave me something to think about, Vice Mayor, as far as referendum.” (Pontieri is the vice mayor.)
Council member Ty Miller was torn, too. He likes to give voters a voice on referendums when an issue is split down the middle. At the same time, “I’ve been very adamant that personal choice is important here,” he said.
If the council were to propose a referendum, residents considered in violation today would not have to face code enforcement, though the current code regulating colors, which is restrictive, would stay in place. The council did not decide which way to go. That will be clearer next Tuesday, since any reconsideration of the July 1 vote has to take place at a business meeting, not a workshop, as was the case last Tuesday.
SMH says
Like this should even be a discussion? We have so many bigger things to fix….but no let’s take the time to discuss color of houses…..laughable!
Just a thought says
It’s good to see you are easing up on the rules of the HOA called Palm Coast.
DP says
No wonder we can’t get a new city manager. Between all the BS going on, and now the flipping back and forth with house colors is getting ridiculous. Pontieri should have spoke with her constituents first, before changing her mind, and Norris needs to give a little. No need to put it to a referendum. Just place the 5 colors that will not be allowed into the new ordinance. You can still have a free state like he claims. Let’s not make this rocket science.
Mark says
A “Referendum” on what colors a homeowner in Palm Coast can paint their house? Get real, more important issues in this town like water, drainage ditches and streets to start with.
Keep Flagler Beautiful says
This is exactly how we would expect Palm Coast officials to spend their time on the clock. Instead, what about ensuring Google’s proposed underwater fiberoptic cable to Spain, which will be anchored in Palm Coast, actually generates revenue for Flagler County AND is done in an environmentally responsible way? They’re flapping their jaws about what an “honor” it is for our area to be the Florida anchor for the subsea transatlantic cable, but NOT ONE WORD about how we will financially benefit from it or what measures will be taken to ensure there is no damage to the limestone on which so many canal homes sit. The crowing and back-slapping comes from some of the same clueless folks who wanted to rubber-stamp the hazardous fuel farm right next to the city water plant. I really fear that the cable project is no honor at all and will net us no revenue; it just means we’ve once again been identified as the state’s “pushover” county. Go on, prove me wrong. I really hope that will be the case.
Critical Eye says
Theresa Pontieri is the only person on the city council that truly cares about the people and city of Palm Coast along with Gambaro that is . Ty goes back and forth on issues sounding quite wishy washy. I suppose he cares for people he’s just apprehensive to take a stand. Norris sits there counting the minutes until he can bang his gavel to end the meeting. He appears to be bored with the whole thing. Not interested really, just pulling in a paycheck. Sullivan is Sullivan. The conversations are way over Norris’s head. The council members have to stop during every meeting and explain things to him and tell him what he’s supposed to do next. It’s so ridiculous. Obviously Norris doesn’t like anything about Palm Coast especially regarding rules unless the rules are his rules.
Many of the folks wanting no restrictions on house paint colors don’t own a home in Palm Coast. They are renters. I don’t understand why non-homeowners would have any say so about colors of homes. I have looked up numerous people on the property appraisers website that want house paint restrictions removed and noticed they are not on the tax rolls and do not own any homes or lots for that matter in Palm Coast.
BTW Homeowners are all on the Tax rolls.
The majority of homeowners don’t want any changes to the current restrictions. They bought their homes for the same reason that we did. We love the style, the cleanliness of the city and the beauty of the homes. There’s a nice flow to Palm Coast. Changing the color schemes could prove to be very regrettable. Personally, I find that the color choices that we currently have are perfectly suited for our area . Palm Coast is beautiful just the way it is and my vote will reflect that if it comes to a vote. It seems to me by all accounts of watching Mike Norris, he seems to be determined to do as much damage as he possibly can to ruin Palm Coast. So sick of Norris playing the victim.
Just another poorly thought out flip-flop says
What a way to make a decision . . . by listening to all the toxic complainers on social media sites such as Nextdoor, Facebook, and the neighborhood groups, AND the regular complainers at every city council meeting, all of which/whom are a cesspool of negativity and hate. Is this where the members of the city council get their “research” on making decisions? What about all the people who choose not to waste their time on such toxic wastes of time?
Maybe instead of making snap decisions (votes leading to changes) without any forethought, it might be a good idea to do some simple actual RESEARCH on color theory and color science before the incessant flip-flopping on changing things.
How about researching how color affects behavior?
How about researching why certain colors are used in restaurants and grocery stores or schools?
How about researching which colors elicit aggressive behavior?
How about how house color affects resale value?
Why anyone (city council) would make his/her decision on this issue based on the continual group of complainers at city council meetings OR continual incessant negative hostile people who have nothing better to do with their lives than sit complaining on social media is beyond me.
City Council, how about using some intelligence and doing some background research on this topic?
As for Ty Miller advocating for personal freedoms, suppose someone wants to come to the city council meeting naked or in a thong so as to exercise their personal freedom to dress the way they want? Where does it end?
Take some sociology classes for God’s sake and you’ll find that most people given an inch will take a yard when it comes to “personal freedoms”.
There always have to be strict guidelines for everything in society otherwise the people who want to push the envelope will continue to push until they get what they want.
Hey, Holly Hill is only 25 minutes down the road if you want to park commercial vehicles, boats, RVs, in your yard or paint your house whatever color you like. But then again, no one wants to live in Holly Hill save for those who have no other choice because it’s generally accepted as being a place only those who are poor and down and out can live.
This home color change is just another poorly thought out change that will serve to decrease property values.
For once, for God’s sake, stop listening to all the complainers at city council meetings and on all social media sites. It may come as a shock, but the majority of the population in Palm Coast doesn’t spend their time complaining on social media.
Deborah Coffey says
Never too late to fix a huge mistake…that probably shouldn’t have been made in the first place. Our houses are our largest investment!
Atwp says
People make huge financial sacrifices to buy a home, the city is telling them what colors they should not use. The city didn’t put a penny with the down payment for the home. The city is telling me what colors I can’t use, wow. It would be nice if every homeowner would leave the city, I wonder what Palm Coast would do. I know that will not happen but it is something to think about.
Atwp says
If a homeowner go against the city about painting their house, what will be the punishment? Losing their home, hefty fines, liens, they will not be able to vote, increased insurance premiums, just wondering.
JimboXYZ says
“How about how house color affects resale value? ”
Imagine being the seller of a property that:
1. Had to create an incentive/concession for any buyer for a house color repaint ?
2. A buyer’s offer was lower for that reason of a paint/repaint concession ?
3. A buyer’s offer was never made on a property, because one of the neighbor’s has poor taste in matching colors ? And that poor taste wasn’t changing anytime in the foreseeable future.
End of the day, realize that if anyone doesn’t buy a pair of socks, undergarments a pair of pants, a shirt/blouse or even a cap/hat because they don’t like the color and are concerned with what they look like going out dressed like that ? Buyers purchase a home for the same reason(s). What the neighborhood & the property itself looks like. Quite often it’s a good idea to drive thru the neighborhood a few times & on several days at various times. Those neighbors that are already there are going to expose themselves. And that doesn’t mean that the neighbor from hell won’t move in eventually to d that to the rest of the residential. Those folks aren’t going to cover the difference for the lower offer/resale on the home ? It’s bad enough there are too many experts that assess the value of a property up or down in the real estate industry.
Same holds for the neighbor that paves their front yard, creating a bleeping round-about with God awful designs or ornate patterns that are an eyesore driving by it every day. I have at least one of those hideous Little Havana/Pork & Beans like downtown and core hub of Miami area houses. I wouldn’t buy that house just the same. Most anywhere Miami is a different level of real estate market of unaffordable ugly. I lived that nightmare for 20 years, never going back to that and I will fight anyplace that tries to turn where a majority of people are like minded & don’t want that level of hideous ugly. Just like the growth thing has it’s reasons for saying No Thanks, go elsewhere to do that one/a few houses at a time. There’s tasteful art deco & then there’s just a bunch of ugly houses occupied by the mentally ill for any taste for color coordination. Nobody want’s to live in Sponge Bob/Teletubby character cartoon neighborhood, even drive thru that for very long.
Pig Farmer says
Oh darn! I was so looking forward to painting my house! I just needed to find that purple with pink polka dots paint.
TR says
@Pig Farmer, you could always paint the entire house purple and then shoot it with pink paint balls. LOL