[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6338354,"mediaKeyId","2270314-45f59626dc25866f48c50d6373d3c30b","parentId",2270314,"title","Council adopts voluntary Low Impact Development program and guidance manual after debate over mandatory rules","audioSeconds",7563,"startMs",10816000,"endMs",18379000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2270314-45f59626dc25866f48c50d6373d3c30b&start=10816&end=18379","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2270314-45f59626dc25866f48c50d6373d3c30b/thumbnail_10816000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6338354/Volusia-County/Florida/Council-adopts-voluntary-Low-Impact-Development-program-and-guidance-manual-after-debate-over-mandatory-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338354-4418e00824c5c4e2d071d5902a8dde37/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158649&Signature=mqNN7naA11wixPfyaqF68mUqkkwHeO1N-FR2ziGKNmMJ71Vkg0pV0gLWnEf3hqUrW-uYIjehlFs~kcCbX6zQBgpqZ5wDRwwkkYeE74R3v7X9-iw6lIYudKsWxi6AvqoFzocIpsHwjts5NX1bka7BXJwrw8rJZXQfEL~AO2yE2zkASENASFIe6mw7XvPE4hjvhCWWcAlazQUPTFD4tHhn3TK63rNMmVwuBjMxgJ6NZRbziSzHBFrqtfq-10ow-lx7SKS5wN1vDh1h7x1bRUUJ58pI7f0GvoqI~1OiHhq1H32MJS4DSMvqgPzunJmPuO2l59SC7zfO-xwzXoQ25LbU4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Volusia County, FL","date","2025-02-12T02:09:39Z","article","Volusia County’s council voted to establish a voluntary Low Impact Development (LID) program—comprising a comp‑plan amendment, zoning and land‑development ordinance changes and a published guidance manual—after extended discussion about whether elements should be mandatory.

What passed: On separate motions the council approved the comp‑plan amendment (ordinance 2025‑02), the zoning/LDR changes (ordinance 2025‑03) and a resolution adopting the LID guidance manual (resolution 2025‑**) that lays out a menu of best‑management practices and related incentives. The comp‑plan and zoning measures authorize conservation or cluster subdivision approaches in urban categories, remove code barriers to LID practices (for example, continuous curb requirements that block vegetated conveyances) and direct staff procedures for program administration.

Program design and how it works
County staff and NRAC described the LID program as a voluntary, incentive‑driven menu designed to encourage developers and property owners to “mimic the natural stormwater process on‑site.” The guidance manual organizes measures and incentives into a “menu”:
- Site‑design BMPs (avoid/minimize): examples include maintaining natural topography, preserving floodplain beyond minimums, retaining tree canopy, and minimizing impervious area.
- Stormwater BMPs (mitigate): examples include vegetated swales, rain gardens, underground storage where appropriate and pre‑treatment with planted native vegetation.
- Program rules: projects seeking incentives must choose at least four site‑design BMPs and at least two stormwater BMPs (six items total) from the menu; the manual links eligible incentives to individual BMP choices.
- Incentives: the manual lists up to 15 incentives (process relief, flexible setbacks, landscape credits, reduced parking, and site‑specific options). The comp‑plan draft included a density bonus (up to +8 units urban‑low and +16 units urban‑medium) that PLDRC asked to remove; council approved the package that reflected PLDRC’s recommendation.

Debate: voluntary incentives vs. mandatory requirements
Public commenters were split. Dozens urged mandatory LID, bans on “fill and build,” and immediate moratoria on new construction in vulnerable areas; other speakers—developers, NRAC members and some council members—argued a voluntary, incentive‑based program and education/outreach would be more effective and avoid unintended costs or displacement. NRAC members said they originally recommended a “hybrid” model (some mandatory elements plus incentives) but produced a voluntary, incentive‑oriented package after legal and practical constraints.

Council votes and rationale
Council members debated the appropriate balance of regulation and incentives. The comp‑plan amendment and the zoning/LDR ordinance were approved on votes of 6–1 (Chair Brower recorded the lone no). The guidance manual was adopted by resolution on the same margin. Supporters called the program a pragmatic first step that removes barriers and invites innovation; opponents urged stronger mandatory requirements and fewer or no bonuses.

What the manual does not do
Staff and NRAC emphasized the manual is not a retrofit mandate for existing development and that many large flooding problems (closed basins and extreme multi‑day events) require basin‑scale fixes, regional infrastructure and property acquisitions. The manual is intended to be administratively adaptable: council adopted it by resolution so staff and the Development Review Committee (DRC) can update technical guidance as BMPs evolve.

Next steps
Staff will publish the manual, create DRC procedures for review and begin outreach and training for developers, planners and homeowners. The comp‑plan amendment will be submitted to state review where required. Councilmembers asked staff to return with data on pilot implementations, retrofits for existing neighborhoods and options to make some elements mandatory if voluntary uptake is inadequate.

Ending
The adopted LID program establishes a voluntary, incentive‑driven pathway to encourage distributed stormwater treatment and reduce runoff from new development while staff and NRAC continue basin studies and consider broader policy options.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Council - Tuesday February 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Volusia County approved a voluntary Low Impact Development program—a comp‑plan amendment, zoning and LDR changes and a guidance manual—that establishes a menu of site‑design and stormwater BMPs and linked incentives.","taxTitle","Volusia County, Florida","taxId",2878,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6338359,"Volusia County adopts NRAC-backed stormwater amendments after public urging stronger safeguards",9025,1214000,10239000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2270314-45f59626dc25866f48c50d6373d3c30b&start=1214&end=10239","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2270314-45f59626dc25866f48c50d6373d3c30b/thumbnail_1214000.jpg","/articles/6338359/Volusia-County/Florida/Volusia-County-adopts-NRAC-backed-stormwater-amendments-after-public-urging-stronger-safeguards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338359-f5f8677e3cffe79d2eef2969ebd7cb6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158649&Signature=HB054oKVlMgMs~fss5ByckD2YsSI2ArteWFDpCsiuFzdUIhfi8Gc0XRHOy3HjXvDtw7LIosVEtZKmoO0AfB1ZEjfd5o67NO72PTyGAuX~GYdp3QlHq6ABxU9fk9JiNGfJRmPJ~AL4kjgkv70985KLdDjcBubTJdEnr~zOoQofB8glx0gSghUg097rLkMpHh~wIRLwIaZaMRk2M-uK5Nro6sw6ZFC5aONQPyg1-aFJDDd5~Jmz4eNbiVzhw7gznqq4GpMPZCPJO1kT1voZNPrmpWNUCQKwv3QVzfY~m-~mjxgwM6ac2uBiamydbuBCuD9RRJp5Q1cqiNhxinYGjrSnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Volusia County adopted a package of stormwater ordinance changes on a motion by Councilman David Santiago and a second by Councilman Jake Johansen, the council said during a special meeting. The amendments incorporate recommendations from the Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC) aimed at reducing neighborhood flooding from new development.

County engineer Tad Kaysbier presented the ordinance as “the first step” of technical changes NRAC recommended, saying the measures are intended to improve the reliability of stormwater ponds and reduce the likelihood that new construction will increase flooding on adjacent properties. “One of the things we recommend in the ordinance is that there be a safety factor placed on the seasonal high table elevation,” Kaysbier said, describing a 6‑inch buffer above the geotechnical seasonal-high elevation that would be built into pond designs.

Why it matters: The changes address long-running public concern about new development and its role in localized flooding. The measures are narrowly focused on design and modeling practices—borings, seasonal-high elevation assumptions, and how ponds are sited and detailed—rather than on retrofitting older subdivisions.

Key provisions and technical details
- Seasonal‑high safety factor: NRAC and staff recommend adding a 6‑inch safety factor above the site’s established seasonal high water elevation when setting the normal water level (NWL) for ponds; staff said that raises pond bottom and bank elevations and increases stored volume for recovery between storms.
- Pond borings: The ordinance calls for more conservative geotechnical sampling—staff recommended two pond borings per acre (based on FDOT practice) to better establish seasonal‑high elevations and soil characteristics used in modeling.
- Curve‑number conservatism: For mixed or dual soil classifications, staff recommended using the more conservative (higher runoff) number unless a geotechnical engineer can verify otherwise.
- Tailwater elevation process: The county will require earlier coordination so staff helps set the tailwater elevation used in design calculations rather than waiting until after submittal, which staff said should reduce mismatches between assumed and actual downstream conditions.
- Pond siting and emergency spillways: NRAC recommended siting ponds interior to developments where feasible and requiring engineered emergency overflow structures so a controlled surface overflow prevents unplanned blowouts that can wash out pond embankments and move fill downstream.

Public comment and council concerns
Public comment was extensive and split. Several residents urged stronger, mandatory protections and a ban on “fill and build” in flood‑prone areas; Catherine Pante told the council the “6‑inch rule needs to be stricken,” saying it still allows more fill than critics think is safe. Other residents, including Melissa Lammers (NRAC chair), supported the package as an immediate, implementable step while larger basin studies proceed.

Council discussion and vote
Council members debated how far the draft reaches and whether the changes would help existing flood victims; staff and the county manager said the edits affect future developments and that larger basin studies and infrastructure projects remain necessary to address existing, widespread flooding. Council approved the ordinance as presented (motion by Councilman David Santiago; second by Councilman Jake Johansen). The council voted in favor: Troy Kent (yes); Vice Chair Reinhart (yes); Councilman Robbins (yes); Councilman David Santiago (yes); Councilman Don Dempsey (yes); Councilman Jake Johansen (yes); Chair Brower (yes).

What the ordinance does not do
The council and staff were explicit that these amendments apply to future development permit reviews and do not require retrofits to existing developments. Staff said closed basins and extreme multi‑day storms can still overwhelm any on‑site system; basin studies and larger regional projects (including potential pumps, acquisition of low‑lying property and channel improvements) are being scoped separately.

Next steps and follow-up
Staff will implement the ordinance changes, incorporate them into permit review, and continue basin studies NRAC recommended. Council members and members of the public urged faster basin studies and targeted buyouts/short‑term pumps where repeated, long‑duration flooding persists.

Ending
Council members and NRAC members framed the ordinance as a technical but tangible first step. Kaysbier said the changes are not the final product: “This is the first step… There will be some additional ones at later dates, based on the results of some of the basin studies the county is working towards.”","Volusia County adopted a package of NRAC‑recommended stormwater ordinance changes intended to make on‑site stormwater systems more reliable and reduce the risk that new development will increase flooding on adjacent properties.","actionData","errors"]

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Council adopts voluntary Low Impact Development program and guidance manual after debate over mandatory rules

Volusia County adopts NRAC-backed stormwater amendments after public urging stronger safeguards