[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6273437,"mediaKeyId","3000600-55ecc275562e47ad333e7920a6ca7e69","parentId",3000600,"title","Council asks staff to consult delegation, property owners about restoring beach driving on Daytona’s Main Street corridor","audioSeconds",1524,"startMs",12795000,"endMs",14319000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000600-55ecc275562e47ad333e7920a6ca7e69&start=12795&end=14319","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000600-55ecc275562e47ad333e7920a6ca7e69/thumbnail_12795000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6273437/Volusia-County/Florida/Council-asks-staff-to-consult-delegation-property-owners-about-restoring-beach-driving-on-Daytonas-Main-Street-corridor","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273437-0b5d90f4a145a0923c153c6efb147932/orig.mp4?Expires=1773645935&Signature=BwmIL0RyytXOFGzitDY82~5HBUjC1pnT3wkG2eYTNIbZvwVakUXdNtAUv8QZacwQSSPkI-oRmyarUi-5bag0VQ6x7d5uERIB6lPaihqoupTnTQcOMC9aB4kQcOEWtVMlu7DP~2Mtx85RrayJZwO8PeprPYehG~JaeFMxQXAMk7fEL6Sldf4Mwb2qp6QSpXbYzk9n31v~V7fdMETQWoT618o5RGldnyf8k4QohgF9G~QPBBJwBIDkTYhizujFVoxifuSSZH3nFzFW0X8X66PuzmmzdNYASCZmIoJIdrcm0jKw~pYlr-qT7yxkD~65pYxD0RxoTYLpmqsu7-LkqTtEow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Volusia County, FL","date","2025-04-16T04:04:08.597Z","article","The Volusia County Council voted on April 15 to ask county staff to approach the county’s legislative delegation and the property owners along Daytona’s beach corridor about the possibility of restoring public beach driving between International Speedway Boulevard and Auditorium Boulevard.

The motion, made by Councilman Troy Kent and seconded by Councilman David Santiago, directs staff to initiate discussions with elected state officials and affected property owners to determine whether a legislative exception or other legal path could restore driving in the segment the county closed in the 1990s.

County staff described the legal obstacles at the meeting. State law broadly prohibits driving on beaches across Florida unless a specific exception applies. The county previously obtained a limited statutory exception for one-day events, but staff said the statute that authorized earlier driving does not provide an automatic path to restore driving once a local government has removed it.

Staff also flagged three additional hurdles that would need resolution before any lane of beach driving could resume: potential amendments to the county’s Incidental Take Permit and Habitat Conservation Plan for sea turtles, contractual commitments tied to prior redevelopment agreements in the corridor, and the long-standing legal doctrine known locally as \"customary use,\" which allows the public to use shoreline property under narrow historical conditions and can be complicated by a prolonged cessation of use.

Property owners and Main Street merchants who testified supported reopening the approach, saying vehicle access once animated the boardwalk and Main Street retail and that the corridor has not recovered in the decades since the closure. Several business owners and residents said the area remains underutilized outside of large events and asked the council to consider a temporary or trial reopening.

Conservation advocates asked council members to weigh wildlife protections; staff said any change would need consultation with federal wildlife agencies because the stretch lies inside the county’s urban beach management area under the county’s turtle-protection plan.

Council members said the council was not voting to restore driving at the session, only to ask staff to start the formal consultation process so the county can determine what legal, environmental and contractual changes would be required. The motion passed on a roll-call vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Council - Tuesday April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After hours of public testimony and council debate, members voted to ask staff to open talks with state delegates and nearby property owners about restoring vehicle access on the beach between International Speedway Boulevard and Auditorium Boulevard; the council noted legal, environmental and contractual hurdles.","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},6273442,"Volusia medical examiner reports drop in overdose deaths, shorter turnaround times",543,18975000,19518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000600-55ecc275562e47ad333e7920a6ca7e69&start=18975&end=19518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000600-55ecc275562e47ad333e7920a6ca7e69/thumbnail_18975000.jpg","/articles/6273442/Volusia-County/Florida/Volusia-medical-examiner-reports-drop-in-overdose-deaths-shorter-turnaround-times","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273442-ee8025fbb2bdd1ecc93df17aee1ed47a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773645935&Signature=VivMQUWF1iF-3bO2lEEkuDmuOf6n2mt6S6i36RLKYRTMmEm6z8d3D72Q2Bjnh27AqEKJGV-YDF-MicU3Y45g1S53-~GOlHwJJL7cp5Au7pXkItYA-eBVYMebeLq~zA36CNGRaB~~kTHSgnm4QyhJOesZq9-dSK8PQyBt3U38nFQc3njujLo0Iig7v5WUf-l~9TNhj7K4c~LuqjFpRrt4PZJ8VOxtvMZcYD898aoCWHtQRule-XZQpTJLaiB8ogkaLNfKaJhKXaR6eY2BPc5LPig~5pqLDaIPalMeiGkBz4-RXnbz4uO0OdNeQYSUKa0uhQZYDzKdvUZxdElSxE6WJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. James Fulcher, Volusia County chief medical examiner, delivered the office’s annual report at the April 15 council meeting and said overdose deaths in 2024 fell roughly 10% compared with the prior year.

Fulcher attributed the decline to a combination of community recovery work, expanded distribution of overdose-reversal medication and cooperation among emergency medical services, law enforcement and recovery providers. “We were actually down 10 percent. 22 to '23, we're down 25 percent, 23 to 24,” he said, adding that he expects some of the decrease reflects successful revivals and referrals into treatment.

The medical examiner’s office reported a median turnaround of about 15 days from autopsy to an assigned report — a timing Fulcher described as fast compared with some other jurisdictions. He credited a combination of in-house workflow and selection of an established toxicology laboratory for the improved speed.

The office’s case mix continues to include natural deaths and accident investigations; Fulcher said he noted an increase in certain natural causes among people who lack regular medical care. He also said motor-vehicle fatalities have declined in recent counts and that homicides showed a small decline.

Fulcher emphasized public education and outreach as a continuing priority. The office has expanded training for law enforcement and first responders and is working with business and civic groups on recovery-friendly workplace initiatives and on wider Narcan availability. “We have that thing packed as far as law enforcement and that big building you built me and the ability to teach in the autopsy suite,” he told the council.

Council members thanked the medical examiner for the briefing and asked about age patterns and toxicology. Fulcher said overdose decedents remain concentrated from roughly 20 through 50 years old, with an average decedent age near the mid-40s, and explained fentanyl levels vary dramatically depending on tolerance and prior use. He urged residents and businesses to seek training and participate in programs that make reversal medication available.

Fulcher closed by noting the office’s accreditation and plans to host the Florida Association of Medical Examiners meeting in 2026.","Medical Examiner Dr. James Fulcher told the council the office’s 2024 caseload showed a 10% decline in overdose deaths and faster autopsy-report turnaround, while urging continued outreach and overdose-reversal training.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273447,"Council approves purchase of 356 acres; debate flares over motocross, Volusia Forever and ECHO funding",6533,4002000,10535000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000600-55ecc275562e47ad333e7920a6ca7e69&start=4002&end=10535","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000600-55ecc275562e47ad333e7920a6ca7e69/thumbnail_4002000.jpg","/articles/6273447/Volusia-County/Florida/Council-approves-purchase-of-356-acres-debate-flares-over-motocross-Volusia-Forever-and-ECHO-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273447-20f450b738cdf6d820afd60835a8644c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773645935&Signature=WxVMM1AMnPtIPd4~lHKWhZSrLLXKvek4cqvOJk7Sn52lPKZl9ZqYdYArSz2CKIWUG8mSXTHMM~lSTQjPk6opuUF-P6JCg73QRA5peM6fgQqHpsasEtF0E2ELikBfGZPVhDTLGcHBAhuCneeEotS7qbxWju2gUwzLxq1BVPbmuJ-yycJnJde85u7qZ5s5lyZjC2xJRalTrU-3Eqhgm2EpJbgWAiPSbf3z3rPIr7XkU6rrfEuY1LtkPd3rg2mMLFbtAxDitpz6AfWVzcDZpMbZ12-DY574Fv4ofjZcN--1WCChYOnQOWVGrUCSIGY9XdOqirtv6wYL50eHsP-fnFG2DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Volusia County Council unanimously approved a purchase agreement on April 15 to acquire 356 acres from Volusia 44 Properties for conservation and outdoor motorized recreation, but the approval followed more than two hours of staff presentations, council questions and public comment about whether any motorized track — including motocross — belongs in the county’s Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Brad Burball, Volusia County director of Community Services, described the property as a mix of already-cleared uplands and adjacent wetlands that staff proposes to conserve in part and develop in part for active recreation. He said about 80 acres of uplands are already disturbed and that the county would conserve roughly half the tract while keeping active recreation on the previously cleared portion. \"We are having active recreation on a site that's already been cleared, and we're protecting and conserving the wetlands so they retain their natural function,\" Burball said.

Burball said the county expects to separate preserved wetlands from active uses with fencing and to produce a management plan that addresses noise mitigation, pollution control and facility oversight. He said feasibility work by consultants Hunden found a well-located, professionally run complex could produce substantial economic activity over decades.

Council debate focused on three questions: whether the use fits the ballot language for two voter-approved local programs — Volusia ECHO (Environmental, Cultural, Historic and Outdoor Recreation) and Volusia Forever — whether the tract lies within the county’s wildlife corridor and should remain undisturbed, and what the county’s liability and operational model would be if the site hosted motorized recreation.

County staff said the ECHO ballot language allows \"outdoor recreation projects for public use,\" and Volusia Forever’s language includes \"resource-based recreation,\" citing a Florida Department of Environmental Protection definition that lists motorized off-highway-vehicle riding among resource-based activities. Legal counsel and risk management told the council that the county’s sovereign-immunity protections, state recreation statutes and contract indemnities could limit county exposure; staff said operator contracts would require insurance and indemnity provisions.

Public testimony divided sharply. About three dozen speakers addressed the council; many riders and members of local motocross groups said the county lacks a legal facility and urged purchase of the site so local riders and families would have a safe, permitted place to train and compete. Fifteen-year-old Paxton Zavitsky told the council motocross is his “life” and noted the distances families now travel for training. Local riding groups highlighted economic benefits at comparable venues.

Opponents — including conservation groups, Longleaf Pine Preserve advocates and many nearby residents — said the site is inside the Florida Wildlife Corridor and that Volusia Forever funds should be used to acquire and preserve habitat. Opponents also questioned the purchase price and raised environmental concerns including noise, light, runoff and wildlife disturbance. Several speakers requested the council prioritize acquiring land to protect water recharge and habitat instead of enabling motorized uses.

Council members said the vote before them was only to acquire the property. Councilman Jake Johansen asked whether the county would still buy the property if motocross organizers later failed to fund track development; staff replied yes, the wetlands and a significant acreage would be conserved and could be restored to longleaf pine habitat if an events model proved infeasible.

After more than two hours of discussion, Councilman Daniel Robbins moved to approve the purchase as presented. Councilman David Santiago seconded the motion. Councilman Troy Kent later said he would support the purchase to preserve the land; he and others added they expect subsequent decisions and public hearings before any motocross facility would be permitted or constructed. The motion passed 7–0.

Actions recorded at the meeting direct staff to proceed with an acquisition agreement with Volusia 44 Properties LLC; subsequent steps will include finalizing the purchase, preparing management and conservation plans and presenting any future proposals for structured motorized recreation or a public-private operation model to the council for separate approval.","Volusia County voted 7-0 to buy 356 acres from Volusia 44 Properties for conservation with part of the site expected to be used for active outdoor recreation; council and the public debated whether motocross belongs on land inside the wildlife corridor and whether ECHO/Volusia Forever funds should be used.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273449,"Miller Lake neighbors urge county to seek revocation of 2017 Royal Oaks permit as flooding grows",1270,1338000,2608000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000600-55ecc275562e47ad333e7920a6ca7e69&start=1338&end=2608","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000600-55ecc275562e47ad333e7920a6ca7e69/thumbnail_1338000.jpg","/articles/6273449/Volusia-County/Florida/Miller-Lake-neighbors-urge-county-to-seek-revocation-of-2017-Royal-Oaks-permit-as-flooding-grows","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273449-63d7d99b4bd2f3e07b5c5447e4ddc513/orig.mp4?Expires=1773645935&Signature=LwcaJlVcVYuBr57JE6sUO0dUslRtGnRMvA7cZzzKL4D15QpgUzzQmJDUfku3WwYjXkhG9oBPifHu7JuwLtK4f5ReLmiV1FhAJQDXkymX3FoQcQwFoPPCp3y-W6ZyrBtEthuKE9XDoqoIfuFBd7sLGQfNe7ff7k3A4htAFXpcFrSUE18dYWUD7SR2j2vAsnaf73jMZY8sIEwPhhXsxfzjdLSIpWiupFHcOoqGC0gZVSYPp2MBXYv10DnD12FljFDG-DkxrdkeLX2nfpcXACNN3jZpbC19OcJbrveYYxzI3N-FDIqVEsuUaGI~P5qnCXMxg1oK1bVQ4IorGe1SNvH0nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Peggy Hill and a string of longtime Miller Lake residents told the Volusia County Council on April 15 that water from a commercial development permitted in 2017 has filled Miller Lake and pushed the shoreline into back yards.

The speakers described a years-long rise in water levels and asked the county to seek revocation of the Royal Oaks permit issued to the developer in early 2017. “Please ask to revoke this permit from 02/2017,” Peggy Hill said during public comment, and Dave Hill said, “I want my dry land back and I don't agree to this water.”

Residents presented aerial photos and videos showing the lake’s footprint from 2008 through 2025 and said the change accelerated after the county issued a letter of no objection that allowed the permitted system to route runoff into the Miller Lake basin. Several speakers said the permitted system is collecting suburban runoff from Tremont Drive and the Big Lots shopping plaza and delivering that water into the lake and adjacent cleared parcels.

Speakers described property damage including dead trees, submerged yards and docks, and a road that was temporarily overtopped after Hurricane Milton. Dave Kramer said his home, built in 1967, was surrounded by water two weeks after the storm and that the lake level had not returned to published FEMA flood elevations.

Residents suggested county staff intervene with St. Johns River Water Management District and the permit holder, saying the permit authorizes conditions that could be revoked. “The 2017 Saint John's Water Management Permit for Royal Oaks is a disaster for Miller Lake,” Hill told the council. Several speakers urged the county to request a revocation or remediation and to pursue immediate measures to protect homes before the summer rainy season.

County staff did not announce an immediate formal action at the meeting. Council members acknowledged the concerns and asked staff about the permitting and monitoring history, but no vote or directive to revoke the permit was recorded during the session.

Council staff has previously briefed the council on stormwater and flood mitigation work planned countywide; residents asked the board to prioritize Miller Lake. The issue was raised during the public comment section at the council’s April 15 meeting and will likely return to staff for follow-up contact with the water management district, the permit holder and county engineering staff.

Residents may expect separate technical follow-up from county stormwater staff, including whether temporary pumps or other emergency responses are feasible and what authority the county has to request permit changes from the district.","Residents near Miller Lake told the Volusia County Council that a 2017 permit for Royal Oaks stormwater is diverting runoff into the basin, causing long-term flooding that has damaged yards, trees and driveways. Neighbors asked staff and the council to request the permit be revoked and to take immediate action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council asks staff to consult delegation, property owners about restoring beach driving on Daytona’s Main Street corridor

Volusia medical examiner reports drop in overdose deaths, shorter turnaround times

Council approves purchase of 356 acres; debate flares over motocross, Volusia Forever and ECHO funding

Miller Lake neighbors urge county to seek revocation of 2017 Royal Oaks permit as flooding grows