[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6215086,"mediaKeyId","3662774-0410fb054b36fbe65830b15495698ee4","parentId",3662774,"title","Resident urges DeBary council to press for new school; staff and council cite prior site approval","audioSeconds",1993,"startMs",954600,"endMs",2948125,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3662774-0410fb054b36fbe65830b15495698ee4&start=954&end=2948","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3662774-0410fb054b36fbe65830b15495698ee4/thumbnail_954600.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6215086/Florida/Resident-urges-DeBary-council-to-press-for-new-school-staff-and-council-cite-prior-site-approval","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215086-7fc191e44454cdc9f99d832229c66b37/orig.mp4?Expires=1770746493&Signature=HfBtkC4isskZtDaJKPc11TEAE27hZKFkEamgAz~oFuZuNf5L2fFHXHmlnAuygiqwp0U7TjxVsmg-AM74h79j8otRAQlB8tPakkRZyyWqLCKRD8hlmtAC1JhPEUDF9FZP38shzOvJ5pBxdx5EvoUYB--2xO-oU78U6QpN1LI8QjQwMGC98BhJn~ChQ7LccllFWQWTAI3rHzdo1QiFwlmQJqtsCQ2Kv7SPxi7lbUP~oQ8p5VEIh4E9BE2eM~oS~mrNa-uMxyWTFnEqMROEvJYHuNbK8BV96ZlHw4IlBVAv8dXvMIX4rcKduWyC7mIeA~bIA~q5Hw54S7adDekiEotLmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of DeBary, FL","date","2025-06-04T17:22:57Z","article","A DeBary resident urged the City Council on Wednesday to take “immediate cooperative action” with the Volusia County School Board to build a new school in DeBary, saying growing enrollment and new development are straining existing facilities.

Yvette Best, identifying herself as a resident of Orlandia Heights and an advocate for children, told the council the city’s comprehensive plan states the city will coordinate with the school board to provide future educational facilities and that residents should expect the council to partner with the school board to site a new school. \"Our children deserve nothing less,\" Best said.

The nut graf: staff and council responded by reviewing prior council actions on school-site approvals and consistency determinations, noting the city previously approved a K–8 site and that at least one proposed school site was found inconsistent in a separate council determination and not appealed by the school board under the process established in Florida law.

Growth Management Director Stephen Babb told the council that Volusia County Schools is evaluating properties for a new elementary site near DeBary and Orange City but that a specific site had not been determined at the time of the presentation. He told the council the comprehensive plan allows schools within any land‑use classification subject to a consistency review by the council and referenced an amended interlocal agreement between the city and Volusia County Public Schools dated July 1, 2007.

Babb and other speakers noted the council on July 3, 2024, approved the location of a new K–8 public school at 25 Buckley Drive (approval referenced in the workshop materials). Babb also said that on Jan. 15 of the year the council held a determination of consistency for a proposed K–8 at Spring Vista Drive and found that proposal inconsistent with the comprehensive plan; Babb said the Volusia County School Board did not appeal that decision under Florida Statute 163.3215, making the council’s determination final.

Council members expanded the discussion beyond large public schools. Mayor Chesay and others said the state legislature’s recent actions and funding changes increase options for alternative school providers and charter schools, and council members noted that some smaller schools might fit in other parts of the city even if a 1,400‑student campus requires a larger site. City Manager (unnamed in the transcript) reiterated the city has approved a school site and said the approved site was intended for a school of more than 1,400 students.

Public-comment and council exchanges at the workshop focused on how the comprehensive plan’s policies, sidewalk and trail connections and transportation improvements would intersect with any future school siting and how city coordination with the school board can facilitate pedestrian safety.

The workshop session provided data and background and the council did not change the comprehensive plan at the meeting; staff will bring goals, objectives and policy proposals to the June 18 workshop for council consideration.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Workshop 06-04-25","oneSentenceSummary","A resident urged immediate city action to partner with the Volusia County School Board to build a new school in DeBary. Staff reviewed past council actions on school-site determinations and council members discussed available sites, consistency findings and alternative schooling options under recent state law changes.","taxTitle","City of DeBary, Volusia County, Florida","taxId",71131,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6215091,"DeBary workshop flags potable‑water, septic‑to‑sewer gaps and reclaimed‑water expansion",1554,610320,2164895,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3662774-0410fb054b36fbe65830b15495698ee4&start=610&end=2164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3662774-0410fb054b36fbe65830b15495698ee4/thumbnail_610320.jpg","/articles/6215091/Florida/DeBary-workshop-flags-potablewater-septictosewer-gaps-and-reclaimedwater-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215091-0fc7cd1043ca395c7362b45a5af5ee4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770746493&Signature=nJbtVVVzdXnyQdTt7STJoYOjIj1UOx7rXODX1WRRa2nSER2F1vZHq4ukhCdQwAsdZEJw8hWu~ipxWm94lHTjxcueKv9o4Kq6QjOdP-9PoPedYesDkttd02mBqv4c08uJY5s77ddUeZIlbwr8xPJAwXZR8R5UxqiGDJ-vlLAahbwWVaQx6Hc00aPQo3I0pOdS4~7gnMMeG7eszLP5sJSdon2QbMxN~CWw9TUe47DsS5oBQ~n~lsi9383dGZWfp3Cd0UgmgkDD1YpuTTvCU4g3IhvEOy~42w1uZaV1Fj4S01o3rdAbBU8fyeHsqiE7Wl3YkrffiOkDeIrNFLF1Z-67CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of DeBary Growth Management Director Stephen Babb on Wednesday summarized the public‑facilities findings in Volume 1 of the city’s draft comprehensive plan, describing where potable water, central sewer and septic systems currently serve the city and identifying gaps requiring capital planning.

The nut graf: staff told council members the city relies primarily on Volusia County Utilities for potable water, has scattered areas served by private wells or by Deltona Public Works on the east side of Interstate 4, and is coordinating with county master‑planning efforts to convert neighborhoods from septic to central sewer.

Babb said the map in the plan shows areas served by the county’s potable water distribution system (shown in yellow), older parts of the city served by wells (green), and a small number of parcels where service status was not clear from existing data. He told the council there are roughly “50 to 68 individual homes” in the Dirksen Road area that are served by Deltona Public Works rather than Volusia County.

On sewer, Babb said the Southwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility is expanding and now has capacity of 4,500,000 gallons per day; staff said the existing facility should serve beyond the 20‑year planning period. He also described an ongoing Volusia County utilities master plan to convert portions of the city from individual septic systems to a central sewer system.

Stormwater came up as a recurring constraint in older neighborhoods. Babb said some drainage facilities are inadequate during extreme events and that the city has undertaken multiple stormwater improvement projects. On solid waste, staff reported an average of 49 pounds per household per week and noted a new county landfill expansion adjacent to the existing facility to meet regional capacity needs.

Council members asked implementation questions and raised coordination issues. Council member Papalardo expressed anxiety about the number of properties relying on septic systems and asked for more detail; Babb and staff said those gaps will be addressed in Volume 2 policy work. Vice Mayor Butland asked how reclaimed water fits into the plan; Babb said reclaimed water will be included in the comprehensive plan using county metrics and that reclaimed water distribution depends on the treatment plant’s expanded capacity and the installation of distribution piping.

The workshop materials note the city coordinates closely with Volusia County Utilities, the Department of Environmental Protection, the St. Johns River Water Management District and other regional agencies on water and wastewater matters. No actions were taken at the workshop; council members asked staff to carry the public‑facilities data into policy drafting scheduled for the June 18 meeting.

","Staff presented the public‑facilities analysis for the comprehensive plan, describing potable water service areas, septic neighborhoods, a master plan to convert septic to central sewer, the Southwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility expansion and reclaimed‑water delivery questions tied to future development.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6215095,"DeBary staff outline transportation map, note bike, golf-cart and capacity gaps",1828,75975,1904360,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3662774-0410fb054b36fbe65830b15495698ee4&start=75&end=1904","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3662774-0410fb054b36fbe65830b15495698ee4/thumbnail_75975.jpg","/articles/6215095/Florida/DeBary-staff-outline-transportation-map-note-bike-golf-cart-and-capacity-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215095-ccfb911d4663600a7401f2bcf74f8bac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770746493&Signature=F7gblnKXQvhr0lt1pe~SiHTyOU~EQK5EknUxbhITcYwhGmg~or3-5hvPxowHxWm64F9mUXAno3H8FbmRU8ZolSJWEKuEgNijIV6yW~WWxLrm7aQsyHihZNLj02gUU3do33u9xMmMGJJoPka6QIrUi94VM6Ad-QdEsP1drNOJJW7UNj9O~RFrlEMwEsIuifgZoJF5Q~-Rvqbcge1oMRiU0OQKOB6eis6~xxdJKjqf84V14c5wEGDDU7zKoeQY62h0gLGZDC3JXKhObTXZSyrBal4dJOgNK65GEC9o~HOxH4CI39wI-4iba-3FrTd3rSM8vYbj~m8KWoJegpPBw6Q1~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of DeBary Growth Management Director Stephen Babb on Wednesday presented data and analysis for the transportation element of the city’s draft 2025 comprehensive plan, saying the presentation focuses on existing conditions, not policy choices.

Babb told the City Council the transportation section will include maps showing the city’s road network, jurisdictional responsibilities and projected levels of service through 2035 and 2045. He said arterial streets, collectors and local streets are color-coded on the plan’s maps and that the maps required for the plan submittal include a transportation-network exhibit (map 21).

The nut graf: the presentation identified several operational and safety concerns — near-critical traffic volumes on key roads, poor conditions for bicyclists on faster roads without separation, sidewalk gaps and limited local bus coverage — and tied those conditions to projects already under review by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Flagler-Volusia Transportation Planning Organization.

Babb said the city’s current operating levels range from A/B to D on many streets for the most recent six months of monitoring and that the 10- and 20-year projections (2035 and 2045) come from Volusia County with supplemental city staff analysis where county data had gaps. He noted the city’s three state trails and an existing SunRail station near the southern portion of the city and said the SunRail line previously ended in DeBary but now extends farther north.

On active transportation, Babb said the plan applies a bicycle metric called “levels of traffic stress,” which rates the relative comfort and safety for bicyclists. He said U.S. 1792 (Charles R. Beale Boulevard) “fares poorly” for bicyclists because of high speeds and little or no separation from motor vehicles and that the plan identifies that as a condition to be corrected. \"This section will include a lot of maps,\" Babb told the council, noting printed maps are easier to read than screen views.

Council discussion focused on specific improvements and near-term actions. Council member Stevenson asked whether FDOT’s upcoming resurfacing this summer would improve walkability scores; Babb said reducing posted speeds and narrower lane geometry would help but would not substitute for a complete‑street design that adds separated bike and pedestrian facilities. Council members also discussed sidewalk gap analyses staff has performed and the intent to connect local sidewalks and trails to state trail facilities and to new development areas.

Babb said the Flagler-Volusia Transportation Planning Organization (formerly known as the RiverDESI TPO) coordinates regional transportation programming and reviews funding proposals to ensure consistency with the long-range transportation plan. He said some long-range projects the plan will reference include FDOT-managed turn-lane work on Dirksen Road and other resurfacing and reconstruction projects handled at the county or state level.

Less urgent details: the presentation noted the city has permitted golf carts on certain roads and issued 528 golf cart permits since 2022, and staff said that local bus service runs on a single spur through Charles R. Beale Boulevard with stops that will be extended as new development adds demand. The council scheduled a follow-up workshop to begin policy-level discussion in two weeks.

The workshop was informational; no new policy or ordinance was adopted at Wednesday’s session.

","City growth management staff presented transportation data for the City of DeBary's draft comprehensive plan, identifying existing levels of service, bicycle and pedestrian safety shortfalls, golf-cart usage, and coordination with county and state agencies for road projects and SunRail service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges DeBary council to press for new school; staff and council cite prior site approval

DeBary workshop flags potable‑water, septic‑to‑sewer gaps and reclaimed‑water expansion

DeBary staff outline transportation map, note bike, golf-cart and capacity gaps