Volusia PLDRC delays decision on proposed Colony Road borrow pit after staff urges denial and neighbors raise traffic, wetlands concerns

The Volusia County Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission on Aug. 25 voted to continue a special-exception application for a nonexempt excavation on prime agricultural (A-1) land and its nine companion variance requests to the commission's Feb. 19, 2026 meeting.

The commission’s action followed a staff recommendation to forward the special-exception and variance applications to the county council with a recommendation of denial. Planning staff said the proposal as presented would excavate roughly 2,887,000 cubic yards from about 54 acres of a 154-acre parcel in five phases over 12 years and would disturb or adjoin approximately 42.8 acres of on-site wetlands.

Staff planner Steve Shams told the commission the application proposes two pits up to approximately 50 feet deep, a maximum operating schedule of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and a site layout that—without additional review or redesign—would reduce required setbacks and perimeter landscape buffers in multiple locations. Shams said the application lacked adequate data showing the excavation would not cause long-term wetland drawdown and that third-party review and mitigation requirements had not been satisfied. “Without proper screening and separation, this has a potential…