Miller Lake residents press county to rescind 2017 permit, say upstream stormwater is flooding homes

Miller Lake property owners pressed the Volusia County Council on Aug. 5 to rescind a 2017 permit they say has allowed upstream stormwater to be routed toward their neighborhood and left homes flooded. Several residents said lake levels remain abnormally high and described ongoing damage to vegetation, animals and property. Why it matters: Residents said the 2017 Royal Oaks permit and later drainage approvals routed stormwater through unnamed ponds that now overflow into Miller Lake, and they called on county staff to push the St. Johns River Water Management District to revoke or modify permits and to withhold approval for new discharges that could increase lake levels. Residents’ claims and county staff response: Speakers including Peggy Hill, Gary Singleton and multiple Shady Lane residents said the lake had not returned to historic levels even though rainfall in their immediate area was limited. Peggy Hill showed a Saint Johns River Water Management District 05/23/2025 notice of decision and asked why the receiving body listed in that file was an “unnamed lake” rather than Miller Lake and urged the county to petition SJRWMD to rescind or reexamine the permit. County hydrology staff and county engineer Ben Recktenwald responded at the meeting: they reviewed drainage maps, explained the engineered retention and overflow routes for a newly permitted freestanding emergency room in Orange City and said, based on the permit documents and the drainage path, that overflow would discharge toward Enterprise Road and the county stormwater system that drains east, not toward Miller Lake. Staff said the developer’s drainage plans show on‑site retention sized for a 100‑year, 24‑hour event per St. Johns rules and Orange City requirements and that overflow would not naturally flow into Miller Lake. Next steps and residents’ requests: Residents asked that the county: request SJRWMD revoke or modify the 2017 permit, require new permits be turned down where they worsen local flooding, and pursue longer‑term infrastructure fixes; county staff said they would investigate further and coordinate with SJRWMD, cities and FDOT for cross‑jurisdictional remedies. Council members urged residents to submit materials for the record and noted the county’s stormwater website and new newsletter as places where updates would be posted. Ending: County staff said they would follow up with the residents, share their investigation results and coordinate with partner agencies about permit questions and stormwater work; residents said they planned to continue attending council meetings until the issue is resolved.