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

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.”