DeBary council reviews updated natural-resources and intergovernmental coordination sections of 2045 comprehensive plan

City of DeBary growth management staff presented proposed amendments to Volume 2 of the city's 2045 Comprehensive Plan at an Oct. 1 city council workshop, with the update focused on the natural resources and intergovernmental coordination elements.

Stephen Bap, Growth Management Director, told the council, "we will focus on volume 2, which are our goals, objectives, and policies." He said staff amended existing policies primarily to ensure consistency with state law and with the technical guidance of outside consultants and agency partners.

The revisions described by staff add or rewrite language on water resources (including "water emergency conservation measures" and coordination on water quality and quantity), floodplain protection, soil and erosion controls, hazardous-waste management and air-quality monitoring. Bap said the changes are intended to align the plan with statutory requirements and with the expectations of state and regional agencies, including references to Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, and coordination with Volusia County programs.

Specific measures detailed in the presentation include: - Water: revised policies for implementing emergency water-conservation measures and coordinating with responsible agencies on water-supply work plans and water-quality/quantity monitoring. Bap noted the city's water policies are intended to be consistent with Volusia County Utilities and the regional water management district. - Floodplain and soils: strengthened enforcement of floodplain protections, participation in Volusia County's flood-management planning, requirements to consider topography and soil conditions in site-plan review, and measures to avoid soil erosion. The presentation also proposes prohibiting dredge-and-fill activities in lakes except for elevated docks and walkways. - Hazardous waste: establishing as a policy that the city will hold at least one household hazardous-waste collection event per year, and continuing to provide public education on proper disposal. Staff noted Volusia County maintains a hazardous-waste collection facility in DeLand within roughly 10 miles of DeBary and proposed phrasing the policy to show the event would be held in cooperation with the county. - Air quality and sustainability: updated policy language calling for air-quality monitoring concepts, pursuing a Florida Green local-government designation, constructing and operating city facilities to minimize environmental impacts, maintaining a staff sustainable-green team, public education, encouraging green-building rating systems such as LEED, and developing standards for photovoltaic panel placement. - Resource extraction and energy: language to require appropriate measures during land clearing and to prohibit high-pressure well stimulation (commonly called hydraulic fracturing) for oil or gas exploration.

Council members asked staff to clarify how several proposals would be implemented. Vice Mayor Butland asked, "Mr. Bap, solar energy, where would that fit into any of our comprehensive plan if we were to do that later on?" Bap replied that photovoltaic issues could appear in multiple chapters, notably the natural-resources and intergovernmental-coordination elements, and that applicable state and federal programs and laws already provide framework for solar installations.

Council Member Stevenson praised staff for consulting outside experts: "Thank you for taking the time to consult with experts on the scientific things." Council members also queried how a standing requirement for an annual hazardous-waste event would operate if the county did not host an event in a particular year; staff and the city manager said the policy should be qualified to reflect that events would be held "in cooperation with the county," noting the county facility in DeLand as an existing option.

The city manager raised concerns about large-scale floating photovoltaic installations, saying some companies now propose putting solar panels over reservoirs and other water bodies and noting potential material risks. The manager recalled prior requirements to avoid panels containing cadmium in other city agreements and suggested the council consider placement limits for panels on water.

Bap said standards for photovoltaic placement would be developed and brought back to council for review. He also said the intergovernmental coordination element had been reviewed by the city attorney's office and updated to reflect active relationships with other governments and procedures for coordinating plans, dispute resolution, and planning for locally significant facilities.

No formal votes or ordinances were taken at the workshop. Bap said this was the eighth workshop on the plan update and that the council's next workshop, scheduled for Oct. 15, will address the public facilities/infrastructure and capital-improvements elements.

The council did not adopt new rules or direct immediate regulatory changes at the Oct. 1 meeting; staff were asked to return with draft standards and qualified policy language where county or regional partners provide services or facilities.