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Orange City council transmits comprehensive plan update (Ordinance 696) at first reading
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Summary
The City Council approved Ordinance 696 on first reading to transmit the seven‑year Evaluation and Appraisal Report updates to the Florida Department of Commerce and Volusia County Growth Management Commission, adding a CRA map and requesting current flooding information be included in the introductory element.
The City of Orange City City Council voted unanimously at its Nov. 12 meeting to approve Ordinance No. 696 on first reading and to transmit the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EER) updates to the Florida Department of Commerce and the Volusia County Growth Management Commission for state review.
Development Services Director Joe Ruiz summarized the amendments as a package of statutory updates and map revisions that extend the planning horizon to 2045, update agency references and land‑use maps, and reflect recent state statutory changes. Ruiz said the city’s 2045 population projection is about 19,956 residents and that staff’s residential capacity analysis shows the city currently has the land capacity to exceed the 1,908 additional housing units projected to be needed by mid‑century. “Based on the latest surveys available to us, it was projected that in 2025 the city’s population will be at 16,051,” Ruiz said, adding that the plan looks at both permanent and seasonal population growth through 2045 and relies on state demographic sources.
The transmittal approved at first reading included three staff actions: add the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) map to the comprehensive plan map series, authorize staff to transmit the amendments to the Florida Department of Commerce and the Volusia County Growth Management Commission for their 60‑day coordinated review, and include an update on the city’s current flooding status in the plan introduction so the state receives accurate, up‑to‑date context.
Ruiz told the council the EER process is required every seven years and is intended to align the comprehensive plan with current demographic and statutory conditions. He also flagged several statutory changes staff incorporated, including language on resiliency facilities, electrical substations and floating solar consistent with state law, and the removal of a prior state requirement that capital improvements be shown as financially feasible.
The ordinance was read into the record by the city attorney and followed by a staff presentation. After brief questions from council members about the flood wording and the septic‑to‑sewer mapping, a council member moved to approve Ordinance No. 696 at first reading, the motion was seconded, and the roll‑call vote was unanimous in favor.
Next steps for the measure are the state coordinated review period; if the Department of Commerce or Volusia County Growth Management Commission issues comments, staff will return to council with suggested revisions before a second reading and adoption vote.
