Edgewater staff defends 1st Business Park site plan as residents press safety, tree and flooding concerns

City staff in charge of planning, building and economic development presented the 1st Business Park major site plan and told neighbors that regional traffic standards and the recorded PUD drove key design choices, including the decision to locate site access on Oak Branch rather than through Silver Circle.

The project, which the presenter said was rezoned as a business PUD in August 2024 and had its major site plan approved by council on Aug. 4, 2025, includes two building clusters with retail along the frontage and contractor-flex warehouse units behind them intended to support small businesses. "This site will hold more water than it is in pre development," the staff member said, describing stormwater controls that staff and three reviewing engineers concluded meet the city's 100-year design and water-quality requirements.

Why the driveway moved: staff said FDOT, the county traffic reviewer and the city's traffic consultant recommended access be served from Oak Branch because FDOT's rule for that section of U.S. 1 (a 55 mph rule condition) requires longer turn-lane and spacing distances. "That is why they didn't want to allow a right hand turn right before a traffic light," the staff member said, and showed FDOT comments directing the applicant to relocate the driveway to meet those standards.

Tree and buffer commitments: staff said the developer will remove one existing tree at the entrance and plant roughly 100 new trees (98 trees and two palms on site), plus a back landscape buffer that staff enumerated as roughly 54 trees and 371 shrubs at 24 inches at planting. The PUD also limits uses by tying allowed operations to available parking—staff said the original plan had 93 spaces and the revised plan reduced units and parking to "60 something".

HOA and resident concerns: Linda, who identified herself as representing the Majestic Oaks homeowners association, pressed staff to preserve the entrance' canopy and keep trucks out of Oak Branch, saying earlier notices did not reach the HOA because county property records had incorrect owner addresses. "Can we do everything in our power to try and preserve the majestic oaks entrance and canopy by having no trees out and no trucks in?" she asked.

Flooding and drainage: residents asked whether the development would increase neighborhood flooding; staff replied the design uses exfiltration trenches, dry and wet ponds and is sized to hold the 100-year storm with post-development discharge limited to 90% of pre-development flows and a required pond recovery timeframe of 72 hours.

Limits of local authority and next steps: staff repeatedly noted that driveway permits and speed-limit decisions are FDOT responsibilities and that the city must follow regional TPO standards for when a traffic-impact study is required. Staff said they have struggled to secure timely FDOT engagement but will continue outreach and shared Michael Sanders' name as the FDOT contact for the project.

What happens next: staff offered business cards and invited follow-up; they said construction controls in the development order require daily street cleaning, silt-fence protections, and prohibit dewatering during forecasted storm windows. Residents left with the option to pursue further coordination with FDOT and to seek remedies through police reports and insurance if vehicle damage or sign destruction occurs.

The presentation closed with staff offering to continue communications and with the HOA and multiple residents urging additional steps to reduce truck traffic, preserve trees and press FDOT on access and speed classifications.