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Resident warns Rolling Hills, Tudor developments could worsen flooding as county weighs moratorium
Summary
A New Smyrna Beach resident told the Economic Development Task Force that two proposed projects—Rolling Hills and Tudor—could worsen flooding in neighboring subdivisions; staff briefed the task force on a countywide moratorium proposal and recent Edgewater ordinances limiting development in flood-prone basins.
A resident, Joey Marco, told the Economic Development Task Force on Nov. 19 that two proposed developments—Rolling Hills and Tudor—threaten nearby neighborhoods and local roads already prone to deep flooding. "It's a 110 acre project that's going to be building on a wetlands and that wetlands would directly affect all of the neighborhoods," Marco said during the public-comment period, saying two neighbors have already "completely flooded out their homes."
Director Bergeron, speaking for city staff, said the report included in the agenda packet was informational and noted that Volusia County leadership is discussing a proposed countywide moratorium that would pause permits, future land-use amendments and plats for up to two years. "Edgewater is following suit," Bergeron said, adding that Edgewater’s planning-and-zoning board recommended two ordinances to the city council: one to moratorium annexations, rezonings and plan amendments and a second to temporarily limit permits that would increase impervious surface area in the Florida Shores drainage basin through Jan. 6, 2026.
Task force members and participants raised concerns about the moratorium’s scope and timing. One participant asked, "When does a moratorium become a taking?" prompting a legal-oriented exchange noting that broadly applied moratoriums can invite lawsuits and that protections typically differ for projects already "in flight." Members emphasized that projects already permitted or under construction generally proceed, and that the planning-and-zoning board and city commission remain the decision points for approvals.
Members also urged residents to present concerns at planning-and-zoning and commission meetings, and staff recommended following the county and municipal hearings to understand next steps and any business-impact analysis accompanying a moratorium.
The task force did not take formal action on the moratorium at this meeting; Director Bergeron said staff would follow up with attendees and provide timing and procedural information about where and when the projects will be heard.
