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Flagler Avenue business owners, residents press New Smyrna Beach commission for action on repeated flooding
Summary
Business owners and residents told the commission that the 400 block of Flagler Avenue and several neighborhoods have flooded repeatedly from non‑hurricane rain events; they urged short‑term traffic controls, improved maintenance and a task force to coordinate agencies on long‑term fixes.
Several Flagler Avenue merchants and multiple residents used the public‑comment portion of the Sept. 24 New Smyrna Beach City Commission meeting to press for immediate action after repeated flash flooding of downtown streets and nearby neighborhoods.
Kim Higgins, who owns four businesses on the 400 block of Flagler Avenue, told the commission: “This is the 3rd time… we get flooded again by not a hurricane, just a rainstorm. We can't afford this.” She asked the city to consider closing Flagler Avenue during torrential rain events, not only during hurricanes, because passing vehicles create wakes that push water into storefronts.
Rudy Guerrero, a Flagler Avenue business owner, said the issue combines aging engineering and maintenance shortfalls: “The 2 issues that I see there is either that was engineered very long, what, 40 years ago? And the 2nd issue is the maintenance.” He urged better signage and temporary traffic controls to reduce vehicular wake during floods.
Brandon Baer, manager of Peanut Sports Bar, described repeated interior flooding at his business and urged the city to investigate storm‑drain capacity and maintenance: “We are 100% the ones that get impacted first and worst.”
Residents from multiple neighborhoods — including Pioneer Trail, Sugar Mill and Glencoe Road — told the commission that work on nearby development projects has, in their view, contributed to new or worsening flooding patterns. Cindy Shelton Harris explicitly called for an “immediate moratorium on any more construction” until agencies complete a coordinated review.
City staff responded with a mix of short‑term and longer‑term steps. City Manager Cowper and Director Ray said crews have been clearing storm drains, staging equipment and distributing sandbags; Director Ray noted a 24‑hour sandbag site and more than 4,000 bags issued so far. Cowper said the city is coordinating with county officials and will continue to evaluate enforcement and maintenance options. He acknowledged that larger engineered changes and interagency coordination would be necessary to address systemic problems.
What happened next: The commission did not take immediate regulatory action at the meeting (no moratorium or new ordinance was enacted). Several commissioners noted the need for a coordinated, multi‑agency task force and an after‑action report following major storms; staff were asked to follow up and provide options for short‑term traffic controls, maintenance plans, and a proposed interagency coordination structure.
Community impact: Business owners said repeated flooding has led to lost sales, damaged inventory and strain on small operations. Residents reported roads sinking and persistent standing water in some neighborhoods after recent storms.
The city manager said staff will continue coordination with county, state and water‑management entities and will bring back options to the commission.
