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Council adopts targeted building-permit moratorium for Florida Shores drainage basin
Summary
To limit increases in impervious surface while the city completes stormwater analysis, council approved an ordinance barring building permits that increase impervious area within the Florida Shores drainage basin for up to a year; the ordinance passed on second reading.
The council approved Order 20203 to enact a temporary moratorium on building permits that would increase impervious surface area within the Florida Shores drainage basin for up to one year.
Staff clarified that the moratorium covers new single-family homes, additions, attached and detached garages, pools and similar work that increases impervious surface; gravel driveways were discussed as typically not counted as impervious. Public Works staff described recent maintenance and VAC truck activity and said the stormwater master plan team will convene kickoff meetings after data collection.
Supporters of a pause argued it will give staff time to evaluate and prioritize stormwater improvements for neighborhoods repeatedly damaged in recent storms. Opponents — including some business representatives and developers — urged careful exemptions for affordable-housing projects; staff said Habitat for Humanity projects submitted during or before adoption could be processed as provided by the moratorium language if applications were already in review.
The council voted to adopt the Florida Shores moratorium on second reading.
