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Economic development board urges council not to adopt citywide or Florida Shores moratoriums
Summary
The Edgewater Economic Development Advisory Board voted to recommend against both a citywide moratorium on land‑use changes and a Florida Shores building‑permit moratorium, citing potential revenue losses, reputational harm and the need for targeted stormwater maintenance and funding alternatives.
The Edgewater Economic Development Advisory Board voted to recommend that the City Council not adopt two proposed moratorium ordinances — a citywide freeze on annexations, rezonings and other land‑use changes and a separate temporary building‑permit moratorium for the Florida Shores drainage basin.
Bliss Jamieson, a board member who made the motion, said the board was concerned about lost revenue and the city's reputation if the moratoriums are extended. "I recommend against the citywide moratorium altogether," Jamieson said during the meeting, and the board approved the recommendation by show of hands.
The board's discussion centered on the moratoria's scope and likely effects. Staff described two separate ordinances: ordinance 2024‑o‑63 would impose a temporary moratorium on building permits that increase impervious surface in the Florida Shores drainage basin through Jan. 5, 2026; the second would pause annexations, rezonings, PUD amendments and comp‑plan changes citywide through the same date, with carve‑outs for commercial and industrial properties along Park Avenue and the US‑1 corridor.
Ryan, the city's development services director, told the board the Florida Shores moratorium is intended to prevent additional impervious surface while consultants map drainage basins and produce a stormwater capital improvement list. "The proposed cost for the stormwater master plan is $1,200,000," he said, adding that the final capital costs will be identified in the consultants' CIP report expected next year.
Board members and public commenters warned the moratoriums could erode property values and tax revenue in Florida Shores and across Edgewater. Tracy Barlow, a Florida Shores resident and chair of government relations for the New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors, said a moratorium had already created a stigma for some properties and urged the board to press for more stormwater maintenance and targeted funding instead of a blanket pause.
The board also pressed staff on permit timing and exceptions. Ryan clarified that building permits already submitted would continue through review and that the Florida Shores moratorium applies only to new impervious‑surface permits within that drainage basin. The citywide moratorium, by contrast, is aimed at legislative land‑use decisions such as comp‑plan amendments and rezones.
The advisory board's recommendation is advisory; the City Council retains final authority. The council is scheduled to take the second reading of the revised moratorium ordinances on Monday, Jan. 6, and staff said the board's input will be forwarded for council consideration.
