The Volusia County Council voted yesterday to accept the recommendation of the Duncan Associates study to raise impact fees to the rates published in the September 2018 study. Council decided to phase in the fees over 2 years, with 75% implemented in year 1 and the remaining 25% in year 2. Fees will also be annually indexed using the FDOT construction cost index thereafter within a minimum and maximum range.
Volusia County Council directed staff to coordinate four public meetings around the county to present findings from the recent updated Impact Fee Study by Duncan & Associates. And allow for public input on the direction Council should take regarding possibly raising impact fees.
Effective October 1, 2018, the Volusia County zoning activity will be reassigned to the Planning and Development Services Division in order to better serve our residents and customers.
Volusia County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System ("CRS"), a voluntary program that provides a discount to flood insurance policy holders in Volusia County. The CRS program requires that the Plan be updated every five years, and that the update be adopted by the local governing body. Staff will request on 9/18 for the adoption of this updated plan.
VCARD 's mission to promote education and collaboration as it relates to responsible development has led to a seminar on impact fees in Volusia County. This important community topic has been spotlighted by the media recently; as the County Council goes through its process of updating these fees, VCARD held a seminar featuring speakers from the County and private sector consultants to delve into the details.
Volusia County named Deputy County Manager George Recktenwald as the Interim County Manager while the County Council decides how best to move forward. In his first update to Council, Recktenwald stated, "I am working on a better communication strategy to keep all of you informed and the community at large as well."
For months, the idea of a half-cent sales tax increase in Volusia County to fund infrastructure has been discussed. This morning during normal Volusia County Council session, Item 2 addressed Ordinance 2018-11, seeking voter approval of a half cent sales tax to be placed upon the November ballot. After public comment by both the Elected Official Roundtable Chair Mayor Bob Apgar and The Volusia Manager's Association Chair Joe Yarbrough stating consensus by both groups to postpone the question being placed upon the ballot, the County Council agreed to take no action at this time.
On behalf of the Volusia County Council, District 1 member Pat Patterson sent a letter to Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission (CFCRC) Chair asking for the SunRail Commission to add to their March 29 meeting agenda a discussion and vote on previously proposed amendments to the three commission organizational agreements due to the lack of federal funding to construct Phase 2 of SunRail to DeLand.
New Smyrna Beach is hosting a yearlong series of citizen-led monthly workshops to discuss various issues unique to coastal communities. New Smyrna Beach hopes to promote public engagement in the development of priorities, policies, and strategies to improve city planning and define new policies.
The Tomoka Town Center Planned District (PD) Agreement was approved by the City Commission on February 15, 2017. Now, an applicant is requesting approval of a major site plan to develop within the Tomoka Town Center PD Agreement. The proposal includes eight multifamily buildings, a clubhouse, a dog park, ten six-car garages, and a pool with a pavilion, with a total proposed building square footage of 104,153 square feet. Review scheduled for Feb. 22nd.
Bi-annually the City of Ormond Beach embarks upon a strategic planning process to outline community goals and objectives. These goals are then reviewed annually to determine how to modify the work plan to achieve specified objectives. The Commission will meet this evening at 5:30 p.m. at 22 S. Beach Street, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.
This morning, Volusia County Council received a presentation on impact fees by the Director of Growth and Resource Management, Clay Ervin. To learn more how fees are calculated; thoroughfare road program; and, proportionate share.
On February 7, the City of Daytona Beach Commission will be presented a resolution approving an agreement between City of Daytona Beach and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) that accelerates design and engineering of East International Speedway Boulevard improvement project. The agreement will be a locally funded agreement between the City and FDOT.
VCARD Celebrated 32nd Installation Banquet
The Impact of Flood Provisions in the Florida Building Code
Following a study conducted by an independent engineering firm, and public notices and public hearings, the New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commission has approved policy changes that will go into effect on May 1, 2017. The change is in the existing capacity fee policy, from category-based to a meter-based policy.
Items to be addressed include amending required buffers; amending wetland variances; establishing prohibited activities or development within buffer areas; and, amending wetland survey requirements.
FDOT convened its Project Visioning Team on January 18th to provide an update on the US 92/ISB Corridor Master Management Plan. The study is examining multiple potential lane-configuration alternatives from the Halifax River to SR A1A/Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach.
The jurisdiction of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers will be examined by the Supreme Court in a lawsuit from the American Exploration & Mining Association (AEMA).
State senator Rob Bradley, a Republican from Fleming Island, has filed a bill that would provide $35 million under 2014's Amendment 1 for restoration of the St. Johns River and the Keystone Heights lake region.