Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee Final Report

Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee Appointed by Volusia County Council, School Board, VCOG Appointed by Volusia County Council, School Board, VCOG Representatives from Environmental Council, League of Women Voters, United Way, VCARD, Homebuilders, Farm Bureau, Council on Aging Representatives from Environmental Council, League of Women Voters, United Way, VCARD, Homebuilders, Farm Bureau, Council on Aging Facilitated by Institute of Government and Conflict Resolution Consortium Facilitated by Institute of Government and Conflict Resolution Consortium

Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee Mayor Fred Costello Mayor Fred Costello Steve Dennis Steve Dennis Mayor Ted Erwin Mayor Ted Erwin Gerald Fieser Gerald Fieser Robert Fitzsimmons Robert Fitzsimmons Rosemarie Gore Rosemarie Gore Dr. Rob Grossman Dr. Rob Grossman Clay Henderson Esq. Clay Henderson Esq. Joel Ivey Joel Ivey Larry Kelly Larry Kelly Hon. Candace Lankford Hon. Candace Lankford Michele Moen Michele Moen Elizabeth Layton Elizabeth Layton Mayor Greg Northrup Mayor Greg Northrup Rita Press Rita Press Alexa Ross Alexa Ross Mayor Don Schmidt Mayor Don Schmidt Glenn Storch, Esq. Glenn Storch, Esq.

Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee Met from August 2004 to August 2005 Met from August 2004 to August 2005 Built upon two years of work of Smart Growth Summits. Built upon two years of work of Smart Growth Summits. Involved numerous citizen committees Involved numerous citizen committees Mission: “To seek agreement between the County, cities, and stakeholders to further define, adopt and implement “smart growth” principles within Volusia County.” Mission: “To seek agreement between the County, cities, and stakeholders to further define, adopt and implement “smart growth” principles within Volusia County.”

Population Trends Volusia Population grew from 125,000 to 258, Volusia Population grew from 125,000 to 258, : 258,000 to 479, : 258,000 to 479, Projection to 650, Projection to 650,

Central Florida Population Projections

Penn Design Studio University of Pennsylvania’s Urban Design Studio Alternatives for the Seven County Orlando Region. University of Pennsylvania’s Urban Design Studio Alternatives for the Seven County Orlando Region. Growth projection : 136% increase compared to national rate of 47% Growth projection : 136% increase compared to national rate of 47% Recommends increasing urban densities while developing strategies to protect open space. Recommends increasing urban densities while developing strategies to protect open space.

Penn Design Studio Trend Model Developed Land 2000 Total acres: 5,312,627 16% Developed Land 19% Preserved Land 10% Water 55% Undeveloped Land Development CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES

AreaDevelopableDevelopedAvailableBrevard675,402419,788264,612155,176 Lake740,599464,056355,406108,650 Seminole220,743175,830159,39316,437 Orange642,122499,004456,26042,744 Osceola964,015694,027257,241436,786 Polk1,287,1021,024,637461,555563,082 Volusia782,644575,257365,414209,843 Total5,312,6273,852,5992,319,8811,532,718 3,852,599 developable acres 3,048, regional population 7,217, regional population 2.49 average household size 2,898,608 households 1.44 units per acre 2,012,922 developed acres Trend Model 2050 Trend Model protected lands 2000 water bodies developed areas 2000 developed areas

Smart Growth Principles Current development patterns which encourage sprawl are not in our best interest. Current development patterns which encourage sprawl are not in our best interest. Smart Growth encourages preservation of environmentally important areas. Smart Growth encourages preservation of environmentally important areas. Smart Growth emphasizes compact, mixed use, walkable, livable cities. Smart Growth emphasizes compact, mixed use, walkable, livable cities. Smart Growth emphasizes a viable economy. Smart Growth emphasizes a viable economy.

SB Legislature passed significant changes to Growth Management Act Incentives to local governments who adopt certain new policies.Incentives to local governments who adopt certain new policies. New funding available for transportation and alternative water developmentNew funding available for transportation and alternative water development Provides opportunity for local governments to make mid course corrections in comprehensive plansProvides opportunity for local governments to make mid course corrections in comprehensive plans

SB 360 More local control and less control by DCA if certain steps are taken: Local Government adopts a vision. Local Government adopts a vision. Local Government adopts Urban Services Boundary Local Government adopts Urban Services Boundary Local Government works with School District to make school facilities planning an important aspect of growth management. Local Government works with School District to make school facilities planning an important aspect of growth management.

Volusia is recognizably different from the rest of Central Florida because its unique natural areas define the urban landscape. Bounded on the west by 50 miles of the St. Johns River and on the east by 45 miles of the Atlantic Ocean Beach, Volusia is like no other place. Within our boundaries are beaches, estuaries, rivers, springs, and aquifers which are the foundation for a special quality of life for our residents and a natural attraction to our visitors from around the world. Volusians live, work, and play in a diverse mosaic of national, state, and local parks, preserves, rivers, and beaches which differentiate us from the rest of Central Florida. A Vision for Volusia….

Smart Growth Keystone Recommendations Protect the Environmental Core Protect the Environmental Core Direct Development to Appropriate Locations Direct Development to Appropriate Locations Develop vibrant, livable and sustainable urban communities Develop vibrant, livable and sustainable urban communities Ensure the continued existence of rural lands and agriculture Ensure the continued existence of rural lands and agriculture Meet the infrastructure needs of smart growth Meet the infrastructure needs of smart growth Integrate Education and Smart Growth Integrate Education and Smart Growth Integrate Economic Development and Smart Growth Integrate Economic Development and Smart Growth

Protect the Environmental Core Map A Map A Conservation lands already in public ownership Conservation lands already in public ownership Florida Forever “Priority A” Lands Florida Forever “Priority A” Lands Volusia Conservation Corridor Volusia Conservation Corridor Permitted mitigation banks Permitted mitigation banks Other areas identified by the Pandion model for habitat and wildlife connectivity Other areas identified by the Pandion model for habitat and wildlife connectivity

Map A Map A Map A depicts the environmental core of Volusia County and should be adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan.

Protect the Environmental Core Map A land should be priorities for acquisition. Map A land should be priorities for acquisition. Donor sites for TDRs and Mitigation Donor sites for TDRs and Mitigation Heightened Environmental Standards Heightened Environmental Standards Clustering “by right” Clustering “by right” Densities should not be increased Densities should not be increased Agriculture and Silviculture should be allowed Agriculture and Silviculture should be allowed

Protect the Environmental Core Within Map A: Within Map A: Substantially protect all wetlands Substantially protect all wetlands 50% of uplands protected 50% of uplands protected Heightened Environmental Standards Heightened Environmental Standards Freeze underlying densities Freeze underlying densities Encourage rural clusters with 25% density bonus Encourage rural clusters with 25% density bonus

Rural Cluster Development Source: SEWRPC “Model Zoning Ordinance For Rural Cluster Development” Rural Cluster Development

Direct Development to Appropriate Locations Map B depicts areas sensitive areas which could be served by Urban Service Areas. Map B depicts areas sensitive areas which could be served by Urban Service Areas. Primary Urban Service Areas are areas appropriate for urban development Primary Urban Service Areas are areas appropriate for urban development Secondary Urban Service Areas developed through Rural Clusters Secondary Urban Service Areas developed through Rural Clusters Joint Visioning and Planning for Areas of Influence and Potential Annexation Areas Joint Visioning and Planning for Areas of Influence and Potential Annexation Areas Land Use survives Annexation Land Use survives Annexation

Map B depicts sensitive areas which could potentially be served by Urban Service Areas Direct Development to Appropriate Locations Map B

Develop vibrant, livable and sustainable urban communities Community Visioning Community Visioning Checklists and Scorecards Checklists and Scorecards Incentives Incentives Mixed Use Mixed Use Town Centers Town Centers Diversity of Housing Options Diversity of Housing Options Urban Open Space Urban Open Space Affordable Housing Affordable Housing

Meet the infrastructure needs of smart growth Coordinated approach to Transportation Concurrency Coordinated approach to Transportation Concurrency Scenic Roads Scenic Roads Mass Transit Mass Transit Water Conservation Water Conservation

Integrate Economic Development and Smart Growth Economic development support for Smart Growth principles Economic development support for Smart Growth principles Smart Growth support for economic development and social equity Smart Growth support for economic development and social equity Understanding the costs of development patterns Understanding the costs of development patterns

Ensure the continued existence of rural lands and agriculture Incentives for Rural Clusters Incentives for Rural Clusters Greater range of allowable uses in rural areas compatible with rural character Greater range of allowable uses in rural areas compatible with rural character Transfer of Development Rights Transfer of Development Rights Rural Lands Stewardship Program Rural Lands Stewardship Program Bluebelt Ordinance Bluebelt Ordinance Rural and Family Lands Protection Act Rural and Family Lands Protection Act Planning for Rural Communities Planning for Rural Communities

Integrate Education and Smart Growth Interlocal agreements on school siting Interlocal agreements on school siting Public Schools Facilities amendment to Comprehensive Plans Public Schools Facilities amendment to Comprehensive Plans Early identification of school sites Early identification of school sites Developer participation in dedication of schools sites Developer participation in dedication of schools sites Mitigation for school capacity Mitigation for school capacity

Implementation Volusia County Council Volusia County Council Charter Review Commission Charter Review Commission Volusia County School Board Volusia County School Board Volusia Council of Governments Volusia Council of Governments Area Cities Area Cities Citizens Citizens

Volusia County Council Accept and Endorse the Committee Report Accept and Endorse the Committee Report Set date for Council Workshop for further discussion Set date for Council Workshop for further discussion Direct key staff members to look at implementation strategies and timetable Direct key staff members to look at implementation strategies and timetable Council to receive regular reports on the progress of implementation. Council to receive regular reports on the progress of implementation. Council adopts amendments to Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations. Council adopts amendments to Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations. Council negotiates agreements with area cities. Council negotiates agreements with area cities. Council request that Charter Review Commission consider the Committee Report. Council request that Charter Review Commission consider the Committee Report.