Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee

1. Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee Final Report

2. Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee • 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 • Facilitated by Institute of Government and Conflict Resolution Consortium

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

4. Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee • Met from August 2004 to August 2005 • Built upon two years of work of Smart Growth Summits. • 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.”

5. 1963 1973 1993 2003 Population Trends • 1960-1980 Volusia Population grew from 125,000 to 258,000. • 1980-2002: 258,000 to 479,000 • 2002-2020 Projection to 650,000

6. Central Florida Population Projections

7. Penn Design Studio • University of Pennsylvania’s Urban Design Studio Alternatives for the Seven County Orlando Region. • Growth projection 2000-2050: 136% increase compared to national rate of 47% • Recommends increasing urban densities while developing strategies to protect open space.

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

9. Trend Model 2050 3,852,599 developable acres3,048,058 2000 regional population 7,217,534 2050 regional population 2.49 average household size2,898,608 households 1.44 units per acre2,012,922 developed acres protected lands 2000water bodies developed areas 2000developed areas 2000-2050 Trend Model

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

11. SB 360 • 2005 Legislature passed significant changes to Growth Management Act • Incentives to local governments who adopt certain new policies. • New funding available for transportation and alternative water development • Provides opportunity for local governments to make mid course corrections in comprehensive plans SB 360

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

13. A Vision for Volusia…. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

19. Rural Cluster Development Rural Cluster Development

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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