VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Leaders in Volusia County have rejected a proposed moratorium on new building as supporters hoped to use the pause to address flooding.
After a meeting that went over seven hours, the council voted to explore other options.
Nearly 100 people signed up to speak during public comment which lasted for more than three hours of the meeting, many pleading for the council to take action. It appears that will be coming, but it will be as an alternative to a pause on new construction.
The Volusia County council heard from dozens of speakers Tuesday night as it took up the issue of a development moratorium to address ongoing problems with flooding.
“They moved millions of yards of soil, they cut down every tree, they raked everything from here,” one man said.
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“We can’t grow the way we are now, it’s just going to make the mess worse,” a woman added.
County Chair Jeff Brower proposed the development pause, which came after the city of Edgewater passed its own moratorium. Those for the idea say it will help the county figure out steps to solve flooding issues, but people against say it will hurt economic development.
Councilman Troy Kent proposed alternatives including no longer building on wetlands, clearing up canals and developing a plan to buy up low-lying lands that constantly flood. The council opted to explore those solutions rather than adopt the proposed moratorium.
The council will receive more information on alternative solutions at another special meeting set for Feb. 11.
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