NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla – The city commission in New Smyrna Beach could make big changes to its development regulations, with the city commission set to hold a public hearing and vote on the proposed adjustments.
These changes aim to address the flooding issues that have plagued the area in recent years and would impact how developers can build in the city.
The city hopes these regulatory changes will benefit both future and current homeowners.
One thousand homes in New Smyrna Beach were flooded during Hurricane Ian in 2022 and while 30 homes flooded last year in Milton, the city’s roads were submerged for weeks. Recognizing the need for change even before these major storms, the city’s staff has since revised its initial proposals, which are now up for a final vote.
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“It was pretty stressful and even right now when we start getting near hurricane season, we start getting anxious,” said Jon Welch, a resident who experienced the flooding firsthand.
After Hurricane Ian hit in 2022, Welch began renovations while his family lived in an RV in their driveway. News 6 was there in the aftermath when their entire neighborhood was flooded.
The flooding from Hurricane Milton in 2024 added to residents’ concerns.
“It came up about a third way up our driveway here and the ditches filled up,” Welch noted.
Hurricane Milton brought 12 inches of rain to New Smyrna Beach, while Ian in 2022 delivered 20 inches. The city now aims to build infrastructure that can withstand such extreme rainfall. After conducting several engineering studies over the last two years, the city suggests the following measures:
- Future developments should be designed to accommodate higher rainfall storm events like Ian.
- Retention and detention ponds, swales, and ditches should be constructed to manage large volumes of water.
- New roadway design standards should be implemented for flood protection.
- The city engineer should have more authority to enhance development codes in flood-prone areas.
Residents said changes are needed, especially as new housing developments continue to rise around the city.
“They need to get to the root of this problem and figure out where they need to direct this water, and obviously what they’re doing is not working, but they’re still allowing building to continue,” Welch expressed.
The city council’s meeting tomorrow will include a public hearing on these proposals, followed by the council’s second and final vote on the matter.
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