Residents press council on overdevelopment and stormwater risks near Spruce Creek

Several residents used the public comment period to urge the council to reexamine development approvals and to prioritize stormwater and wastewater management.

Adam (first name only) spoke about neighborhood safety and design, arguing that small lots, 0 lot lines and narrow driveways in recent developments force children into streets and make neighborhoods unsafe. He urged the council to resist high‑density rezonings and to preserve farmland where appropriate to retain open space.

Jackie Clark, a Tomoka Farms Village resident, disputed a previous claim that the area had received 22 inches of rain during a short period. Citing the National Weather Service and the city's wastewater facility logs, Clark said Hurricane Ian (09/29/2022) produced about 11 inches of rain and described Pond B storage levels as being over permitted elevations for months after the storm. She warned that adding more homes before the city can responsibly manage existing stormwater and wastewater flows would be "reckless."

Council members acknowledged the concerns and described ongoing stormwater mitigation efforts, grant pursuit and long‑term infrastructure planning as necessary to address capacity and environmental impacts of growth.