Chair seeks unified plan to preserve Old Mission Road corridor and pursue water‑quality grants

The Southeast Volusia Manufacturing and Technology Coalition chair urged the coalition to adopt a single, comprehensive plan for Old Mission Road so the county, the City of Edgewater and the City of New Smyrna Beach do not pursue conflicting projects. The chair said projects that "have been on the books forever" are now funded and the goal is to ‘‘make sure that rather than doing something and then having to redo it, we have a comprehensive plan so that the city the county is working with the cities, both cities...’’

The chair framed the plan as a tool for accessing grants for stormwater, water quality and flood protection that unite jurisdictions. Consultant Ernie Cox, who introduced himself during public comment, said the white paper is intended to start a regional conversation: "this is something that gets a conversation started," he said, noting the draft has gone through multiple revisions and that his group is providing staff support. Cox described a phased, long‑range conservation corridor approach—pairing limited road footprint changes with trails and integrated stormwater systems—paid for over time with targeted grants. The chair asked members and residents to support the effort publicly and to speak with council members and city managers ahead of an Oct. 14 outreach push.

Why it matters: Coordinated planning could preserve right of way and make the region more competitive for state and federal restoration and resiliency funds. The meeting did not adopt a formal motion; next steps identified in the meeting include circulating an updated draft of the white paper and city‑specific benefit sheets so each jurisdiction understands impacts and opportunities.