ITEM DESCRIPTION:
Title
2nd Reading - Ordinance No. 2025-O-06: Request to amend the Florida Shores Drainage Basin Building Permit Moratorium.
Body
REQUESTED ACTION:
1. To amend the Florida Shores Drainage Basin Building Permit Moratorium from impervious to no “fill”.
LOCATION:
City Wide
BACKGROUND:
The City Council held a workshop on November 7, 2024 to discuss a possible moratorium for the City of Edgewater. Council members came to a consensus regarding two moratoriums that could run concurrently for a period of up to one year. Two draft moratorium ordinances were drafted and reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board at their November 13, 2024 meeting. First readings of both ordinances were approved at the December 2, 2024 City Council meeting. The second readings of both the Florida Shores Drainage Basin Moratorium and the City Wide Moratorium were approved at the January 6, 2025 City Council meeting.
One of the ordinances is the Florida Shores Drainage Basin Moratorium. While the proposed one-year moratorium is in effect, the city will not accept, process, or approve any building permit which would increase impervious surface within the Florida Shores Drainage Basin. Example of impervious surfaces include:
• New single-family homes
• Additions
• Detached garages
• Sheds
• Pools
• Driveways
• Patios
Building permits that are related to storm damage or those that have already been submitted prior to the effective date of the Ordinance will not be included in this moratorium.
This Florida Shores Drainage Basin Moratorium will provide time for the city to review the impacts of Hurricane Ian and the storm event on September 14, 2024. During the temporary moratorium the city will repair, maintain, and improve ditches, canals, and other stormwater systems while the city awaits the completion of the master stormwater plan to make new improvements. The report is anticipated to be completed by December of 2025.
The City Council has requested to amend the Florida Shores Drainage Basin Building Permit Moratorium from no new impervious surface to no fill. Any applicant, within the Florida Shores Drainage Basin, that requires fill for a project would not be permitted.
City Staff believe that new single family homes, retaining walls, and additions will be impacted. The building permits affected by the current moratorium including sheds, fences, pools, driveways, and patios will most likely not be impacted by the requested amendment.
The pertinent portion of the Ordinance is below:
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT:
City staff believes the requested changes to the Florida Shores Drainage Basin Building permit moratorium will allow for increases in taxable value and revenue for the City of Edgewater. The current moratorium restricts the majority of home improvements which has resulted in a reduction in review for the City of Edgewater.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Staff will defer to City Council.