Local mitigation strategy (LMS) - Volusia County Government

SECTION 3: COMMUNITY PROFILEIn 2007, the estimated median household income for Volusia County was $42,276, significantly less thanthe State and U.S. medians of $47,804 and $50,740, respectively. However, income in Volusia has beenrising steadily since 1997 3 .3.5 DEVELOPMENT TRENDSVolusia County experienced substantial growth between 2000 and 2005, as indicated by U.S. Censusresidential building permit data. After this period, growth begins to decline but it is still growing arelatively strong rate (Table 3.3). In addition, the county population grew 2.2 percent in 2006, 1 percentin 2007 and is projected to grow by 1.9 percent in 2009.TABLE 3.3: Annual Residential Building Permit Data, Volusia CountyYEAR SINGLE FAMILY UNITS MULTI-FAMILY UNITS TOTAL2000 3,088 59 3,1472001 5,033 79 5,1122002 4,131 40 4,1712003 5,033 79 5,1122004 4,820 100 4,9202005 5,068 118 5,1862006 2,906 55 2,9612007 1,520 57 1,5772008 1,031 22 1,053Source: U.S. Census BureauThere is currently one major development planned in Edgewater that will incorporate highly clustered,mixed use, low impact development. Of the 585 acres of wetlands on-site, 68 percent will be used asconservation easement. The development will include green building standards (e.g., water wise, EnergyStar and dark skies protection). Although not officially approved, this development is proposed tocontain 8,500 residential structures and 3.3 million square feet for commercial use.The vulnerability of these new structures is as follows:The City maintains a floodplain management ordinance, which includes development standardsthat comply with NFIP participation requirements. Flood vulnerability would be further reduced,as the ordinance shall require that any new construction have the lowest finished floor elevatedto at least one foot above the established 100-year (1-percent annual chance) flood elevation.All residential and commercial properties are proposed to be built directly west of I-95, andwould not be susceptible to erosion, surge and tsunami hazards.Sinkhole risk is very low in this area.Structures could be damaged by high winds that exceed the wind design levels.Based on a cursory review of the proposed siting and the existing wildfire hazard areas, itappears that some of the areas might be wildfire-susceptible. However, this will depend onactual siting, buffers and construction materials (e.g., soffits).No other development is planned throughout Volusia County at this time for critical facilities orinfrastructure due to budgetary issues.Volusia County Multi-jurisdictional Local Mitigation StrategyFebruary 20103:7