🌿 Edgewater’s Comprehensive Plan Proposal: A Blueprint for Sustainable Cities

Citizen-Led Vision Offers Bold Solutions for Flooding, Overdevelopment, and Infrastructure Reform

EDGEWATER, FL — November 7, 2025 In a powerful demonstration of civic engagement, local advocacy group Dream Green Volusia—led by resident Suzanne Scheiber—has submitted a transformative set of recommendations to the Edgewater City Council aimed at reshaping the city’s Comprehensive Plan. The proposal, sent via email to city officials and council members, outlines 17 detailed reforms that could serve as a model for municipalities across Florida grappling with the pressures of rapid development and climate vulnerability.

Although the plan cannot be formally adopted until the repeal of Senate Bill 180, which currently restricts local planning autonomy, the submission is being hailed as a proactive roadmap for smart, resilient, and community-centered growth.

🧭 A Citizen’s Vision for Smarter Growth

The proposed changes reflect years of grassroots observation and frustration with unchecked development, flooding, and infrastructure strain. Scheiber and fellow residents met with city planner Ryan Solstice earlier this year to discuss the ideas, which now form a comprehensive framework for reform. Among the most impactful recommendations:

• Environmental Safeguards

  • Ban clear-cutting of native vegetation and protect ecosystems that mitigate flooding.

  • Eliminate wetland mitigation banks that allow developers to destroy natural flood buffers.

  • Create a native/invasive plant registry and regulate watering schedules to promote sustainable landscaping.

• Flood Control and Stormwater Management

  • End mass grading and reduce the use of fill that displaces floodwaters into older neighborhoods.

  • Hire a professional stormwater engineer to design a modern, city-wide flood prevention system.

  • Use stormwater utility fees for proactive maintenance rather than reactive fixes.

• Infrastructure and Annexation Accountability

  • Require all annexations to pay full impact fees, reviewed every five years for inflation and cost accuracy.

  • Develop a master facility plan to expand water and sewer infrastructure, with a focus on relocating treatment systems west of I-95 to support future growth.

• Zoning and Development Reform

  • Limit high-density Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) and enforce consistent setbacks and buffers.

  • Require preliminary plans for all annexations and PUDs to prevent speculative zoning.

  • End the approval of entire subdivisions with only small 50-foot lots, promoting diversity in housing types.

• Transparency and Oversight

  • Mandate five-year reviews of environmental and stormwater standards, similar to charter reviews.

  • Require City Council approval for non-residential structures over 25,000 square feet, eliminating loopholes in the current site plan process.

  • Coordinate the Comprehensive Plan with the Land Development Code to ensure consistency in permitted uses, density, and intensity.

🚧 Legislative Barriers and Local Frustration

While the reforms cannot be formally adopted until SB 180 is repealed, Scheiber’s message urges city officials to prepare for immediate action once the legislative barrier is lifted. “These changes are a model of good governance,” she wrote, “and will help address many issues facing Edgewater’s future.”

She also requested that Councilman Mike Thomas be made aware of the submission, noting that he may not regularly check his email—a subtle but pointed reminder of the need for responsive leadership.

📢 A Model for All Cities

Edgewater’s proposed Comprehensive Plan changes arrive at a critical moment for Florida communities facing rising seas, aging infrastructure, and explosive growth. The citizen-led initiative offers a scalable, replicable framework for cities seeking to balance development with environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility.

As climate pressures mount and legislative dynamics shift, Dream Green Volusia’s proposal stands as a testament to the power of informed civic action. Residents across Florida are watching closely—and many are already asking how they can bring similar reforms to their own communities.

🗣️ What’s Next?

Residents are encouraged to review the full proposal, engage with city leaders, and attend upcoming council meetings to voice support. With the repeal of SB 180 potentially on the horizon, Edgewater could become a statewide leader in sustainable urban planning—but only if its citizens and officials act in concert.