Volusia Moves Forward With Flagler Border Agreement

DeLand, FL - Volusia officials vote to move forward with a joint planning agreement that impacts the border area the county shares with its northern neighbor, Flagler County. The agreement in question concerns the 40 miles of border area that Volusia shares with the southern part of Flagler. The goal of the agreement is to improve governmental coordination between the two county governments so that each is prepared for changes in service and infrastructure needs caused by growth and development. In addition, the agreement—which will take nine months to finalize—gives each county a chance to review the other county’s land use decisions for issues such as rezoning of properties, comprehensive plan amendments, subdivisions and site plans that are right across the border. The agreement, however, will only apply to unincorporated land located within three miles on either side of the shared border, and excludes property within the jurisdiction of other local governments, such as Bunnell, Flagler Beach or Ormond Beach. Flagler County officials reviewed the proposed interlocal planning agreement on Monday (April 5th). Jerry Cameron, Flagler County’s administrator, told Flagler commissioners that the proposed agreement is a good idea and Flagler will consider inking similar agreements with other adjacent jurisdictions. “What they do right over the county line affects us just as much as if it were in the county. The same is true of what we do,” said Cameron. “I think that this is a first step to a much better planning process.” In order to finalize the agreement, Volusia County officials will have to amend the intergovernmental coordination element of the county’s comprehensive plan. From there, the amendment will undergo a review by the county’s Growth and Management Commission and the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity. Both counties will then have to draft and agree on a memorandum of understanding detailing the specifics of the arrangement in order to implement the agreement.