To be continued — that was the Volusia County Council’s decision on a proposal to create a 90-unit residential complex just outside DeLand’s north city limits.

After hearing the request and neighbors’ objections, the council Dec. 3 tabled a vote to change the land use of 35 acres at 1400 Jacobs Road for a planned duplex subdivision. The land in question is south of International Speedway Boulevard, also known as U.S. Highway 92. The parcel includes a former citrus grove that was devastated by hard freezes during the 1980s.

Even before critics in the audience spoke, the council was aware of the opposition from those living close by.

“What kind of guarantees can you give to folks out there that there won’t be any negative impacts?” Council Member Danny Robins asked.

After noting changes in the area, Mark Watts, attorney for the developer in waiting, said the proposed density of the duplex community is comparable, about two or three units per acre, to single-family neighborhoods already established. Aware of the heightened interest in flooding across the county, Watts promised the project will not intrude into low terrain bordering Lake Lindley.

“We’re staying 100 percent out of the wetlands,” he said.

Council members noted the buildable portion of the subdivision calls for lots with a width of 35 feet.

Watts said his client would also work with county staffers to mitigate traffic concerns.

Discussion about the new development in an area now rather sparsely populated followed another lengthy conversation about the county’s flooding problems. The council deferred a decision on the duplexes, pending the receipt of more information about the possible flows and impacts of stormwater in the vicinity.

“Our ponds are designed with the capacity of 100-year storms,” Watts told the council.

At one point, County Chair Jeff Brower queried Watts about a possible county offer to purchase the property.

“Would you consider asking your client about selling us this for Volusia Forever as a stormwater park?” Brower asked

“I could certainly ask them, but they’re under contract,” Watts answered.

Volusia Forever is the county’s program of buying properties deemed environmentally sensitive for preservation, or purchasing the development rights to create a permanent conservation shield over the land.

Watts said much of the tract will become conservation land and open space, as well as places for retention ponds. The property is in an area now designated as rural, but it appears destined to become part of DeLand.

“The site is within the City of DeLand’s Utility Service Area, and the utility has the capacity to provide central utilities,” reads a planning memorandum given to the County Council. “In addition, the site is subject to the city’s 2050 Vision Plan and per that plan, the site is within the urban core and adjacent to an employment center on US 92.”

The short story is that the property may be annexed into DeLand at some point in the future.

The document further notes the county’s planners determined that the proposed land-use change is “consistent with Comprehensive Plan policies related to discouraging urban sprawl, … and environmental conservation.”

In any case, the council wanted assurance that the proposed neighborhood would not add to the water problems that now plague the region. The information relating to the stormwater flows may be available in about “six to eight weeks,” Watts said.

People living close to the intended site of the duplexes were quite vocal in their opposition to such a duplex development in their vicinity.

“The first rule of holes is, when you’re in one, you stop digging,” Charles Surran said. “Stop it today as best we’re able. … We stop it today by rejecting this application. … 90 duplexes, … It’s too densely developed.”

Susan Surran followed up.

“These 90 units are all going to be on concrete slabs,” she told the County Council. “Who knows how many people are going to be in those 90 units?”

“I’m concerned about the landscape,” Jacalyn Vanderlip said. “It doesn’t match the neighborhood. … I’m asking, please don’t rezone it.”

Another neighbor, David Byron, added his voice to the opposition.

“This is a bad, bad development,” he said. “We don’t have to pave over every single piece of property in the county.”

“You are deteriorating the quality of life in this county,” Byron continued. “Gentlemen, please show some backbone and slow this train down.”

The prospect of more traffic on their roads and streets was another reason for Deborah Hannah to sound off.

“Sometimes we can’t get to our home because of the traffic from the high school,” she said. “The County Council can say no to this.”

Rather than shut down the duplexes, the council deferred a vote on the project.

Approval of the proposed duplex neighborhood is a tandem matter, requiring an amendment of the county’s comprehensive plan, also known as the growth-management plan. That means the land use would have to be changed. Land-use changes must be accomplished by adopting an ordinance to amend the comprehensive plan, and the proposed change must also be reviewed by the Volusia Growth Management Commission and the Florida Department of Commerce.

The land use denotes the general character or nature of the property. In the case of the Jacobs Road tract, one of the three parcels is Rural, while the other two to be joined to the Rural piece are classified as Urban Low Intensity (ULI). If the County Council approves, the three pieces of property will be consolidated into one ULI tract.

The land-use change must be made before the property could be rezoned. The current zoning for the three plots is Urban Single-Family Residential (R-4) and Transitional Agriculture (A-3). The applicant is requesting the whole 35 acres be rezoned as a Planned Unit Development (PUD).

The county’s planning staff recommended the land-use change, and the Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission voted 4-2 in favor of the land-use amendment.