§ 72-611. General design criteria.

(a)

Use of natural features. The arrangement of structures, buildings, lots, blocks and traffic circulation systems and retention areas shall make the most advantageous use of topography, trees and other natural features.

(b)

Consideration of soil and flood hazards. A development order shall not be approved unless all land intended for use as building sites can be used safely for building purposes without danger from flood or other inundation or from adverse soil or foundation conditions or from any other menace to health, safety or public welfare. Lands shall not be subdivided and/or developed until proper provisions are made for protective flood control measures and water management facilities necessary for flood-free development and flood-free vehicular access to such sites. It is the intent of this provision that no filling or grade level change will be permitted which will cause adverse drainage, or public health or public safety impacts to any surrounding area.

The "County of Volusia Soil Survey" and any supplements thereto shall be used as a guideline in identifying soil properties, and for interpretations for various uses in terms of soil limitations and soil features adversely affecting a particular use. In addition, the "soil supplement and vegetative analysis" or supplemental soil borings are to be used in interpreting the basic properties of the soils in terms of their potential for a particular use.

(c)

Finished floor elevation, utility lines and special considerations. No development shall be approved that does not contain a suitable building site of sufficient elevation to permit construction utilizing a first floor elevation based upon the following:

(1)

At least one foot above the 100-year flood-prone elevation, as determined by the CDE based upon the best available data. Where the floodplain of any stream or river is defined, development shall be approved only if all parts of the platted lots located within the floodway are expressly limited to open space uses. On-site drainage storage capacity shall be in conformance with division 8.

(2)

Provided that building lots are a reasonable level or slope toward a street, road or right-of-way, the minimum finished floor elevation of any structure shall not be less than 12 inches above the lowest crown of that portion of any adjacent street, road or right-of-way. On lots which slope away from a street or road with continuous slope toward a lake, stream or water collection area and where positive drainage exists, the finished floor elevation of any structure, including garage areas, shall not be less than 12 inches above finished site grade measured at the highest contour that abuts the building unless specifically approved by the CDE and the DRC. Where necessary, swales shall be constructed to divert runoff water around any structure so as to not adversely impact adjacent property owners.

(3)

Driveways or other areas of access to a building or structure shall be sloped so as to prevent the runoff of surface water into any building or structure, including garage and carport areas.

(4)

Utility lines including, but not limited to, electric power and light, telephone and telegraph, cable television, water, sewer and gas, shall be constructed and installed beneath the surface of the ground unless it is determined by the DRC that soil, topographical or any other compelling conditions make the underground installation of such utility lines unreasonable and impracticable. The underground installation of bulk electric power supply lines, including but not limited to, transmission lines and primary distribution feeder lines, shall not be required.

(5)

Special considerations shall be given in the layout of streets, lots, blocks, buildings and easements to the preservation of large and specimen individual trees; to preserving natural drainage methods and natural topography and landscape; and to providing screening, buffers or berms where developments abut noncompatible land uses.

(d)

Monuments. Permanent survey reference monuments shall be installed in all subdivisions and condominium plats in accordance with F.S. ch. 177, as amended. Additional monuments such as along rear lot lines which do not abut the subdivision boundary may be required by the county registered land surveyor.

(1)

At least one corner of a development shall be designated by course and distance (tie) from a readily discernible reference marker such as a U.S. Government marker, section corner, or quarter-section corner. When such a monument or corner is not available, the tie shall be made to some permanent and readily recognizable landmark or identifiable point, physical object or structure, excluding trees.

(2)

At least two monuments shall be installed as control corners within each block within the plat. The surveyor shall install additional monuments, if required by the county registered land surveyor, prior to final plat approval. All monuments shall be constructed of concrete and shall be at least four inches in diameter or square, and not less than two feet in length. Each monument shall have imbedded in its top or attached by a suitable means a metal plate of noncorrosive material marked plainly with the point, the surveyor's registration number, and the words "Permanent Reference Monument" or the initials "P.R.M." Monuments shall be set in the ground so that the top is flush with the finish grade.

(3)

Property markers shall be installed in accordance with F.S. ch. 177, as amended.

(e)

Impervious area and stormwater runoff.

(1)

The area covered by structures and impervious surface shall not exceed 80 percent for any lot.

a.

Pervious areas may be used to satisfy requirements for landscaping and setbacks, buffer strips, drain fields, passive recreation areas, or any other purpose that does not require covering with a material that prevents infiltration of water into the ground.

b.

In the case of the use of an impervious material which does not cover all the surface to which it is applied, credit towards the computation of the pervious area shall be given according to the amount of percolation that is permitted.

c.

Parking areas, whether paved with impervious material or not, shall be onsidered impervious.

(Ord. No. 96-32, § XXVIII, 12-19-96; Ord. No. 2008-25, § III, 12-4-08)