DELAND, Fla. – Neighbors in DeLand are demanding answers over chronic flooding along Taylor Road.
Volusia County officials are presenting the results of a new stormwater study, but many residents say years of unchecked development have made matters significantly worse.
News 6 spoke with one resident who’s been living in the middle of it, and says he’s even invested his own money in studies, desperate for a solution.
For years, flooding along Taylor Road in DeLand has been more than just a nuisance — it’s been a threat to homes, property, and residents’ peace of mind.
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At a meeting Wednesday night at the County Council Chambers at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, officials will detail the findings of the stormwater study and outline several capital improvement options intended to reduce flooding.
JC Figueredo, a long-time resident who lives near Taylor Road, provided a candid account of the escalating problems.
“We’re seeing all the development. Retention ponds are now leaking into the ground, and they’re literally saturating it. And it’s not just rainfall. They have consumptive use permits where they’re bringing in water through reclaimed and deep water wells,” Figueredo said.
He recalled a time when the area was different.
“My grandparents owned some property right off the street from where we were. So I grew up in all those woods, and it used to be dry. And as soon as they started building and all this development, it flooded. I mean, it’s flooded for a square mile.”
As county officials, along with representatives from the City of DeLand and engineering firm Jones Edmunds & Associates, field questions from concerned residents, Figueredo expressed deep frustration.
“Trust is gone. You know, we’ve been doing this for five years. I’ve personally hired four experts — environmental scientists, geotechnical companies, and engineers — to review this. I’ve spent a lot of time and money doing studies, and I’ve shown them all this data before, and all the studies that have been done, just like this last one that they had done.”
Despite the growing skepticism among locals, Volusia County officials insist that Wednesday’s meeting is part of a broader effort to rebuild trust and work toward viable solutions.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. inside the County Council Chambers. Two or more county commissioners are in attendance, meaning any decisions discussed could be brought before the council in the coming weeks.
For more details on the stormwater study or upcoming community meetings, residents can contact Volusia County Public Works or visit the county’s official website.