Volusia County Council Approves Comp Plan Changes for Rural Landowners

Fewer family farms could end up being sold to developers after the Volusia County Council unanimously approved a land use change to the comprehensive plan.

The issue came up after the Hughes family in Samsula, in an effort to follow family wishes for her children to inherit 10-acre parcels of land, were thwarted by county rules on density.

Richard Hughes said those density rules prevented the subdivision of the family property as specified in his mother’s will.

“We just felt it was unfair not being able to have grandfathered rights to that property to leave things to your children,” he said. “We’re not interested in flipping the land and making big profits. This is what we call home and we want to homestead it.”

The family’s plight struck a chord with County Councilman Jake Johansson.

“I run into people all the time that say, ‘Don’t let the developers develop,’” he said. “And kind of my thought his, don’t let the farmers sell their land.”

Johansson said the issue was more than just allowing the Hughes family to keep their land in the family but was important to the future of the county’s rural areas.

“It’s right for the families but it also protects that land from having 10 homes on int and increasing the sprawl in Samsula,” he said. “I think it’s a win-win for the county and the neighboring cities.”

Samsula resident Joseph Thomason spoke in favor of the land use change and said it was an issue for many families.

“I am surprised there are not a lot more people here,” he said. “Some of your county zoning people are going out and telling people they can’t do something because there’s a ditch on the county map.”

County Council Chair Jeff Bowers said preserving agricultural lands and the communities around them is important for all county residents.

“Farmers need to make profits because when they don’t, they end up selling their land,” he said. “Farmers are important. They are integral to our community, so we need to keep them here.”

County Councilman Don Dempsey said the issue raises the idea of a county ombudsman, first brought up at a goal setting meeting earlier this year.

“Farmers don’t necessarily know how to get through the red tape,” he said. “This is a classic example of why we need an ombudsman office to help people and guide them through the red tape.”