New Smyrna Beach announces public forum on Corbin Park's stormwater upgrades.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

New Smyrna Beach residents and stakeholders can gain insights into the upcoming stormwater drainage improvements planned for Corbin Park, as announced in a public forum scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at the Hidden Pines Clubhouse at 413 Shorewood Lane in New Smyrna Beach.

"The undertaking involves retrofitting Corbin Park with a tailored stormwater management system. Despite substantial growth in the area, there is a critical need for a structured approach to capture and channel runoff effectively," said City Engineer Kyle Fegley.

Challenges of the upcoming project include the fact that numerous homes in the area that experienced flooding during Hurricanes Ian and Nicole do not meet current building code requirements, such as placing the first floor at a minimum of 2 ft. above base flood elevation. Moreover, the stormwater system that discharges into Turnbull Bay is subject to tidal influences and needs to mitigate measures to prevent water surges back into the piping and structure network.

City officials are optimistic that advanced design and modeling techniques will pinpoint low-lying areas lacking stormwater infrastructure. The goal is to implement improvements that effectively capture, treat, and divert runoff out of the neighborhood.

Approximately 80% of the project falls outside city limits and is under the jurisdiction of the Volusia County Government, making interagency coordination crucial for successful project completion. Permitting from the St. Johns Water Management District will be finalized in 30-60 days. Following public input on December 13, the project timeline tentatively aims for bid requests and contract awards by mid-2024.

Funding for the project will be from stormwater utility fees and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding received from the federal government last year. Of the $13.9 million ARPA funds allocated to New Smyrna Beach, $3.9 million is for water, sewer, stormwater, and broadband infrastructure improvements. 

The city's most recent neighborhood stormwater project, completed in 2019 for Islesboro, provided expanded sewer service, drainage improvements, and street restoration while minimizing nitrogen and phosphorus discharge into Murray Creek and Turnbull Bay.

For more information, interested parties can contact City Engineer Kyle Fegley at kfegley@cityofnsb.com or 386-410-2811.