While myregion.org engages the regional community on the question of "How We Grow," individual counties within the region are also looking at how growth will affect their future.

One such effort is in Volusia County, where the recently completed year-long project included participation from the public, private and civic sectors. The Volusia Smart Growth Plan makes specific recommendations on how the county can maintain its greatest assets while also ensuring that future growth will positively impact the quality of life.

The Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee, including Clay Henderson, who also serves on the myregion.org Board of Directors; Fred Costello, the Mayor of Ormond Beach; and Candace Lankford, the Volusia County School Board Chair, presented its plan to the Volusia Council of Governments on September 26, 2005.

“We have something different here,” Henderson said during his introduction. “If we protect critical areas and are thoughtful about growth, we will be able to maintain our quality of life.”

Volusia County has long been a regional leader in environmental preservation and the lynchpin recommendation of the committee calls for the environmental core of Volusia County to be adopted as part of the comprehensive plan of the county.

“This is a scientifically based model,” Henderson said. “It used a computer model to create core areas that can connect protected environmental spaces in the county.”

The plan also calls for the continued existence of rural lands and agriculture within the county.

“Agriculture is an important part of our community, economically, traditionally and because it promotes open spaces,” Henderson said.

While maintaining environmental assets is crucial to this plan, it does not try to deter future growth. Rather, it calls for “smart growth” that is directed toward appropriate areas, and that promotes vibrant, livable and sustainable urban communities.

The plan also calls for assurance that the infrastructure needs of the community are met, including the integration of education and economic development into the smart growth plan.

“Growth has hit schools with a vengeance,” Lankford said. “We cannot afford to have schools as an afterthought.”

Both the presenters and members of VCOG alluded to the fact that often plans of this nature receive early support, but are never put into practice. The refrain of “this plan cannot be put on a shelf” was echoed often during the presentation and subsequent discussion.

 “This is the first time we have had this kind of interest group come together to address growth,” Henderson said. “Citizens are always ahead of everyone else in knowing what they want.”

Orange City has already passed a resolution endorsing the plan and other communities within the county were challenged to follow their lead and ensure that this plan receives full backing across the county.