Outdoor storage yards in Winter Springs that sit on or next to wetlands could be built with drive lanes that let rainwater soak through, rather than solid asphalt or concrete, under an ordinance the City Commission will hear for the first time Monday, Nov. 16.
Ordinance 2026-09 amends the city's supplemental rules for outdoor storage and warehousing in the C-2 General Commercial District, which the city first adopted in 2017. Those rules now require the main drive aisles at such sites to be paved in asphalt or concrete, though storage areas themselves may use reclaimed asphalt pavement.
What would change
The new language would let the commission approve two alternatives for drive aisles on properties that contain or border a jurisdictional wetland, a natural water body or a natural watercourse:
- No. 57 stone held in place by concrete or plastic turf blocks
- Proprietary cellular or modular porous paving systems, installed to the maker's specifications
The stated goal is to cut the amount of impervious surface on those properties. In a presentation prepared for the meeting, Community Development Director Terrilyn Rolle's department says staff found in recent months that the existing code offered no way to reduce that impact on sites near wetlands and waterways.
The change is discretionary. The ordinance says the commission "may permit" the alternatives, so each case would still come before the elected board.
Who it affects
The city's business impact estimate, required under Florida law, lists no new compliance costs or fees for businesses. It estimates that one new development or business would likely be affected. The documents do not name it.
Under existing code, outdoor storage of vehicles, equipment and materials is a permitted use in the C-2 district only on land next to a state collector road and within or beside both an electric transmission line easement and a railroad right-of-way.
