Carol McFarlane is new planning and development director

Posted On: November 16, 2021

A familiar face will be taking over as Volusia County’s next planning and development services director. On Tuesday, the County Council unanimously confirmed Carol McFarlane as the new director.

Selected for promotion by County Manager George Recktenwald, McFarlane moves up from her previous position as land development manager. On her second stint with the county, she’ll be filling the post that’s being vacated by Planning and Development Services Director Palmer Panton. Panton is set to retire next month from his 33-year career with the county, including the last 10 years as the director of the planning and development services division.

An urban and regional planner with 15 years of experience, McFarlane initially joined county government in June 2008 as a planner. She left in August 2016 to accept a position as city planner for the City of Orange City. She also previously worked as a planner for the City of DeLand. McFarlane left Orange City to return to the county in April 2020.

“She’s got great experience. She’s well-liked in the community and within the department,” said Recktenwald.

McFarlane earned her bachelor of arts degree in public administration from the University of Central Florida (UCF) and then went on to get her master’s certification from UCF in urban and regional planning and development. At Tuesday’s confirmation, she expressed gratitude to county management and her planning and development team.

“I just quickly want to, of course, thank you all for this opportunity to serve the community,” said McFarlane. “I have dedicated my career and most of my life to local planning and growth management, and I can’t say how much I’m excited to serve for my home county.”