For decades, the Royal Oak Golf Club was a jewel of the Space Coast, a lush, Dick Wilson-designed course where astronauts once dined and Canadian PGA pros wintered.

Today, the fairways are overgrown, the clubhouse has been demolished, and the land itself has become the center of a heated struggle between modern development and neighborhood preservation.

The proposal in question is Gemini Lakes, a major residential project by The Kolter Group that seeks to transform the abandoned 150-acre site into a new community. As of January 20, 2026, the project sits at a critical junction, pitting the demand for housing in a booming space economy against a community fighting to protect its character.

A Storied Past: The Royal Oak Era
Opened in the early 1960s, the Royal Oak Golf Club was more than just a recreational facility; it was a social hub for Titusville. Designed by renowned architect Dick Wilson, who was famous for Doral and Bay Hill, the course was prestigious enough to serve as the winter home for the Canadian PGA for several years.

Local lore recounts stories of astronauts parading through town before ending their day at the Royal Oak clubhouse, and legendary golfers like Moe Norman practicing on its greens. However, like many golf courses following the 2008 financial crisis, Royal Oak struggled with declining revenue. The course ceased operations around 2012, eventually falling into foreclosure.

For over a decade, the land sat vacant. Nature reclaimed the fairways, and the site became a curiosity for urban explorers and a de facto park for locals until the Gemini Lakes proposal brought the land back into the spotlight.

The Revised Proposal: A “Gateway to Nature and Space”
The Kolter Group, represented by applicant Robert Wolf on behalf of Royal Oaks FL, LLC (formerly Toulon Apartments), is requesting to amend the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) from Recreational and Conservation to Low Density Residential. Concurrently, they are seeking a rezoning from General Use and Open Space to Planned Development (PD).

Following community engagement, the developer submitted a revised concept plan on January 15, 2026, which significantly alters the scope of the project. The new plan reduces the total number of residential units from 547 to 511, resulting in a density of 3.47 dwelling units per acre.

This reduction was achieved primarily by cutting the number of townhome units. The revised layout also introduces a large central lake situated next to the Central Park and clubhouse, aiming to enhance the “park-like” aesthetic requested by residents.

The Opposition: “No Rezone”
Despite the developer’s concessions, the proposal has faced fierce resistance from the Royal Oak Neighbors, a well-organized grassroots coalition of residents living in the subdivisions bordering the old course. Residents argue the proposed density is too high, often referring to the lot sizes as incompatible with the established, spacious character of the existing Royal Oak neighborhoods.

Traffic remains a primary concern for the Royal Oak Neighbors. There are fears that adding over 500 households will overwhelm local infrastructure, particularly at key access points like Country Club Drive and Barna Avenue. Furthermore, while the course is private property, neighbors have long viewed it as open space. They fear the loss of the green atmosphere and the displacement of wildlife that has settled there since the course closed.

Upcoming Decision Points: The January 21 Planning Commission
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 6:00 PM, the Titusville Planning and Zoning Commission will review the Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) No. 2-2025.

In a report issued to the commission, Community Development Director Bradley Parrish has recommended approving the transmittal of the application to the State of Florida’s Land Planning Agency.

If the commission and subsequently the City Council approve the transmittal, the State of Florida will have 60 days to review the proposal and provide objections or recommendations. Only after addressing the State’s response would final adoption hearings occur, currently anticipated for the Spring of 2026.

What’s Next
Following tomorrow’s Planning and Zoning meeting, the proposal is scheduled for a Transmittal public hearing with the City Council on February 10, 2026.

The city now faces a difficult decision: approve a development that promises to clean up a blighted property, fix historic drainage issues, and increase the tax base, or side with existing residents who maintain that even 511 homes is too many for the historic Royal Oak footprint.