In a packed Tuesday evening session, the Titusville City Council bowed to intense residential pushback by voting unanimously to reconsider a recently approved agricultural zoning ordinance that paved the way for a local chicken farm on Singleton Avenue. The meeting also featured major decisions on industrial expansion, historic preservation protections, and public safety funding.

Neighborhood Backlash Reverses Singleton Avenue Chicken Farm Approval
Following over an hour of passionate testimony during public comments, Council members voted 5–0 to invoke Rule 13 and schedule a formal reconsideration vote for Ordinance 30-2026 on November 10, 2026.

The ordinance, approved at a previous meeting, allowed a 7.5-acre parcel at 1915 North Singleton Avenue to transition into an agricultural land-use classification surrounded by established residential neighborhoods relying on private well water.

Nearby residents raised severe concerns regarding environmental degradation, property values, and public health:

• Water Quality & Runoff: Resident Roger Mer and former engineer Woody Rice presented university and CDC studies detailing the impact of poultry manure, warning that thousands of pounds of excess nitrogen and phosphorus would leach into neighboring wells and the Indian River Lagoon.
• Commercial Scale Concerns: Neighbor Spencer Moler submitted commercial permit applications filed by farm owner Justin Dunlap, showing a 1,000-amp electrical power pull and refrigerated shipping containers on-site, arguing the project is a commercial egg-processing facility rather than a small homestead.
• Health & Nuisances: Other area residents cited risks of salmonella, fly infestations, noise, and respiratory hazards for immunocompromised neighbors.

In response, farm owner Justin Dunlap defended his operation, calling the opposition “fear-mongering and slander.” Dunlap stated his project is an organic, community-focused family farm intended to build topsoil, absorb rainfall, and offer local educational events rather than operate an industrial factory.

Acknowledging that Council did not have the full context during the initial vote, Vice Mayor Herman Cole, who originally voted in favor of the zoning change, initiated the motion to recall and re-advertise the item for a formal public hearing next month.

Green Light for Space Coast Innovation Park (Phase 3)
In a major economic development decision, City Council unanimously approved three companion ordinances (Ordinances 33-2026, 34-2026, and 35-2026) establishing a Planned Industrial Development (PID) for Phase 3 of the Space Coast Innovation Park.

The 353.55-acre development—located south of Shepard Drive, east of State Road 407, and west of Grissom Parkway—will clear the path for high-tech manufacturing and logistics space near Titusville-Cocoa Airport.

Approval came after the developer agreed to enhanced environmental safeguards negotiated with staff and local conservationists:

1. On-Site Preservation: Preserving 148.06 acres on-site under a permanent conservation easement, including ~120.78 acres of wetlands and surrounding protective uplands.
2. Off-Site Mitigation & Drainage Easement: Purchasing and deeding an off-site parcel within Titusville containing a minimum of 15.59 acres of wetlands to the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority. Any remaining acreage beyond 15.59 acres will include a drainage easement granted to the City of Titusville for future stormwater infrastructure and lagoon restoration projects.

Environmental advocate Laura Lee Thompson commended the Council and developer for reinstating upland protections and securing off-site drainage access to help divert freshwater runoff away from the Indian River Lagoon toward historical St. Johns River floodplains.

City Fights to Maintain Voice in Federal Historic Preservation Reviews
City Council directed staff to draft a formal resolution opposing proposed federal rule changes to the Section 106 process under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Community Development Director Brad Parish explained that Titusville’s status as a Certified Local Government currently guarantees the city a direct seat at the table when federal agencies assess the impact of federally funded or permitted projects on local historical and archaeological assets.

Parish highlighted Titusville’s recent role as a consulting party alongside the FAA, NASA, and SpaceX evaluating noise and environmental impacts from proposed Starship operations. Under proposed federal revisions, local government input would become discretionary rather than mandatory.

Council voted 5–0 to issue a formal resolution opposing the federal rollbacks and authorized sending an official opposition letter during the Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) public comment period.

Housing Plats, Infrastructure, and Future Fire Funding

Agenda Item	Action Taken	Details / Highlights
Tranquility Phase 3 Final Plat	Approved (5–0)	Conditionally approved requiring the developer to apply for state/federal permits within 6 months to construct a pedestrian bridge over the Addison Canal, with completion required within two years of permit issuance.
Verona Village C (Phase 2) Plat	Approved (5–0)	Approved final plat for the residential subdivision.
Elizabeth Oaks Final Plat	Approved (4–1)	Approved 28-townhome plat following clarification of a recorded access easement on Mockingbird Lane. Member Muscoso dissented.
FY2028 Fire Assessment Study	Approved (4–1)	Authorized advertising for a potential non-ad valorem fire assessment study to explore dedicated fire service funding mechanisms. Mayor Connors dissented.
Street Renaming	Approved (5–0)	Adopted Resolution 22-2026 renaming Pon Stellion Drive to Jesse Kirk Court honoring the local Kirk family.
Employee Cultural Review	Postponed	Paused a proposed $74,260 consultant review; Council directed staff to compile existing employee exit interview data first to cut costs.

Public Input on Police Leadership
During open petitions, residents spoke on the upcoming selection of Titusville’s next Police Chief. Resident Dr. Kathleen O’Rourke encouraged the City Manager to consider outside applicants to foster independent oversight, transparency, and public trust following recent high-profile department incidents. Other citizens called for full public disclosure of finalist résumés and recording of the candidate meet-and-greet sessions.

The next regularly scheduled Titusville City Council meeting will take place at City Hall on October 27, 2026, where final readings for several pending land-use amendments will be heard.

Citizens seeking more information on upcoming agenda items, candidate meet-and-greet schedules, or public comment procedures can access official documents and archived meeting recordings directly through the City of Titusville’s official website.

The Council Meeting can be viewed below