The Titusville City Council is set to hold a final public hearing and vote tomorrow on a controversial small-scale comprehensive plan amendment.

The Proposal would allow for a 62-unit townhome complex near protected wetlands, conservation land, and a lake at the southeast corner of State Road 405 and South Singleton Avenue.

Flooding and Environmental Concerns Fuel Opposition
The proposal, known as PD South, seeks to change the future land use designation and rezone approximately 28 acres to a Planned Development (PD) district to build 62 townhomes, despite the property being previously approved for only 16 single-family homes.

Residents and environmental advocates are raising significant concerns about potential increased flood risk and the impact on local conservation lands.

“We’re standing on the edge of this lake right now that’s at full flood stage,” said Laurilee Thompson, a local environmentalist and community advocate, in a video discussing the proposal. Thompson noted that the lake is “very important to the storm water runoff of a core section of downtown Titusville.”

Opponents argue that replacing existing trees and upland borders with dozens of 40-foot-tall townhomes, rooftops, and parking lots will create an unacceptable amount of impervious surface.

“The upland borders that are around that wetland system are critical for the functionality of the wetland system because the trees on the upland parts absorb tremendous amounts of storm water,” Thompson explained.

“When you put 60 or 70 town home complex up there with all the impervious surfaces and parking lots that they have, then you’re going to have a situation where you cannot control that water,” Thompson said.

The projected increase in runoff could overwhelm existing stormwater infrastructure, potentially causing water to back up into the Indian River Lagoon.

Incompatible Development and Zoning Debate
The neighborhood opposition also centers on the size and density of the proposed project, which they feel is incompatible with the surrounding single-family residences. The development is planned for a 66.49-acre property, which includes over 50 acres of wetlands, leaving about 15.70 acres as developable land.

“There’s no multifamily here. There’s no 40 foot high buildings. A development with 40 foot high structures is completely incompatible with the pattern of development in this area,” Thompson said.

The application, which proposes 62 units instead of the 16 previously approved, has been criticized for labeling the increased density as “low density.” “They want to go to 60 or 70 and call it low density. Which is just kind of a word salad, is it not?” Thompson asked.

Thompson stressed that Titusville’s conservation areas are a unique local asset that must be protected. “This conservation area is so unique. No other city in Brevard County has anything like it and we need to preserve it. It’s ours. It’s uniquely Titusville,” she added.

Council to Consider Ordinances and Conditions
City Staff’s report recommends the City Council conduct the public hearing and final reading for Ordinance No. 38-2025 (amending the Future Land Use Map) and Ordinance No. 39-2025 (amending the zoning to Planned Development).

The Planning and Zoning Commission previously recommended approval on Oct. 22, 2025, with a 6-1 vote, but included several conditions. Key conditions of the proposed rezoning ordinance include:

• Preservation of three wetlands and their buffers.
• Working with the City to adjust the layout to preserve upland scrub, pine, and oaks where feasible.
• Conforming to the City’s stormwater master plan.
• Limiting the maximum building height to 40 feet.

One Planning and Zoning Commission member voted no, citing concerns about the negative impact to conservation land and the incompatibility of the zoning with the area.

The City Council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 11, 2025. The Council has the options to adopt the ordinances, adopt them with changes, or not adopt them at all.