Council approves Coastal Crossings rezoning, future land‑use change and development agreement for 150 townhomes

The West Melbourne City Council voted unanimously Aug. 4 to change the future land use and zoning of a 16.21‑acre parcel in the Coastal Crossings area and to adopt a development agreement that limits density and addresses site design.

The actions clear the way for a 150‑unit fee‑simple townhouse subdivision (not apartments) the applicant described as two‑story townhomes. Council passed three measures in sequence: ordinance 2025‑19 (future land use amendment), ordinance 2025‑20 (rezoning to R‑2/townhouse and multifamily district) and the development agreement. Each measure passed on a 6–0 voice vote.

The development agreement includes several conditions discussed at council: a 25‑foot building height limit for all townhomes; a limit of 150 units (staff noted R‑2 could allow 162 units in technical maximum but the agreement caps it at 150); architectural, landscaping and site‑design controls; relocation coordination for a canal where required; and commitments on internal walking trails and sidewalk connectivity to Coastal Lane. The developer and staff also agreed to require a minimum of five additional guest parking spaces in a specific curve area of the plan and to change a wording error in the agreement to require pavers (not unspecified paving) at a named entrance feature.

Christie Fisher, the city’s planning director, presented the package and described the proposal as a fee‑simple, two‑story townhouse subdivision where garages could be front‑ or rear‑loaded. She said staff and the applicant had agreed to a development agreement that restricts uses and density, addresses infrastructure and sets architectural and landscaping expectations. Fisher also described the site as part of a larger 16.73‑acre area when a small adjacent triangle is included.

Council and staff discussed buffering and noise mitigation for the units nearest I‑95. Applicant representatives said the closest rear‑loaded townhomes would be approximately 200 feet from I‑95 and that the design places a wet retention pond and heavy landscaping between the road and residences. “We structured the wet pond to be in between there, and then we agreed to the heavier landscaping along the perimeter,” the applicant representative said during the presentation (attributed in the public record to the applicant present).

Councilmembers asked for specific commitments on guest parking, paver materials at the entrance, the internal street lighting standard, and evaluation of a possible turnaround (T‑turn) at a southern driveway stub. Councilmember Frampus pressed to add a minimum of five guest parking spaces; the applicant agreed to commit to at least five spaces in the plan and council included that minimum in the approved agreement.

The city attorney advised council that rezoning is quasi‑judicial and reminded members to disclose any ex parte contacts. Fisher noted required coordination with outside agencies, including Melbourne Tillman Water Control District and Space Coast Area Transit/Space Coast TPO for transit access or micro‑transit alternatives.

The development agreement also includes language limiting some code deviations requested by the developer (staff described those as not substantial) and requires developers to return to the planning process for material changes to the concept plan. Council made separate motions for the future land use change (ordinance 2025‑19), the rezoning (ordinance 2025‑20) and then the development agreement; all passed 6–0.

Council members and staff said the project will return in future hearings for gated‑community approvals and final engineering review. Fisher emphasized that final site plans and 100% civil drawings — including the detailed guest‑parking layout, street lighting and any required T‑turn evaluation — will be subject to staff and outside agency review before construction permits are issued.

What’s next: the applicant will proceed with the subsequent permitting steps, and final design elements such as exact guest‑parking counts and any gated‑community requests will be reviewed through the planning and engineering processes required by the city and outside agencies.