Palm Bay rezones 15.4 acres to industrial for proposed tree-and-landscape recycling facility amid resident objections

Palm Bay City Council on March 20 approved two ordinances to change the future land-use designation and zoning of a 15.4-acre portion of a larger parcel from low-density residential to industrial to allow it to be combined with adjacent industrially zoned land. The council passed the comprehensive-plan amendment (Ordinance 2025-13) and the zoning change to Light Industrial/Warehouse (Ordinance 2025-14) by votes of 4-1 on both measures. The applicant and the council stated that a separate conditional-use application for a tree-and-landscape recycling facility will be considered at a later hearing; staff and the applicant agreed to conditions to preserve wetlands and limit active operations on the southern portion of the property.

Growth Management Director Lisa Frazer outlined the request, saying the applicant owns both parcels and seeks to use the southern 15.4 acres as part of a contiguous industrial site; the owner proposes that most of the newly zoned acreage be set aside for wetland preservation and stormwater management. Consultant Bruce Moyer of MBB Engineering told council the…