Titusville council agrees to advertise three proposed tree ordinances after months of debate

City Council in Titusville on July 22 voted to advertise three draft ordinances that would change how the city protects trees and requires native landscaping for new development. The council’s action was to advertise the multifamily canopy rule, a critical root zone enlargement and a Brevard-native planting requirement and send the drafts forward for formal hearings. “I’d like to advertise ordinances and go ahead and schedule them,” Member Nelson said before the motion passed unanimously. Why it matters: The three proposals would expand tree-protection rules the city adopted in 2021 and would affect how developers design multifamily projects, how heritage and large trees are preserved on building sites and whether a minimum share of new landscaping must use Brevard-native species. City staff and the Titusville Environmental Commission (TEC) provided the packet and presentation. The multifamily canopy proposal would require multifamily and other residential developments to preserve 25% canopy cover with a 15% minimum preserved canopy (current optional canopy coverage is treated differently for non-subdivision multifamily sites). Staff noted options to exempt small infill projects—proposed thresholds discussed included properties two acres or less, developments of 50 units or fewer, or even a 4–5 unit cutoff for quadplex/small infill situations. The critical root zone draft would significantly increase protected root-area calculations (staff described a potential quadrupling in a listed example), with TEC recommending larger protection for heritage trees while staff and local developers warned larger zones might make preservation infeasible on small lots. The native-planting draft would require that 50% of required landscaping be species native to Brevard County, not just Florida-wide natives. Debate and public comment: The council heard extensive testimony from the city’s arborist, Jacob Begley, landscape architects and residents. Begley told council he could work with developers under current rules and suggested compromises such as applying a larger critical root zone only to heritage trees. Landscape professionals including Michael Browning and others cautioned that some proposed measures could lead developers to clear trees rather than preserve them if standards made preservation infeasible; Browning emphasized that protection must include feeder roots, not only structural roots. TEC and some speakers urged stronger protections and expressed urgency, saying market demand will grow for native plants if regulation supports it. Multiple councilmembers urged exemptions for very small infill projects so that the ordinance would not unduly hinder modest multifamily redevelopment. What the council decided: Rather than adopt the ordinances at the meeting, Councilmember Nelson moved — and the council seconded and approved unanimously — to advertise the three draft ordinances for public hearings, giving staff direction to refine exemptions and return with formal readings. The motion covers all three draft ordinances presented. Next steps: Staff will refine draft language (including options for small-lot exemptions and the size thresholds for critical root zones) and bring the advertised ordinances back for noticed public hearings and formal votes. Councilmembers asked staff to consider feasible options for infill development and to work with TEC and local practitioners on mitigation and implementation details. Ending: Council members thanked TEC volunteers and members of the public for their work and testimony. The advertised ordinances will return for public hearings where additional technical input and refinements are expected.