Heritage Point commercial final plat tabled after councilers raise traffic and access concerns

Council on June 17 voted to table the final plat for the Heritage Point Commercial subdivision after prolonged discussion about vehicle access and pedestrian safety at the Minton Road and Heritage Oaks Boulevard area. The motion to table was made by Councilmember Adams and seconded by Councilmember Bentley; the tabling motion carried 7-0.

Staff told council the final plat would subdivide a previously approved larger lot along Minton Road into three commercial lots and add a private road connecting Minton Road with Heritage Oaks Boulevard. Several council members expressed concern about the location of the proposed access relative to a nearby school crossing, stacking of vehicles at the Heritage Oaks / Minton intersection, and whether Brevard County had approved a left-turn movement or only right-in/right-out access.

Brian Bussin, the project manager for the applicant, said the county driveway permit process has taken significant time and that the permit for the driveway connection to Minton was obtained after a 15-month process; he said the county required a left-turn lane in connection with the driveway permit but staff and council questioned the practical safety implications. Council members asked staff to verify the county right-of-way permit and coordinate traffic-engineering analysis for turn lanes and stacking before the council acts on the final plat.

Because the applicant did not present the county right-of-way paperwork and end users were not identified (so traffic volumes were uncertain), council directed staff and the applicant to coordinate with Brevard County and to return the plat for council consideration after further review; staff estimated the additional work would take roughly three months.

The tabling postpones plat recording and any sale of the commercial lots until the access and safety issues are resolved and county approvals confirmed.