Titusville CRA tables Broad Street curbless streetscape plan; board asks staff to return with details

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The City of Titusville Community Redevelopment Agency on June 10 discussed a proposed curbless streetscape for Broad Street that would run from Indian River Avenue to Lemon Avenue and decided to table the project to the August meeting while staff develops more details and financing options.

The CRA’s executive director opened the discussion, noting the agenda item was the Broad Street curbless streetscape capital project carried forward from the agency’s adopted redevelopment plan. CRA planner Williams said the plan materials in the packet included the CRA plan (identified in the packet as a 2002 adopted plan) and noted Broad Street as one of the highest-priority streetscape opportunities in the CRA area.

The project described in the meeting would replace conventional curb-and-gutter construction with a curbless, “festival street”-style streetscape and could include a bioswale and pervious pavement; Williams said the plan did not include a final design and staff would refine features during design. “One of the highly recommended actions is the curbless streetscape for Broad Street being one of the streetscapes that is proposed,” Williams said.

Board members discussed scope, cost and timing. Member Ball said she supports moving forward and favored exploring financing beyond pay-as-you-go, citing past CRA financings: “I am highly favorable to this project going forward, and I'm also favorable to the notion of asking staff, allowing staff to explore, financing options other than pay as you go.” Ball and other members referenced previous CRA work, including the Titusville Commons and a 2011 CRA authorization of a $2,500,000 public improvement revenue note tied to FDOT’s work on U.S. 1 as examples of financed projects that spurred downtown activity.

Public Works staff member Kevin offered a schedule estimate if design funding is approved: “Design can be finished within probably 9 months. Permitting won't take long. The construction would start within 2 years.” The board also discussed coordination with Florida Department of Transportation work on U.S. 1, with Member Nelson noting FDOT’s planned 2029 construction year as a scheduling consideration.

Members raised concerns about parking and the project’s placement relative to the downtown retail core. Several speakers noted that many CRA opportunity sites are on Broad Street and that the project is intended to increase walkability and tie into recent improvements at Spaceview Park. Some members said they worried about committing scarce CRA resources to an area that currently has limited retail near the proposed improvements and about potential impacts on future parking or a possible downtown parking structure.

After public comment and a short discussion, Member Nelson moved to table the Broad Street item for two meetings (returning in August). The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members recorded as voting yes.

The board received direction to return with refined materials at the August meeting, including conceptual design, financing options and coordination details with FDOT and public works. Staff also said they would advise whether additional right-of-way would be required; at the meeting staff said they believed no further right-of-way acquisitions were needed but would confirm with Public Works.

The CRA executive director reminded the board that staff will bring a separate spend plan for Spaceview Park at the August meeting and that a public engagement meeting was scheduled for June 16 at Saint Gabriel’s.

The CRA took no other formal action on the Broad Street streetscape at the June 10 meeting.