Cocoa council approves preliminary PUD for 230-home Lennar development

The Cocoa City Council unanimously approved a preliminary planned unit development on May 27 to allow Lennar Homes to build about 230 single‑family homes on roughly 76 acres at the northwest corner of Pluckybaum Road and Clear Lake Road.

City planner Alexis Crespo presented the staff report, saying the proposal would rezone the site and deliver a density of about three units per acre, below the very low density comprehensive‑plan cap of four units per acre. "Staff has found it in compliance with your comprehensive plan," Crespo said, adding the project includes preserved wetland areas, lake features, walking trails and roughly 15 acres of open space.

Greg Pellebonne, a representative for Lennar Homes, told council the homes are planned to be for sale and estimated price ranges "from the low $300s to the low $400s," and that the houses would be built to Florida building code standards. Crespo and planner materials noted that the applicant has worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the St. Johns River Water Management District on wetland impact analyses and would purchase mitigation credits for lower‑quality wetland impacts while preserving higher‑quality wetlands.

Councilmembers asked about unit sizes, building materials and traffic; Crespo said lots would vary between about 40 and 50 feet in width, the development includes two points of ingress/egress and a traffic study shows no unacceptable roadway level‑of‑service impacts. Councilmember Goins moved approval; Deputy Mayor Weeks seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Council and staff noted the vote was for preliminary PUD approval only; the project will return for final PUD approval with conditions addressing drainage and additional information required before site work begins.