Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of Sedgwick Avenue duplex rezoning

The Titusville Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 8 recommended approval of a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment and a rezoning that would allow duplex and other multifamily residential development on a 0.9-acre property on Sedgwick Avenue east of Arthur Dunn Air Park.

The recommendation covers SSA 12-2024, which would change the property's future land use to medium-density residential and rezone the site from single-family medium-density R1B to multifamily medium-density R2. Staff said the change would permit a maximum of nine dwelling units per acre under the R2 zoning; on the 0.9-acre parcel that translates to a maximum of eight units under the zoning district's limits. The applicant said the current plan is to place a duplex on each of the three existing lots (six units total).

Staff presented the analysis and recommended approval, noting the medium-density designation would be consistent with adjacent higher-density parcels and a manufactured housing park nearby. The staff report said the medium-density future land use allows up to 10 dwelling units per acre, while the R2 zoning is slightly more restrictive at nine units per acre; the report evaluated the maximum allowable buildout because the applicant did not submit a concept site plan.

Applicant Jeremiah O'Forey said the request was intended to match the character of the immediate area, which includes an apartment complex to the north and a mobile home park to the south, and that infill duplexes were more favorable than a single-family house for that location. O'Forey said the project team has not yet completed detailed site or landscape engineering but intends to retain as many large oak trees as practicable.

Commission discussion touched on tree preservation, platting issues and how the proposed buildings would be sited across the three existing parcels. A commissioner asked whether a replat would be required; staff said building permits and site-plan review would evaluate ownership boundaries and any platted easements at that later phase and that replatting would not necessarily be required but could be needed if conflicts with easements exist.

The commission voted on two separate recommendations: one to approve the small-scale comprehensive plan amendment (SSA 12-2024) and a second to recommend approval of the rezoning from R1B to R2. Both recommendations passed on roll call votes with all members present voting yes. The item is scheduled for first reading before the City Council on Jan. 14 and a public hearing on Jan. 28.

Votes at a glance: The Planning and Zoning Commission roll-call on the recommendations recorded the following yes votes: Member Garrod; Vice Chairman Eitan; Member Childs; Secretary Grant; Member Faison; Chairman Richardson. No no-votes, abstentions or recorded recusals were stated.

The applicant and staff will return to the city when the site plan and any building permit applications are filed; until then the plan-level details — exact unit mix, tree removal counts and final site design — were described as “not specified” in the staff presentation.

The commission session closed the item after the vote and directed staff to forward the recommendations and the agenda packet to City Council for the posted readings and hearings.