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Titusville adopts 2026 SHIP housing-incentive plan, council discusses inclusionary zoning and an affordable-housing study
Summary
Council adopted the city's 2026 SHIP housing incentive plan (resolution 20-2025) required by Florida statute after staff and the Affordable Housing Incentive Committee reviewed incentives; members discussed a denied grant for an affordable-housing feasibility study and asked staff to explore funding and timing options.
TITUSVILLE — The Titusville City Council voted to adopt the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) 2026 housing incentive plan and authorized staff to incorporate the approved incentives into the city's local housing assistance plan.
Staff and the Affordable Housing Incentive Committee (AHOC) presented mandatory incentives such as expedited permitting (a reported 25% reduction in review time), reservation of infrastructure capacity, outreach about accessory dwelling units and maintaining a printed inventory of public land suitable for affordable housing. AHOC also recommended reconsideration of inclusionary zoning language and linkage fees as optional tools.
An AHOC or staff presenter told the council the city received $352,000 in local SHIP funding this past year and reminded members that, under Florida statute, the SHIP incentive plan must be adopted and submitted to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation by Dec. 30 when local SHIP funding exceeds $350,000. The presenter said the AHOC had met through July to November to prepare the plan and that AHOC approved the 2026 incentive plan on Oct. 20, 2025.
Council members discussed a separate affordable-housing feasibility study for inclusionary zoning and a linkage-fee analysis. Council members said a grant application for that external study was denied; one staff speaker (recorded in the transcript as a staff member) said the denied grant request had been for $75,000. Members asked whether the city could commission an in-house study or include an RFP at midyear if audit-harvested funds are available. The city manager said staff would explore midyear options and the potential to fund a study from unencumbered audit recoveries.
Member Nelson moved to adopt the annual SHIP housing-incentive plan and associated resolution (Resolution 20-2025). The motion carried, with multiple council members recorded as voting yes on the record. Staff will return with implementation steps and incorporate the incentives into the city's local SHIP plan.
The council's adoption preserves eligibility for state SHIP funds and establishes a set of incentives staff can use to guide future affordable-housing projects; council members emphasized the need for better data and recommended staff pursue a local affordability study if funds can be identified.
