Titusville planning commission delays Gemini Lakes hearing after resident raises outreach concerns

The Titusville Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Dec. 3 to continue consideration of the Gemini Lakes comprehensive plan amendment to Jan. 7, 2026, after a local resident said the project's marketing materials and website contained misleading information that hindered meaningful public input. Vice Chairman Childs moved for the continuance; Secretary Grant seconded, and the motion passed on a roll‑call vote.

Dr. Kathleen O'Rourke, professor emeritus of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Florida and vice president of Royal Oak Neighbors LLC, told the commission she was not addressing the merits of the development but raised concerns about the applicant's outreach. She said postcard mailings omitted many Royal Oak neighborhood board members, that the project's website used polished imagery of mature trees, lakes and large homes without a clearly visible disclaimer, and that several statements on the site were presented as fact though they were not. "When an applicant begins its outreach with misinformation, it damages trust not only in the project but in the entire public process," O'Rourke said. She asked the commission to have the Gemini Lakes website taken down until city staff could verify and correct the information and requested that her statement be entered into the official record.

Kim Rosanca, representing the property owner and the developer identified in the record as Kolter Homes, asked the commission to continue the hearing to Jan. 7, 2026, to allow additional public meetings and outreach. Rosanca said the project team had revised the proposal from high‑density to low‑density residential land use, planned an additional community meeting tentatively on Jan. 5, and would mail notices to more than 1,000 property owners within roughly 500 feet of the site. "We do want to get anything corrected that seems to be misleading or that isn't accurate," Rosanca said.

City staff told the commission the applicant had requested the continuance and that notices had already been mailed; the purpose of the night's agenda item was to hear the continuance so residents would not appear unnecessarily. The city attorney advised that public comments may be heard although the matter was being continued and that no substantive action on the application would take place that night.

Secretary Grant asked the applicant to compile written responses addressing the "bullet points" of resident concerns and submit those responses to staff ahead of the January hearing so the record shows how each issue was handled. After discussion, Vice Chairman Childs moved to continue the hearing; Secretary Grant seconded. A roll‑call vote recorded "yes" votes from Member Garrod, Member Scully, Vice Chairman Childs, Member Gallon, Secretary Grant, Member Faison and Chairman Eton. The motion carried unanimously.

The Gemini Lakes comprehensive plan amendment will be heard by the commission at its Jan. 7, 2026 regular meeting; the project team said it would hold a community meeting on Jan. 5 and provide written responses to staff before the continued hearing.