Titusville planning commission unanimously recommends vacating a section of Aanita Royale right‑of‑way

The Titusville Planning and Zoning Commission on May 6 voted unanimously to recommend that city council vacate a roughly 50‑ft by 188.43‑ft segment of right‑of‑way on Aanita Royale, a change staff said would transfer roughly 9,421.5 square feet from public to private ownership.

Planning staff presented the request as Right‑of‑Way Vacation No. 1, 2026, describing the segment as unimproved and located at the southern terminus of Cay Corto, north of State Road 50. "The request to vacate the right of way includes an area 50 ft in width by 188.43 feet in length and totals approximately 9,421.5 plus or minus square ft of area," staff said in the presentation. Utility providers reviewed the request and raised no objections.

Staff noted the South Street small area study designates the corridor for an "interstate commercial" future land‑use category, while the parcels adjacent to the right‑of‑way are currently zoned M1 (light industrial/warehousing). The planner said the vacation would change ownership to private parties but would not itself rezone the property: zoning lines typically run to the center of the platted road and a vacation changes ownership, not the zoning designation.

Lawrence Graham, who identified himself as the adjacent property owner and the applicant, told the commission the unimproved strip has repeatedly flooded and he has personally maintained the area because the city does not. "This whole abandonment is literally for two things. Number one, that's how we get into our lot. And number two, it's to allow me the right to keep that grade and clean because the city doesn't do it. Period," he said.

Commissioners asked whether the vacated area would be split between adjacent owners or conveyed wholly to one side; staff explained allocation at recording is determined by the record plat and the county's recording process and is not controlled by the city. Commissioners also queried maps in the packet, noting the National Wetlands Inventory overlay appears outdated for the developed site; staff said aerial maps included in the packet better reflect current conditions and that the NWI is a nationwide dataset used for general reference.

Member Rice moved to recommend approval, saying the request is consistent with the comprehensive plan, meets the review criteria referenced in the packet, and had no utility objections. The motion passed on a recorded roll call vote with all voting members in favor. Staff told the commission the item will be scheduled for city council consideration on May 26.

The commission's recommendation to vacate the Aanita Royale right‑of‑way directs only that the city release its rights; any private transfer or split of the vacated land will be handled at county recording and by the applicable plats and deeds.