Titusville P&Z unanimously backs ordinance to promote aerospace uses in planned industrial districts

The Titusville Planning & Zoning Commission on June 3 voted unanimously to recommend an amended ordinance that explicitly recognizes aerospace and defense activities as light manufacturing in specified planned industrial development (PID) areas.

City staff presented the change as a targeted measure to make Titusville more competitive for aerospace and defense firms. Eddie, the city staff presenter, said the measure “adds an additional subsection e” to the light‑manufacturing standards and that it “expands the definition of light manufacturing to specifically include the aerospace industry in the M1, M2, M3, PID, and DMU zoning districts.” He told commissioners the new language also eliminates a second public‑hearing requirement for certain childcare facilities when they are part of an approved master plan and allows structured parking as a limited use within PID master plans.

Commissioners framed the vote around balancing economic development goals with preserving the city’s industrial land and protecting public notice. Several members asked whether the ordinance’s long list of aerospace‑related activities — which includes fabrication, testing, maintenance, refurbishment and related components — might be interpreted broadly and inadvertently allow non‑aerospace manufacturers in sensitive areas. Staff and members pointed to the ordinance’s geographic limitation — south of State Road 405 and east of State Road 407 — as intended to keep the changes out of downtown and primarily residential areas.

Members also pressed how accessory uses would be treated. Member Graham and others asked whether employee cafeterias or restaurants would be permitted. Eddie said restaurants can be permitted in the PID as accessory uses or through conditional use permits where appropriate. To address concerns about cross‑jurisdictional definitions, Member Chapman distributed draft definitions for terms such as “spacecraft” and suggested referencing DOD and FAA definitions; staff agreed including clarified definitions as part of the recommendation was acceptable.

Member Rice moved to approve the ordinance with specified edits to the childcare and parking language so those uses would be allowed when “approved as part of an existing PID or master plan when it is an accessory use to the principal aerospace use,” and to include Chapman’s definitions in the recommendation. The motion was seconded and carried on a roll‑call vote; the motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Item 8a (site plan on Dairy Road): Motion to continue to June 17 to allow the applicant to submit a revised concept plan and (at commissioners’ request) a traffic analysis — motion passed on roll call (continuance confirmed). - Item 9a (aerospace and light‑manufacturing ordinance): Motion to approve the ordinance with amendments to clarify that childcare and parking structures are limited/authorized when part of an existing or approved PID/master plan and accessory to the principal use; definitions suggested by Member Chapman were included — motion passed unanimously.

Staff noted two letters of support were submitted the day of the meeting: one from the Economic Development Council and one from Tyco Airport Authority executive director Kevin Doherty. During the public hearing on the continued site‑plan item, a nearby resident, Rick Smith, asked whether gasoline would be sold at the proposed Dairy Road development; staff told him the item had been tabled to June 17 and offered to provide the revised plan when available.

The commission closed the meeting after additional public petitions, including comments by Stan Johnson raising separate concerns about a city sustainability report and alleged survey errors on another project. The city staff also announced the June 23 city council meeting had been canceled.