Titusville Flood Fight: City leaders reject proposal for new homes over flooding woes

Titusville leaders reject proposal for new homes over flooding woes

After weeks of debate and mounting neighborhood opposition, the Titusville City Council on Monday night voted to reject a proposed townhouse development near State Road 405 and Singleton Avenue, citing flooding risks and the need to protect nearby wetlands.

TITUSVILLE, Fla. - After weeks of debate and mounting neighborhood opposition, the Titusville City Council on Monday night voted to reject a proposed townhouse development near State Road 405 and Singleton Avenue, citing flooding risks and the need to protect nearby wetlands.

Flood-weary residents had voiced strong opposition to the proposed housing development, fearing the new homes would worsen flooding in their neighborhoods.

The backstory:

Last month’s torrential rains left several parts of the city under water. This week, just about an inch of rain was enough to cause flooding again — a sign, residents say, that the city’s drainage system is already stretched too thin.

Despite those concerns, a developer was seeking to rezone wetlands near State Road 405 and Singleton Avenue to build new townhomes. 

Developers argued the project would not increase runoff and would actually enhance wetland conservation on the property. Neighbors lined nearby streets with signs urging the city council to "vote no" on the project.

Titusville residents push back against new development

Flood-weary residents in Titusville are voicing strong opposition to a proposed housing development they fear will worsen flooding in their neighborhoods.

"It’s the wrong project in the wrong place at the wrong time," said resident Jill Dobson, who has led opposition to the plan for more than a year. 

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She said the canal behind her home on Overlook Terrace cannot handle additional runoff. 

"When they put this new development up here, it’s going to be even worse," resident Tom Dobson added.

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City Council Member Megan Moscoso said she shares residents’ concerns.

"Titusville is growing, but that growth cannot come at the expense of the people who already live here. This particular area is part of our wetland corridor, and nearby neighborhoods are still dealing with the impacts from last week’s rain event," Moscoso said in a statement.  "When we evaluate new developments, we have to look at the entire picture, the environmental realities, the drainage patterns, and the real-world consequences for residents. Responsible growth means protecting our community, not overwhelming it."

Proposal rejected

City leaders ultimately sided with residents who said the area’s drainage system is already strained.

"I really believe the city needs to think about our future," one resident told the council during Tuesday night's meeting. "If you keep building without fixing what’s already broken, nothing will survive."

A lawyer for the developer requested more time to address residents’ concerns, but the council denied the request and voted against both the zoning change and land-use amendment — effectively halting the project.