Rezoning for Sherwood Golf Course development approved by Brevard County despite pushback
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County Commissioners approved a rezoning request for a controversial development planned for Sherwood Golf Course just north of Titusville Thursday night despite outcry from neighbors who said the project would have too many negative impacts on the area.
Brevard County commissioners voted to approve the rezoning 4-1 despite many residents from the area speaking out against the project. Rita Pritchett, the commissioner for North Brevard voted for the rezonings. Pritchett can’t seek reelection because of term limits, but all, three candidates to succeed her were present to plead for a “no” vote.
District 4 commissioner Rob Feltner voted against the project.
Course had fallen into disrepair
The defunct golf course is on the path to be redeveloped into housing, with plans showing 187 single-family units and 408 multi-family units coming to the property.
Many in the surrounding neighborhoods have expressed concerns about everything from traffic to flooding, pointing out that during recent hurricanes and tropical storms, which left some area streets totally underwater after heavy rains. Hurricane Ian caused many area roadways to be completely submerged two years ago.
Sherwood Golf Course opened in the 1960s and was facing bankruptcy five decades later before ultimately falling into complete disuse in recent years. The roughly 100-acre course at 4335 London Town Road, in an unincorporated area west of Titusville, was last sold for around $1 million in 2018. At that time, the course had been in an ongoing process of being restored before closing completely.
Many residents showed up to Thursday’s zoning meeting voicing worries around inadequate stormwater drainage and the destruction of the area’s natural beauty. Those like Faith Swanson, who owns multiple townhomes in the neighborhood, said assurances from the developers have fallen short.
Swanson told commissioners there would be “detrimental effects to Sherwood and the surrounding neighborhoods.”
Others like Wilfredo Santiago said he moved to the neighborhood as a retired combat veteran because of the peaceful atmosphere adjacent to the golf course. “I’m sure fellow veterans who do live there have the same reasons,” he said. Bruce Moya, an engineer contracted by the Ballarena Group, the South Florida developers behind the project, said neighbors’ concerns were being addressed and that there were sufficient stormwater precautions to prevent flooding and ensure proper drainage.
Environmental concerns were not the only issue brought up by residents, who said that Carpenter Road, the two-lane connecting road used by all of the area’s neighborhoods would be overtaxed. Developers conceded that traffic resulting from the development would likely double in the future but that it would still only use around 60% of the roadway’s capacity for traffic.
Rita Pritchett said although she understood many of people’s concerns that it was important to respect the property rights of the golf course’s owners. “We have to respect their property rights just like we respect your property rights,” she said.
Tyler Vazquez is the North Brevard and Brevard County government watchdog reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com“
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