Titusville Ordinance 37-2026: City Council Second Reading on Final Plat Approval, October 13

Summary

The Titusville City Council will hold the second reading and public hearing on Ordinance No. 37-2026 on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The ordinance would move approval of final plats from the City Council to the City Manager or a designee. Preliminary plats would still go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.

When and Where

The hearing is item 9.E on the Council's regular meeting agenda. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. It will be held in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 555 South Washington Avenue, Titusville, FL 32796.

What a Final Plat Is

The Florida Senate staff analysis in the agenda packet explains that a plat is a map of how land is divided. Platting is generally required when a developer wants to split a large piece of property into smaller lots, streets, and parks.

How Final Plats Are Approved Today

The ordinance states that Titusville's current Land Development Regulations require City Council approval of all final plats. Today the code lists final plats among the actions that need Council approval after review by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

What Ordinance 37-2026 Would Change

Based on the draft ordinance in the city's agenda packet, the main changes are these.

• The "Administrator" for final plat approval would be the City Manager or a designee.

• Final plats would be removed from the list of actions that need a Council public hearing. Preliminary plats would stay on that list.

• The Administrator would approve a final plat based on a staff review confirming that the site plan requirements and all legal requirements have been met.

• Extensions of time to file a final plat would be decided by the Administrator, not the Council.

• Proof that the plat was recorded with the Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit Court within 90 days of approval would go to the Administrator.

The ordinance also updates related sections on required exhibits, recording, and improvements, and the Development Review Procedures Technical Manual.

Why the City Proposed It

The staff report says Chapter 2025-164, Laws of Florida, changed how local governments review and approve plats. It says the law requires plats and replats to be approved by an administrative authority named by ordinance, without action by the governing body. The ordinance itself states that the Council wants to comply with the Florida Statutes. The city's business impact estimate says the ordinance will bring the city's plat procedures into compliance with that law.

The Planning and Zoning Commission's Recommendation

At its July 22, 2026 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by a vote of 7 to 0 with two changes. First, it asked to keep review of the preliminary plat or plan with the Commission and the City Council. Second, it asked to remove review of subdivision restrictions and covenants from the Administrator and the City Council.

According to the staff report, the City Council supported only the first of those two changes on August 11, 2026.

Meeting History

An earlier version of this ordinance, Ordinance No. 19-2026, had its first public hearing on August 11, 2026. The draft minutes of the August 25, 2026 Council meeting say staff withdrew it because of changes Council discussed on August 11.

Those draft minutes say the City Attorney advised that the statute requires platting and replatting to be done administratively. They also say Council wanted preliminary plats to still come before the Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council voted 5 to 0 to have staff revise the ordinance on that point and advertise it again. The revised ordinance is now before Council as Ordinance No. 37-2026.

Florida Law Context

Chapter 2025-164 amended section 177.071, Florida Statutes. Under the amended text, a plat or replat must be approved administratively, with no further action by the city or county governing body, if it complies with section 177.091. The governing body must name an administrative authority by ordinance or resolution.

The law also sets timing rules.

• Within 7 business days after receiving a submittal, the authority must send written notice that acknowledges receipt and lists any missing items.

• The authority must approve, approve with conditions, or deny the submittal within the timeframe stated in that notice, unless the applicant asks for more time.

• A denial must be in writing and cite each requirement the submittal does not meet.

The law took effect July 1, 2025. The staff report refers to section 177.041, but the text of Chapter 2025-164 amends section 177.071.

Who It May Affect

The city's business impact estimate lists "any property owner utilizing the plat process" as likely to be affected. It states that plats "will not incur the cost of public hearings." The Senate staff analysis says the state law may reduce carrying costs for those waiting on a local government before a parcel can be sold.

What Happens Next

The ordinance states that it takes effect upon adoption by the City Council in accordance with the City Charter. The staff report lists three options for Council. They are to adopt the ordinance as written, adopt it with changes, or not adopt it.

How to Take Part

The public hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 555 South Washington Avenue, Titusville, FL 32796. Anyone who wants to be heard on the ordinance can attend the hearing.

The agenda states that anyone who plans to appeal a Council decision may need to make sure a verbatim record of the meeting is made. It also asks any physically handicapped person who wants to attend to send a written request to the chairperson at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Official Sources

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda, October 13, 2026

City Council Agenda Packet, October 13, 2026 (item 9.E staff report, Chapter 2025-164, Senate bill analysis, draft ordinance, and business impact estimate)

Meeting page on the city's CivicClerk portal

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice.