Divisive Palm Bay Council Meeting Tackles March, Denies Zoning Change
Palm Bay Council Meeting featured heated debate over a planned march honoring Charlie Kirk and key development decisions, leaving the community to question the path forward on growth and unity.
Heated Debate Dominates Palm Bay Council Meeting
Palm Bay, FL – A packed Palm Bay City Council meeting on September 18th highlighted deep community divisions over a planned march, major development proposals, and city leadership. The session was marked by multiple project continuances and split votes on contentious land-use changes, raising questions about how the city will navigate its rapid growth amid polarizing public discourse.
The meeting began with several significant agenda revisions. A presentation on the "Doge BAR Tracker MVP" was rescheduled for October 2nd. In addition, public hearings for the 353.47-acre 'Lotis Palm Bay' mixed-use project were continued for the fourth time, moving to November 6th amid unresolved issues with the development agreement. Similarly, hearings for the 'St. Kofag Green Estates' project were postponed to October 16th to allow for further traffic analysis.
Council Split on Center Point Church Development
Two controversial requests from Center Point Church drew considerable resident opposition and resulted in a split vote from the council. The first item, Ordinance 2025-43, proposed changing the future land use map for a 2.8-acre parcel from 'Public/Semi-Public' to 'Low Density Residential'. Staff noted the current zoning and land use were incompatible. This measure passed with a 3-2 vote.
However, the second item, Ordinance 2025-44, which sought to rezone an adjacent 10-acre rural residential parcel to allow for more dense single-family homes, was denied in a 4-1 vote. This decision aligned with the Planning and Zoning Board's recommendation, which cited the rarity of rural residential land and the importance of green space preservation.
During the public hearing, numerous residents spoke against the proposals. Concerns included increased traffic on small residential roads, the loss of a natural buffer, and the impact on wildlife. One resident argued, "We, as actual taxpayers, come here today to protect the long-term integrity of this community." Conversely, representatives for the church and the developer, Price Family Homes, stated the project was necessary to fund the church's expansion and would add quality housing that matches the character of the neighborhood.
Contentious Discussion Over Planned March
A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a new business item added by Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe regarding a "planned march honoring Charlie Kirk." Jaffe stated he added the item for transparency after the council and staff received numerous calls and emails.
The event, promoted by Councilman Chandler Langevin, sparked intense debate centered on a flyer titled "March for Charlie Kirk and all victims of left-wing evil." Several speakers condemned the language as divisive and inappropriate for an elected official. One former councilman from a neighboring city said he was "opposed to the flyers that have been passed out" because they "lean towards hate speak." Another speaker stated, "You're supposed to pro promote unity. And with the flyers that are out... you have divided this city."
In response, Councilman Langevin defended the march, citing his military experience and framing the issue as a fight against a destructive ideology. He stated, "If God puts something on my heart, I'm going to run with it, and that's just how it's going to be." Other council members called for unity and love. Councilman Kenny Johnson remarked, "Evil's evil. There is no left or right to evil," while Mayor Rob Medina urged Langevin to "live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ."
Police Leadership and Public Trust Questioned
During the non-agenda public comment period, several residents voiced concerns about city leadership and transparency. Former Palm Bay Police Officer Lance Fischer accused Police Chief Jeff Spears of "a complete lack of integrity." In response, Chief Spears directly addressed the claims, calling them "dangerous rhetoric." The Chief detailed how past incidents were investigated by both the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office. He emphasized that both investigations found no basis for criminal charges.
City Manager Matthew Morton echoed this, stating he found no credibility in the accusations and that the department's recent reaccreditation confirmed its standing as a "credible, solid agency." Another speaker, Joseph R. Taylor, raised concerns about safety, stating, "I don't think that in this day and age, after so much political violence and division, that we should have to state our addresses in public."
Other Palm Bay Council Meeting Decisions
The council also made several other key decisions during the lengthy session.
Annexation: An ordinance to annex a 32.97-acre property owned by the Boroff Revocable Trust was approved on its first reading. The property is located near the St. Johns Heritage Parkway.
Affordable Housing: A request from the 'Bilda Multi-Family Residential' development to reduce its required affordable housing units from 48 to 12 was unanimously denied. The developer's attorney cited the city's decision to opt out of ad valorem tax incentives offered under Florida's Live Local Act as the reason for the request, arguing it made the project financially unviable with the original number of affordable units.
Evans Center: A decision on re-soliciting proposals for the Evans Center was tabled.
Committee Appointment: Mayor Rob Medina was appointed to the Evaluation Selection Committee for State Lobbying Services, with Councilman Kenny Johnson as the alternate.
The meeting concluded with a sense that many of the city's most pressing issues remain unresolved. The sharp divisions on display suggest that future discussions on development, public safety, and community identity will continue to be a central challenge for Palm Bay's leadership.