Malabar Village Development Faces Hurdles Amidst Community Concerns
P&Z Meeting - April 3, 2024, 6PM, Palm Bay City Hall
Palm Bay, FL – The City of Palm Bay’s Planning and Zoning Board is set to review a contentious development proposal for the Malabar Village, a mixed-use project proposed by Vacation Finance, LLC. The development, which includes 424 multiple-family units and approximately 10.73 commercial acres, has sparked concerns among local residents and does not align with several policies of the city’s comprehensive plan.
Residents have voiced their apprehensions about the project’s compatibility with the surrounding single-family home neighborhoods. The city’s comprehensive plan emphasizes the protection of established residential areas from incompatible nonresidential future land use classifications (FLUCs). Specifically, Policy FLU-1.8A of the plan states that the city shall prohibit future encroachment of nonresidential FLUCs into established residential neighborhoods if they are incompatible with the area’s character.
Furthermore, the comprehensive plan under Policy FLU-1.8B establishes locational criteria within the Land Development Code (LDC) for future rezonings to accommodate population growth, with a focus on maximizing compatibility between uses and providing a transition between areas of different character, density, or intensity. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of existing neighborhoods and ensuring a harmonious integration of new developments.
Another critical aspect of the comprehensive plan is Policy TE-1.1G, which mandates the enforcement of the Concurrency Management Ordinance to ensure that future development does not lead to a reduction in the level of service. This includes maintaining adequate infrastructure and services such as transportation, water, and sewage systems to support the additional population and commercial activity brought by new developments.
City staff have recommended the denial of the Malabar Village development application, citing its incompatibility with the comprehensive plan and the potential negative impact on the surrounding residential neighborhoods. The staff’s stance reflects a commitment to upholding the principles and policies set forth in the comprehensive plan, which serves as a guide for sustainable and compatible growth within the city.
The upcoming Planning and Zoning Board meeting will be a critical juncture for the Malabar Village proposal, as board members weigh the project’s potential benefits against the concerns of the community and the directives of the comprehensive plan. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the meeting to voice their opinions and contribute to the decision-making process.
Engage with Us: The Palm Bayer invites community members to share their views on the proposed Malabar Village development. Do you support the project, or do you have concerns about its impact on local neighborhoods and infrastructure? Comment below to join the conversation. #PalmBay #CommunityDialogue #MalabarVillageDevelopment 🏘️🚧🌳
There is NO infrastructure in place for this type of development! I cannot believe this is even being proposed!
To the other points about traffic/congestion, are there any studies on the avg commute length/destination of a typical Palm Bay resident? Specifically as it relates to all of the people I personally know commuting up to the cape and even the Orlando metro ... I just don't see how that paradigm can continue.