Brevard Friends and Neighbors,

Your fellow citizens (and wildlife) need your help! A Florida Developer (Burl Haven) is working within the city limits on a building plan for a high density housing development off Probart Street, near Kaden Lane. The developer is proposing to build 65-70 homes on an 11.5 acre plot. As you can imagine, this large of a development will wreak havoc on the community members and wildlife that call this area home. As well as, the countless bikers that use Probart Street as a designated bike route and to drop in/out of Bracken Preserve.

As you can see by the pictures and info attached, plans are to completely deforest the property and flatten out the steep terrain so they can fit in as many houses as possible. This is sure to cause drainage and land stability issues for the neighbors living around the development, traffic issues from the projected 650 additional car trips a day (particularly for Probart Street and Cashiers Valley) and countless negative effects on the ecosystem/wildlife.

As a community, we do not want to stop development; we are aware the county and town need more housing. However, this development should be done with conservation in mind. Based on plans laid out by the city (2030 Comprehensive Use Land Plan), the city encourages builders to preserve 40% of the land. That would reduce the number of houses on the plot significantly. The plan indicates that the land be developed for low density (a conservation design) housing. In addition, the developed land should advocate for workforce living and/or affordable living.

What do we need from you? First and foremost, please speak up and spread awareness. Neighbors of the proposed development are attending city council meetings and city planning meetings to address concerns, but our small group isn’t enough. Please consider attending these meetings with us and voice your concerns over this proposed development. Also consider going to the link below to sign your name to the petition we’ve created. We need as many citizens as possible to stand with us so that our elected officials will understand how important this issue is to our community. In the coming weeks, you may see us walking around to educate community members and obtain petition signatures.

If you’re a community member that can help us or has connections with individuals that can help our cause, please email: friendsfor11.5acreconservation@gmail.com.

Thank you!