SEBASTIAN — City borders will grow by 382 acres, with the final approval May 26 of an annexation that could bring up to 900 additional homes south of 69th Street.
Reiterating interest in controlling what is built on the property, the City Council voted 4-0 to annex Cresswind into the city limits. Mayor Fred Jones was absent from the meeting.
“We’re doing this to control our city, to control our density,” said Councilmember Christopher Nunn.
The property is east of 82nd Avenue and west of 78th Avenue, adjacent to the 2,044-acres Graves Brothers property, which was annexed into the city in 2023. Kolter Homes plans to develop Cresswind into a 55+-community, in which at least one resident in each home must be aged 55 or older.
The annexation is expected to bring in $2.5 million to the city through about $1.8 million in property taxes and additional fees, according to city reports. The conceptual development plan proposes a very low-density land use to the property, currently vacant agricultural land, said Community Development Director Alix Bernard. The proposal meets the city’s comprehensive plan and follows state statutes, she said.
Cresswind’s annexation approval comes weeks after the City Council finalized May 13 the annexation of 204.42 acres north of 73rd Street, known as Sebastian Pines. Sebastian Pines plans to build up to 612 homes on the property.
Resident Richard Gilmore of Sebastian, urged the council to exercise caution with the annexation to ensure the city kept its character.
“As long as we keep our DNA the same, then Sebastian can grow and still have the same down-home feel,” Gilmore said.
But resident Sharon Herman encouraged the City Council to vote for the annexation, saying it was the only way to ensure managed growth.
“The larger the city limits are, the more control we have,” Herman said.
Colleen Wixon is the Indian River County government watchdog reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida city council approves 900-home annexation request
Reporting by Colleen Wixon, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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