SEBASTIAN — The city will grow by 382 acres after final approval May 26 of an annexation that could bring up to 900 homes south of 69th Street.
Reiterating its interest in controlling what is built on the property, the City Council voted 4-0 to annex the Cresswind community. Mayor Fred Jones was absent.
“We’re doing this to control our city, to control our density,” said Councilmember Christopher Nunn.
Cresswind would be east of 82nd Avenue and west of 78th Avenue, adjacent to the 2,044-acres Graves Brothers property, which was annexed in 2023. Kolter Homes plans to develop Cresswind into a 55+community, in which at least one resident of each home must be 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 comes weeks after the City Council finalized May 13 the annexation of 204 acres north of 73rd Street, known as Sebastian Pines. Plans call for up to to 612 homes at Sebastian Pines.
Sebastian resident Richard Gilmore urged the council to exercise caution with the annexation to ensure the city keeps 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 OKs 382-acre annexation; could bring 900 new homes
Reporting by Colleen Wixon, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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