Watershed, a mixed-use, urban town center, will submit plans to state

By Gretchen Sauerman

Staff writer

Plans for an urban town center west of Interstate 95 will move forward, now that the West Melbourne City Council annexed 280 acres last week.

The developers for Watershed hope to build approximately 1,400 residences and 1.375 million square feet of shopping center space in their mixed-use development.

By annexing into West Melbourne, the developer, Samuels and Associates, is eligible to submit a Development of Regional Impact application to the state's Department of Community Affairs.

DRI approval is necessary before such large-scale construction projects can be finalized.

The city of Melbourne previously objected to the annexation, arguing that the area is in an area where Melbourne was slated to provide water service.

West Melbourne city manager David Reynal said the annexation agreement with the developer allows Watershed 18 months to negotiate with any water supplier for service, so no violations of water service contracts have occurred.

If developers get the green light from the state, plans for Watershed, to be located west of Interstate 95 and south of U.S. 192, will progress.

A much-anticipated north-south thoroughfare, St. Johns Heritage Parkway, will bisect the development, allowing residents easy access to all parts of Brevard County.

The mixed-use plan will create a "walkable" network of streets, allowing residents to live, work, shop and play in one location, according to the preliminary plans submitted to West Melbourne.

More than 300 hotel rooms will be built in the development's higher-density areas, while single-family homes will grace the lower-density areas.

"From a planning perspective, compact development is the only way we are going to get away from suburban sprawl and this development says they will typify 'neo-traditional neighborhood' planning," said West Melbourne planning director Christy Fischer.

After a brief discussion, the City Council unanimously approved the annexation.

"Welcome to West Melbourne," said Mayor Hal Rose.