Brevard County commissioners voted unanimously to reject a plan for a 222-unit apartment complex on Merritt Island during a meeting last week. The proposal, submitted by a private developer, would have included 200 residential units, 18 townhomes, and 200 parking spaces on a 15-acre parcel near the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. County officials said the project failed to address concerns about traffic congestion, strain on local infrastructure, and potential harm to the nearby ecosystem. The decision comes amid growing pressure from residents and environmental groups to limit high-density development in the area. "We’re not opposed to growth, but this site doesn’t meet the standards we’ve set for sustainable development," said Commissioner Julie Fennell, who led the discussion. The developer, Coastal Living Properties, did not immediately comment on the rejection. The denied project would have been the largest residential development on Merritt Island in over a decade. County staff had previously flagged the proposal’s proximity to the wildlife refuge and the lack of a detailed mitigation plan for stormwater runoff. The rejection follows similar denials of two other large-scale housing projects in the county this year. A spokesperson for the county said the decision was based on "a comprehensive review of the environmental impact statement and public feedback." The next step for the developer is to appeal the decision to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.