Millrose Properties Florida has received zoning approval to build 1,600 single-family homes and 760 multifamily units on 1,200 acres near St. Johns Heritage Parkway in South Palm Bay. The Everlands West project will also include 145,000 square feet of commercial space for a town center, with all phases expected to be completed by 2036. The approval comes after a zoning request was denied three years ago, prompting the developer to revise its plan with additional amenities and infrastructure commitments.
The project, which covers 1,200 acres, is part of a larger development that will eventually include 2,300 homes. Planning board members previously rejected the initial proposal in 2023, according to attorney Kim Rezenka, who represented the developer. Millrose Properties returned with a more detailed plan that includes public safety impact fees and a traffic study to address community concerns.
Residents have raised concerns about traffic congestion, with some saying the area's roads are already overwhelmed. Justin Sitzman, a longtime Palm Bay resident, said the development will exacerbate existing problems. 'I don’t see how adding thousands of homes will make traffic easier,' he said. 'It feels like a tax on people who have to spend more time stuck in cars.'
Developers have pledged to generate $45 million in public safety impact fees and tax revenue over the project’s 10-year timeline. They also plan to conduct a traffic study as construction progresses. The first phase is expected to begin shortly, with final approval pending from county officials.
The project is positioned near the St. Johns Heritage Parkway extension, an area experiencing rapid growth. Millrose Properties Florida has not yet released details on home prices or construction timelines for individual phases. The company did not respond to requests for comment on the approval.