Brevard County officials and neighbors in Lake Washington are opposing a plan to rezone 14.37 acres of wooded land near Turtle Mound Road for up to 86 homes. The proposal, submitted by Defender Homes Airway Heights LLC, seeks to change the property’s zoning from RR-1 (one home per acre) to RU-2-6 (six units per acre), which could increase housing from 14 to 86 units. The request has triggered two public hearings this summer and drawn criticism from the City of Melbourne, Brevard County Commissioner Karen Thompson, and a neighborhood coalition.
The property at 1800 Turtle Mound Road was once home to an AM radio station. Current zoning limits development to single-family homes, but the applicant wants to reclassify the land for low-density multi-family housing. A companion amendment to the Future Land Use Map would shift the site’s designation from RES 4 (low-density residential) to RES 6 (medium-density residential). Opponents have circulated a graphic comparing the two scenarios: 14 homes under current rules versus 86 under the proposed plan, with average lot sizes dropping from 10,000 square feet to 7,260 square feet.
Defender Homes Airway Heights LLC is linked to Defender Development, a Washington-based firm that operates in Spokane and Cheney. The company’s website lists rental properties including apartments and townhomes. Local officials say the developer has no history in Brevard County and has not engaged with the community. Commissioner Thompson called the proposal “a clear mismatch between the land’s character and the scale of development.”
The City of Melbourne has formally opposed the rezoning, citing concerns about traffic, infrastructure strain, and the loss of open space. Neighbors have organized meetings and collected signatures for a petition. The first public hearing is scheduled for July 12, with a second set for August 2. County staff will present the proposal, but opponents plan to highlight the density gap and urge commissioners to reject the application.