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Barker (Harris), Courtney
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TAB 4
Ms. Smith, Ms. Baker and members of the city's staff have met with other potential funding
agencies, including St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Communities Trust and
the Trust for Public Lands, said Ms. Harris.
It's becoming more difficult to acquire funding through grants, said city grant administrator
Richard Stillwagon.
"The bar for getting financing is being raised higher and higher. Land prices are going up and
funding is going down," he said.
The Florida Department of Transportation also plans to purchase a segment of the property to
build a large water retention area when I-95 is widened.
The pond will collect runoff from the road and allow contaminants, such as oil and rubber
residue, to settle before the water enters the drinking supply.
Unlike most of Florida, which gets its water from the immense Floridan Aquifer, north Brevard
County is supplied by the shallower Superficial Aquifer, according to the Titusville Water
Resources department's annual report, which was released in September.
Water is pumped out and purified before it reaches residents' homes.
Most of the 94 acres is sandy, which allows water from rain to filter into the aquifer.
The property is about 600 feet from the nearest city well, said water resources director Raynetta
Curry Grant.
If pavement or structures are placed on any property, the amount of permeable land is reduced.
"From a water resources perspective, (preserving the land) would assure that the natural recharge
to the aquifer would be maintained," Ms. Grant said.
Titusville's fresh water is already in short supply, and the city buys much of its water from
Cocoa.
The 94-acre plot has been designated "land of critical concern," which means it's vital to
collecting new water.
However, two-thirds of Titusville is considered to be of vital concern, Ms. Grant said.
Ms. Harris said Falcon Development also considered building the apartment segment and
selling the rest of the land to the city at a cost of $6.5 million.
That would reduce the 50 percent matching grant amount to $3.25 million.
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