President’s Corner – April 2026 – The Five Questions I Get Asked the Most

If you stop me at an event, catch me in the community, or send me a message, chances are it’s about one of a handful of topics. So, this month, I thought I’d pull back the curtain a bit and answer the questions I get asked most often. Some of these have straightforward answers. Others…not so much. But all of them deserve a little context.

1. When will the Spyglass Overpass be built?
This is, undoubtedly, the most often asked question. It is usually accompanied by the statement, “well, the sign has been there for 30 years, so it obviously is never happening!”. First, the sign is there because it is required to be. The sign is there to notify anyone considering purchasing in the area that there will be an overpass built there. And, yes, it is happening. The Spyglass Flyover is an obligation in our Development Order. We are required to build it. As far as timing of the project, that is more nuanced. The timing is connected to the pace of development and the use of our entitlements. The trigger for the project is still a few years away at the current pace of development and use of our entitlements. So, while I can’t give a date, it is a future project.

And the inevitable follow up question to this is one is always, “will golf carts be allowed?”. Unfortunately, that is something that cannot be answered now. As the project hasn’t started and isn’t designed, it is unknown what other approval agencies, such as FDOT, will say about the design and/or golf carts. Therefore, we just don’t know and can’t predict what will be approved until the design is submitted.

2. Where does the wildlife go during prescribed burns or when land is developed?
This is one of my favorite questions, because it speaks to something that makes Viera special, our connection to the natural environment. The simple answer is, wildlife moves. Prescribed burns are actually designed with this in mind and move very slowly across the permitted area. They are carefully planned and conducted in a way that allows animals to relocate safely. Many species are instinctively attuned to fire as a natural part of Florida’s ecosystem and will move to adjacent areas. In fact, Florida natural habitats and wildlife thrive on the natural fire occurrences that prescribed burns are designed to mimic. You can read more about prescribed burns here: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/habitat/prescribed-fire/

When land is developed, the process is similar in that the area is reviewed by environmental consultants to be in compliance with our Wildlife Habitat Management Plan. This could include identifying protected species or identifying PCT (Preferred Cover Type) or tree protection areas which are to be saved and protected during development. This is also a slow process that takes place over time to allow wildlife to relocate.

And before you ask, “where do they relocate to?”, there are a multitude of preservation/conservation areas for our native wildlife species to relocate to. I say this a lot, but it does bear repeating, Viera is almost 50% open space which includes wildlife protection areas, conservation areas, preservation areas, parks/trail areas, stormwater tracts, and open space tracts with nothing but landscaping. Let me repeat that. Almost half of Viera’s acreage will NEVER be developed. It’s not always visible to the casual observer (or critic), but there is a great deal of thought and stewardship behind the protection of our natural areas.

Within all of that open space, there are also larger conservation areas, preserves, and interconnected natural corridors that are intentionally part of the planning framework so wildlife has space to relocate and continue to thrive. More specifically, the Viera Wilderness Park. https://www.cvcaviera.com/education/wilderness-park/

3. What’s coming next? (stores, restaurants, businesses)
Everyone wants the tea. So much so that we have sentinels in our midst who watch Brevard County’s permitting website like a hawk because they want to be the first to know and report the next big thing. And I understand the excitement around what could possibly be next. However, without exception, all of our commercial transactions come with confidentiality and non-disclosure language. We simply cannot talk about anything we are working on. Even if an internet sleuth leaks some information on a project and it becomes “public” knowledge, like the Go-Go’s said, “our lips are sealed”.

What I can say is that growth is ongoing, and there is continued interest from a wide range of retailers, restaurants, and service providers who see the value in being part of this community.
As soon as new businesses are ready to go public, we are just as excited to share that news as you are to hear it.

4. Golf cart questions (where can I drive, what’s allowed, etc.)
Golf carts are part of the Viera lifestyle and with that comes a lot of questions. Some key points to remember are:

• Within the Viera Development of Regional Impact (DRI), golf carts are permitted on roadways where the speed limit is 30 MPH or less. This means that golf carts can be on the road with vehicles where the speed limit is 30 MPH or less.
• When a golf cart crosses another road with speed limits greater than 30 MPH, it cannot cross just wherever they want or where is most convenient for them. Golf carts MUST cross at designated crossing or at a traffic signal. I see this part of the golf cart ordinance being broken all the time. Golf carts just crossing wherever, darting across roads without signals or crossings. I worry and I cringe every time I see this happening.
• Things like proper equipment (lights, reflectors), age requirements for drivers, and where crossings are permitted all come into play. These rules aren’t necessarily unique to Viera as they are based on Florida statutes and the local Brevard County ordinance governing golf cart use. You can find the ordinance here: https://www.cvcaviera.com/education/golf-carts/
• Here is a biggie and I see people breaking this law every single day – THERE IS NO LEGAL WAY TO TRAVEL EAST TO WEST (OR VICE VERSA) OVER/UNDER I-95. If you or your family are traveling back and forth over/under I-95, this is illegal. Mostly I see this on Wickham with carts passing under I-95. The Wickham underpass does not have the FDOT required 5-foot separation from the roadway for paths next to curbed or flush-shoulder roads.
• Golf carts do not have the right-of-way on our sidewalks and multi-use trails. Golf carts must yield to pedestrians and other sidewalk/pathway users. Operators are to yield to pedestrians and non-motorized traffic by moving to the right side for oncoming traffic and passing other traffic (pedestrians, bikes, skaters, etc.) on the left. 

5. Will there be a traffic light at [insert location here]?
I get this question all the time, but it is usually tied to a specific intersection someone uses every day. Traffic signals aren’t installed based on preference or even frustration (as understandable as that may be). They are based on formal traffic studies that evaluate things like traffic volume, accident history, and roadway design. Those studies are conducted by the appropriate governing agencies, and they determine whether a signal is warranted. Sometimes the result is a traffic light, and sometimes it’s a different solution altogether. I know it can feel like, “we clearly need one here,” but there is a defined process in place to make sure decisions are made consistently and safely.

For the most part, this is done by Brevard County. It may be in cooperation or coordination with another agency or even The Viera Company, but Brevard County is ultimately responsible for county roadways and will determine if a traffic light or other traffic control device is needed or warranted.

Bonus Questions – The “Oldies but Goodies”…

When will Viera become a city?
Viera is not an incorporated city, and there are currently no plans for it to become one. Instead, Viera operates within unincorporated Brevard County, with a combination of county services and community association governance. This structure has allowed for a high level of planning, consistency, and maintenance across the community. Incorporation is a complex process that requires broad community support, grassroots level volunteer work, legislative action, and a completely different governance model.

Is it possible one day? Maybe. But we do need to ask ourselves why and to what benefit? What services are we not getting now that a city government could provide? Is it to our benefit to add this additional layer of governance? These are all questions we need to ask ourselves before taking the dive. Certainly, asking ourselves what is best for us is a good question and it should be explored when the time is right. However, as Viera is only about 50% built-out, we still have plenty of time to consider that direction.

When will we get our own post office?
Another classic question. And I always answer this question with another question: “What is happening country-wide with post office locations?” Generally speaking, they are closing. The USPS is shrinking since humans have changed the way they use the postal service and get packages delivered. We do so much online now and use email. The need for physical mail has changed so the USPS has to evolve as well. So, while I will not say it is impossible that we will get a post office, but it is improbable. We already have two post offices that serve Viera – 32955 in Rockledge and 32940 in Suntree.

Final Thought
I truly appreciate these questions. They reflect an engaged, informed community that cares deeply about where they live and that’s something we should never take for granted. Please keep asking. I may not always have immediate answers, but I will always do my best to provide clarity, context, and transparency along the way.

So, until next time, remember, “A mind not agitated by good questions cannot appreciate the significance of even the best answers.”
– Mortimer J. Adler

Eva M. Rey, President
Central Viera Community Association, Inc.