[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6475488,"mediaKeyId","5733795-97227a40cac2617751ce22dad38288ae","parentId",5733795,"title","Planning board approves conditional-use to allow 35-foot single-family home at 1606 Surfside Drive","audioSeconds",1234,"startMs",5058475,"endMs",6293195,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733795-97227a40cac2617751ce22dad38288ae&start=5058&end=6293","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733795-97227a40cac2617751ce22dad38288ae/thumbnail_5058475.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475488/Fort-Pierce/St-Lucie-County/Florida/Planning-board-approves-conditional-use-to-allow-35-foot-single-family-home-at-1606-Surfside-Drive","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475488-373f405e469e405c4ef988604da6fbfe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447564&Signature=F48w5yQE~~QfiMXdGl~teaJnDtraE0RSken87Dj9WyA9g79Im0se3OE5-gSw3C32jvcz6EpIlubgwvwJ~hCkoMW-2lpejkNLSf1rvEekGWtw6KzPXgLvrLx9yTyY-XcZ5nPOHB4vwq~1nENiyf~S~saRMMFksXEEXPw5ZPh2J6nMPoIwaHwr2fjFl~rjd4RDIYixbb9i-pzBjXjCJviXZjDyErmCN8LYE874D24vltahY5eapKV-uwGUtl9vkNilYYwmD6M9LgXteWST8mG4emQLTdm68c6eAfRBciyFtlkrUwFcUodtoo~aB~nzjBd05Ml~MZwdfU0BJ4IZc3b75A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fort Pierce","date","2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Fort Pierce Planning Board approved a conditional-use application on Monday allowing construction of a multi-story single-family residence up to 35 feet tall at 1606 Surfside Drive.

Planning staff presented the application as a conditional use because the zoning district (R1) limits most buildings to 28 feet above grade but permits conditional uses up to 35 feet. Staff described the proposed structure as a multi-story home with an overall area of 4,259 square feet and a ground-level footprint that includes garage and storage space beneath elevated living floors. The site area is approximately 0.54 acres.

Staff explained the tension that frequently arises on Hutchinson Island between floodplain requirements, which raise the required finished-floor elevation, and the city’s height limitations. The board’s discussion noted that the city is reviewing code and building standards to address recurring resiliency issues for shoreline properties.

Architect Joe McCarthy and property owner Dawn Martinez told the board the lower level of the house is designed to comply with coastal and floodplain requirements and is intended for parking and storage; the living floors must be elevated above the required floodplain elevation. McCarthy said the proposed finished-roof height would be about 34.83 feet above the proposed finished grade.

Staff recommended approval of the conditional use with three conditions: (1) driveway construction must comply with city standard driveway detail and be comprised of concrete pavers or concrete per section 32-9; (2) a city-issued landscape-maintenance agreement must be notarized and submitted prior to final certificate of occupancy; and (3) the applicant must acknowledge that certain proposed landscape improvements are within the city right-of-way and that the city may remove nonconforming capital improvements in the ROW.

Planning Board member Miss Clemons moved to approve with the three conditions; Mister Edwards seconded. The board voted unanimously to approve the conditional use.

Board members and staff noted the broader policy question about how the city measures building height in areas where floodplain elevations and finished grades are changing; staff said they will work with the building department to review code language related to resiliency and height measurement for waterfront properties.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fort Pierce - Planning Board 2025-09-08","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning Board approved a conditional-use permit for a multi-story single-family residence at 1606 Surfside Drive, allowing a 35-foot building height with three staff conditions; the approval reflects floodplain-driven design constraints cited by the applicant.","taxTitle","Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida","taxId",55008,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475493,"Planning board recommends denial of Sunrise Lakes planned development after resident concerns about density and bus stop safety",3620,1401705,5021998,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733795-97227a40cac2617751ce22dad38288ae&start=1401&end=5021","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733795-97227a40cac2617751ce22dad38288ae/thumbnail_1401705.jpg","/articles/6475493/Fort-Pierce/St-Lucie-County/Florida/Planning-board-recommends-denial-of-Sunrise-Lakes-planned-development-after-resident-concerns-about-density-and-bus-stop-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475493-fb24ae33f397a77cc4900e118f3cff0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447564&Signature=edGK~v7GdiFUc~qhHyCcA8mTpPhDfK-NeVoaPan9HWNQkAUJlayzhNzqkWDWmp7nqRNtuLxJpW8Wqnz9XsHOwGWALKnZGrSO8cX9XP5OWQMC7TQBB~vA~mmlB0hdC93THjf-TUw4GQCGV1QTTccWFpZQIK5x-nhf3aBJjPRn7onYEEQR~KnxJXJKDhgDTJYHosidRVlrOb83Z0RLOu1wqAl8VHiqj7hDohur-YSoBQM4VSfOHX2WOJn-i8-QNhQaQ2yj0ojXF24oQhtK7ilIOcUkLT53kjk3-QPwvQ1dPAeI85borp5whX8xLqW4JJ7l2YTaR-DY5GTfrow1xUTfVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fort Pierce Planning Board on Monday recommended disapproval of the Sunrise Lakes planned development (PD) by a 6–1 vote after lengthy public comment and debate about density, traffic and a proposed school-bus stop location.

Planning staff presented the application (an 11.54-acre site) and noted the property’s current city future land use is low-density residential (RL). Staff said the PD would create 50 lots and calculated a proposed density of 4.41 units per acre (using the property-appraiser site area), under the RL maximum of 6.5 units per acre. Staff also summarized 12 recommended conditions tied to the project, including a private lift station/force main along Sunrise Boulevard, a requirement that the force main and a school-district bus shelter be completed prior to issuance of the first certificate of occupancy, regrading and a 20-foot drainage easement on the south property line, and installation of a masonry wall at least 6 feet tall along the eastern property line as part of the landscape buffer.

The applicant, represented by Blaine Berkshire of KMA Engineering and Surveying, described revisions to the plan that were intended to address neighborhood concerns: retaining and relocating mature sabal palms and oak trees along the frontage, enlarging the buffer to the south, showing a pool and clubhouse, a fenced tot lot and a mulched walking path around an enhanced bioswale. Berkshire also said the applicant had secured approval from the Fort Pierce Utility Authority to extend a force main along Sunrise Boulevard to the site’s southwest corner to enable sewer service for the development and potentially neighboring parcels.

Multiple residents spoke during public comment opposing the PD. Speakers raised traffic and safety concerns along Sunrise Boulevard, questioned whether local schools had capacity for additional students, and strongly objected to the proposed location and operation of a school-bus stop, saying a curbside stop on Sunrise would be unsafe. A land-use attorney and nearby residents also challenged the lot-size reduction in the PD — the PD proposes lots just under 5,000 square feet while the underlying R1 minimum lot size is 12,000 square feet — and asked whether the applicant had demonstrated justification for the change.

Board members said they found some of the applicant’s mitigation measures (tree preservation, amenities, bioswale design, and force-main extension) helpful but remained unconvinced the plan had sufficiently addressed safety concerns about the bus stop and the perception that the proposed density and lot sizes were out of character with the neighborhood. Several members said they preferred fewer units or other layout changes to reduce impacts on adjacent properties.

After discussion, Planning Board member Mister Collins moved to recommend disapproval. The motion was seconded by Miss Carter and passed 6–1 (Chair Bridal voted no). Staff said they will record the key issues in the record as the school-bus location and density concerns.

The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Commission for final action at a subsequent meeting.","The Fort Pierce Planning Board voted 6–1 on Sept. 8 to recommend disapproval of the Sunrise Lakes planned development, citing unresolved safety concerns about a proposed school-bus stop and disagreement over density and lot sizes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475498,"Fort Pierce planning board tables annexation of 2.03-acre parcel owned by Goose Development Fund LLC",1278,123090,1401738,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733795-97227a40cac2617751ce22dad38288ae&start=123&end=1401","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733795-97227a40cac2617751ce22dad38288ae/thumbnail_123090.jpg","/articles/6475498/Fort-Pierce/St-Lucie-County/Florida/Fort-Pierce-planning-board-tables-annexation-of-203-acre-parcel-owned-by-Goose-Development-Fund-LLC","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475498-d9a2b20c02fb219c3c7131f70a48c9f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447564&Signature=eJUjPergP2-9LoTju-Izj8IwwCz1D9BSW12Ma6FGa-BsRkLPJH8YoOUkUa5fKvfWRNp2IYpwfaLwaxBWje5~XSApx32puUIBgiqw-Lk8HYywX3afzbi2~Mw3aoHnZ2gMUNPm1zar~RRDt~y-eplK9KP1Ug~9Utk~RoRAoizbt8YLXl4Gr4JTY2bYJRulcfE-SRM0AeVmErs3mBm4a8LdbArDwsQdg1M40W7~IMRbigYzyjpJRwiUHMWZyULoRxmgcUNK-dkb4w8ugJzse8e3K6~MscLCA4FZ4uS4ORltJmd-ZMN2zkEEEwW9IYcSU~2J0oTIqcKCTX23185F9IoF3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fort Pierce Planning Board on Monday tabled consideration of a voluntary annexation request from Goose Development Fund LLC for a 2.03-acre parcel near the intersection of East Market Avenue and South U.S. 1.

Senior planner Carrie Driver presented the application on behalf of the planning department, saying the parcel (Parcel ID 243450100040005) is in unincorporated St. Lucie County, contiguous to the Fort Pierce city boundary, and inside the Fort Pierce Utility Authority service area. Driver said the county’s current future land use for the parcel is commercial (COM) and the applicant proposed changing the city future land use to RL (residential low) with an R2 (single-family intermediate density) zoning if annexed.

Board members said they were sympathetic to the applicant’s plan for a larger development that would ultimately include adjacent parcels under the same ownership, but expressed concern about allowing an R2 zoning directly on U.S. 1 because that could permit residential development facing the highway. Sebastian Rena, representing the applicant Keith Team, said the developer intends to later request a planned development (PUD) so units would not face U.S. 1 and the parcel would function primarily as an entrance.

Planning staff noted state planning policy on enclaves and cited a relevant Florida statute (identified in the record during the presentation as chapter 171.046, subsection 1) and a city comprehensive plan policy referenced as \"comprehensive policy plan 1.11 0.5.\" Staff recommended forwarding the annexation to the City Commission with the proposed land-use and zoning designations but offered mixed-use alternatives to preserve a commercial presence along U.S. 1 while allowing some residential component.

Board members and staff discussed options including a mixed-use future land use with C-3 zoning or holding a commercial zoning until the applicant submits a PUD with a site plan that would commit to locations of residential and commercial uses. Several commissioners asked to give staff and the applicant more time to negotiate a zoning and land-use solution that would reduce the chance of residential units fronting U.S. 1 if the property were later sold.

Following that discussion, the board voted to table the annexation until the next planning-board meeting so staff can meet with the applicant and explore alternatives.

The applicant and staff will return with further options at a subsequent planning-board meeting; no final land-use or zoning change was approved at Monday’s meeting.","The Fort Pierce Planning Board on Sept. 8 voted to table a proposed voluntary annexation of a 2.03-acre parcel at East Market Avenue and S. U.S. 1 to allow staff and the applicant to refine zoning and development assurances.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning board approves conditional-use to allow 35-foot single-family home at 1606 Surfside Drive

Planning board recommends denial of Sunrise Lakes planned development after resident concerns about density and bus stop safety

Fort Pierce planning board tables annexation of 2.03-acre parcel owned by Goose Development Fund LLC