Planning board recommends annexation of 2-acre parcel on U.S. 1 into Fort Pierce

The Fort Pierce Planning Board voted Monday to recommend approval of a voluntary annexation for a 2.03-acre parcel owned by Goose Development Fund LLC at or near East Market Avenue and South U.S. Highway 1.

Staff said the parcel (parcel ID 24345014005) is in unincorporated St. Lucie County, contiguous to Fort Pierce's municipal boundary and located inside the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA) service area. Staff reported the county's current future land use for the site is COM (commercial) and the county zoning is CG (Commercial General). Staff recommended annexation with a city future land use designation of GC (General Commercial) and city zoning C-3 (General Commercial) to maintain compatibility with surrounding US-1 commercial properties and to avoid the potential for single-family residential development directly on U.S. 1.

Sebastian Reyna, representing the applicant Keith Team and Goose Development Fund LLC, confirmed the applicant would accept commercial future land use and city C-3 zoning. The staff report said the parcel's current taxable value is $34,991 and cited Florida statute 171.046, which encourages elimination of enclaves.

Motion and vote: Mr. Collins moved to recommend approval and Ms. Clemens seconded. The roll call produced unanimous support: Mr. Whiting yes; Ms. Carter yes; Mr. Collins yes; Mr. Johnson yes; Ms. Clemens yes; Mr. Edwards yes (record showed he arrived later and voted); Chair Bridal yes. The board forwarded the recommendation to the city commission for final action; staff identified alternate recommendations as approval with conditions or disapproval if the commission or board elects differently.